Success in real estate depends on location, and that’s as true for vineyard properties as for any other kind. But the variation possible within even any one viticultural area means location plays a far more complex role than many people imagine—and that’s setting aside any debate about the nature of terroir. A host of practical considerations will face the grower who aims to select the best possible site for a vineyard and reduce long-term management issues. Rapid development, especially in new growing areas, means centuries of experience and hard-won wisdom aren’t available to guide new plantings. Many plantings are educated guesses—educated, all right, but guesses nonetheless.