Do you have a great business idea that just needs a bit of funding? Finding the right person to whom you should pitch your idea can be tough (and getting on their calendar could be even tougher). But Mirassou Winery has an alternative to the traditional pitch process with their new Bright Ideas Grant Program.

The winery is asking innovators to apply for five $3,000 grants they’ll be distributing. The details, available on their Facebook page, say that they want the bright ideas “to start a business, to empower people, to make a change, to make a difference.” The ideas don’t have to be large or small, simply… bright. What’s more, after Mirassou awards the five $3,000 grants to the chosen recipients, then those recipients will appear on the winery’s Facebook page in November so that site visitors can vote for a favorite. The bright idea with the most votes will get an additional $5,000 grant.

This isn’t big money, obviously; most small business owners start out on that much money and more that they borrow from friends and family. But it can’t hurt, and the publicity is always a plus, especially if your idea can benefit from the visibility of a contest format.

There are some rules, of course. You must be 21 to enter, and residents of CA, TN, UT and PR are not eligible for this contest. And of course, in the application process, the winery asks a few questions about your wine drinking habits and try to get you to sign up for surveys and special offers for their wine (they are, after all, a winery). But if you have a pretty creative idea and want to kick-start it with a grant, they give you 1,000 words or less to pitch your idea and sell them on the concept. It’s a pretty painless application, all things considered.

Be sure to read the Terms and Conditions to fully inform yourself about the contest, and then, if you’ve got your idea ready, pitch it to Mirassou Winery. An extra $3,000 (or $8,000, if your bright idea wins the overall contest) can only help your small business succeed. And of course, there’s no wine consumption required.