If You’re Thinking Of Going Where The Grapes Are…

…and you’re retired, then how about Napa and Santa Rosa in Sonoma County, California? Think of it…each day, you can partake in a glass of world-class locally grown wine. But that luxury comes with a high cost of living price tag that could keep fixed-income retirees out of the area.

Fortunately, there are many other wine-producing regions in America that offer exceptional beauty and a low-key lifestyle coupled along with a much more affordable cost of living. These are Ithaca, N.Y., the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, and Jefferson City, MO. These locales have median home prices below $200,000 and are surrounded by beautiful farmland.
One winemaking region that is near a major city and has plenty of vineyards is Leesburg, Va., only an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. Austin, Texas suburb Georgetown is similarly close to the 24 wineries of the Texas Hill Country.

Wine-loving retirees may also consider grape-growing regions like Seattle or Portland, Oregon, which have access to wines made all over the world as well as local masterpieces. For beer drinkers, both cities also have a thriving microbrewery industry.