How to finance your own vineyard

Some banks are seeing a growing breed of vineyard buyer: San Francisco or Silicon Valley executives or entrepreneurs wanting to wine and dine friends with their private-label wine. In response to increasing demand from these and other buyers, Exchange Bank earlier this year formalized a vineyard-loan program and now offers 10- and 15-year, fixed-rate loans, says Steve Herron, manager of the commercial banking group for the Santa Rosa, Calif.-based bank.