Vineyard & Grape Grower Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a vineyard & grape grower business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for wine, table, and juice grape growers and vineyard management companies. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual acreage and contracts.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farm Liability | Covers injuries and damage to others from vineyard work, visitors, and equipment. | Core | |
| Farm Property / Equipment | Covers barns, shops, trellis systems, tractors, and harvesters. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability | Covers year-round and seasonal crews — required in most states for farm labor. | Core | |
| Federal Crop Insurance (Grapes) | Covers yield and quality losses from frost, freeze, hail, and other perils. | Core | |
| Farm Auto | Covers trucks hauling fruit and crews on public roads. | Prevalent | |
| Pesticide Drift / Herbicide Liability | Covers damage to neighbors' crops from spraying — often limited on farm policies. | Prevalent | |
| Care, Custody & Control | Covers vineyards and equipment you farm or store for others. | Situational | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits above farm liability and auto. | Prevalent | |
| Agritourism / Event Liability | Covers tours, events, and tastings among the vines. | Situational | |
| Pollution Liability | Covers chemical spills and runoff — usually excluded from farm liability. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by grape growers is fruit that is grown but never paid for. Federal crop insurance covers yield and quality, but smoke taint, contract rejections, and buyer disputes may fall outside it — three Oregon vineyards sued utilities for about $11.4 million after wineries rejected smoke-damaged grapes. Read the rejection terms in every grape contract, test fruit before harvest in smoke years, and ask your advisor how crop insurance responds to smoke.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your vineyard & grape grower coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Vineyard & Grape Grower Insurance · Vineyard & Grape Grower Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a vineyard & grape grower business need?
The core coverages for a vineyard & grape grower business are Farm Liability, Farm Property / Equipment, Workers' Compensation / Employer's Liability, Federal Crop Insurance (Grapes). This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my vineyard & grape grower coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.