Just as migrating to California is by no means required (in fact, there are wineries in all 50 states), aspiring wine growers may not need to consult their real estate sections for available vineyard estates. In fact, cultivating grapes on your own backyard can be a way to ease yourself into the industry -- not to mention that doing so will raise your property value in the long run.

Bill Murphy, founder and owner of San Martin, Calif.-based Clos LaChance Winery and C.K. Vines, which installs backyard vineyards, says buying an existing vineyard involves evaluating its production volume and grape value, while building a backyard vineyard is equated to investing in the land itself. "Installing a vineyard is landscaping that partially pays for itself," he says. "It's safe to say that it enhances the value of the property more than what it costs to put it in."