Markel Specialty offers coverage specifically designed for wineries and vineyards
You know the risks in your business. Thankfully, so does Markel Specialty.
With over 50 years of experience insuring agricultural-related operations, Markel Specialty understands the unique insurance needs of a winery or vineyard. We work with vineyard and winery owners to create policies designed to help them protect their assets and property.
Markel Specialty offers a wide range of coverages designed for vineyard and winery businesses including:
- Bonded wineries with or without vineyards
- Farm vineyards/orchards
- Custom crush facilities
- Vineyard owner housing and personal liability coverage
Why do I need insurance for my winery or vineyard?
Unlike a typical farm or factory, your vineyard or winery may have guests, visitors, special events, sterile tanks and vats, vulnerable liquid inventories, and much more. As you know, it doesn’t take much to wipe out an entire year’s work—or to put your assets at risk of lawsuits.
Here are some actual claims we’ve paid out to our clients*:
- After a cold snap, a pipe burst at an insured winery, damaging the ceiling.
- As an insured vineyard prepared for bottling, a forklift driver at their contracted winery dropped a barrel which burst open.
- A guest on the premises of a vineyard was struck in the head by a patio umbrella blown loose by a strong gust of wind. Even though the guest refused medical attention, they later claimed they suffered a concussion and sought compensation.
- An insured vineyard loaned their press to another vineyard. The press over-pressurized and caused major property damage to the other vineyard.
Don't wait until you file a claim to find out if you have the proper insurance protection for your winery or vineyard. Contact one of our appointed Markel Specialty agents to get a quote today.
*These examples are provided for illustrative purposes only. Any claim submitted under the policy would be evaluated on its own merits and facts compared to the terms of the policy.
What can insurance for wineries and vineyards cover?
Markel Specialty has customizable insurance coverages for winery and vineyard owners. We work with agents across the United States that specialize in providing risk management solutions.
Winery coverage summary:
Liability coverages- Commercial general liability available limits: $300k/$900k; $500k/$1.5m; $1m/$3m*
- Includes full or limited premises, personal liability, $5,000 medical payments, $100,000 fire legal liability, products liability, and liquor liability (limits outside the commercial general liability limits).
- General liability enhancement available to increase limits and provide additional coverages (e.g. medical payments limit increases to $10,000).
- 10% credit available towards liability premium when applicant is a member of an accredited professional association.
- Farm property for winery includes dwellings, outbuildings, personal property on the farm.
- Winery enhancement is available to increase limits and provide additional coverages.
- Commercial property for winery includes coverage for winery, tasting room, storage facility, business personal property/stock, business income.
- Crime coverage is for winery, tasting room, storage facility, business personal property/stock, business income.
- Inland marine includes coverage for transportable winery equipment and wine in transit “annual transit coverage.”
- Auto is only available for applicant's farm and personal vehicles when writing the winery package; monoline auto is not available.
- Excess liability is available over the underlying general liability coverage and may also be eligible to be extended to auto liability.
Vineyard coverage summary:
Liability coverages- General liability limits: $1 million /$3 million*
- Includes full or limited premises, personal liability, $5,000 medical payments, $100,000 fire legal liability, and products liability.
- General liability enhancement available to increase limits and provide additional coverages (e.g. medical payments limit increases to $10,000).
- 10% credit available towards liability premium when applicant is a member of an accredited professional association.
Festival liability |
Property damage to borrowed equipment |
Liquor law liability (dram shop) |
Property damage to “customers’ goods” |
Medical payments ($10,000 per person) |
Medical personnel coverage |
Vineyard chemical drift pollution liability |
Limited “product withdrawal” expense coverage |
Liability extension endorsement |
Additional insured – managers or lessors of premises |
Broadened definition of insured |
Additional insured – vendors (limited) |
Broadened definition of mobile equipment |
Additional insured – by written contract, agreement, or permit |
- Farm property for vineyard includes dwellings, outbuildings, farm personal property, disruption of farming.
- AG Premier and AG Essential property enhancements available to increase limits and provide additional coverages.
- Auto is only available for applicant's farm and personal vehicles when writing the winery package; monoline auto not available.
Accounts receivable |
Outdoor growing trellis, grapevines and grapes |
Automatic increase at time of loss |
Personal effects and property of others |
Business income and extra expense |
Property off premises |
Crime |
Property in transit |
Electronic data equipment |
Refrigerated goods spoilage |
Electronic data processing |
Replacement cost on equipment |
Employee theft |
System and mechanical breakdown |
Fine arts |
Transportation |
Discharge from sewer, drain or sump |
Trellis and vines |
Library inventory |
Wine contamination and adulteration |
Limited contamination |
Wine leakage |
Mobile agricultural equipment |
Wine market value/selling price clause |
Ordinance or law |
|
- Commercial automobile
- Excess/ liability
*Per occurrence is the maximum amount that may be paid on a covered individual claim; aggregate is the maximum amount that may be paid on all covered claims combined within the policy period.

Markel Specialty is committed to providing the tools you need to help you keep safety first.
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Contact one of our appointed Markel Specialty agents to get an insurance quote for your winery or vineyard today.