First Crush winemaking is an ongoing, educational winemaking experience that allows customers to be involved in the production and crafting of their own, professionally-styled, custom-labeled wine. As a First Crush winemaker, you will be guided through the process by a team of professionals including viticulturists, winemakers, wine educators and vendors. We encourage you to take ownership of your wine beginning with the harvesting of the grapes, but participating in the harvest weekend isn’t necessary to join in the fun, joy and satisfaction of making your own wine – a wine with your personal imprint on it that you can share and enjoy with friends, family, colleagues and customers.

A typical red wine, winemaking program is 18 months. Throughout this period, interactive, hands-on “classes” – though a bit too stoic of a term – will be presented throughout the year and will coincide with what is taking place in the vineyards and winery. The winemaking classes will be offered in a variety of interactive, hands-on formats and varying locations throughout Paso Robles.

Here’s how it works:
Winemaking is a process. It starts in the vineyard, and ends with the bottling and labeling of your wine. As a First Crush winemaker, you have the opportunity to participate in as many of the steps as you like. We call it from “berry to bottle.”

The first step is to choose the winemaking program that works best for you. You can make your own wine and be involved in every step of the process from picking the grapes through labeling, or you may simply choose to attend a class, enjoy one of our harvest weekends, or any of our other events individually – or any combination.

Your winemaking process with First Crush will mirror the same steps and processes that actual growers and wineries undertake. Much like a beginning winery, you will have the opportunity to begin your custom wine collection with the current vintage or blend from a previous year during our blending seminars.

Much like a beginning winery, in 2009, the only way to become a First Crush winemaker was to start with the 2009 harvest experience. Beginning in 2010, you, your friends and family can become a First Crush winemaker at any step of the process. Depending on where you start, you will be able to participate in every step of the process beginning with the conception of the Vintage through our harvest experience weekends, or you may simply choose to attend a class, tour or event or a combination of classes, tours and events.

Events can be purchased and registered for individually, or you may purchase the complete 18-month winemaking package. Our First Crush team will assist you in determining which program will work best for you. Some considerations would be your interest level, your budget and your proximity to Paso Robles. If you are a distant winemaker, we will keep you as involved as we can with your Vintage through our blog, newsletters and pictures, and you’re always invited to schedule a visit. In 2010, custom wine may also be purchased as part of your package or separately. The minimum amount of custom wine that can be purchased is one case per winemaker.

Harvest Experience
First Crush winemakers who begin the process not only benefit from a unique and memorable experience, they also benefit in the discounted pricing of the wine they purchase. The harvest weekends include a variety of events and activities to start the winemaking process.

Quarterly “Berry to Bottle” Events
As a First Crush winemaker you will be invited to attend quarterly tastings and evaluations of your wine. During these quarterly events we will also offer additional, optional activities that you may choose to attend. These activities are optional and are an additional cost that is not included with your winemaking package.

These optional events may include educational tours, class or events that coincide with the winemaking and viticulture processes. The activities will coincide with what is taking place in the vineyards and winery. The winemaking classes will be offered in a variety of interactive, hands-on formats and varying locations throughout Paso Robles. The prices, dates and locations will vary depending on the event, and will include everything from pruning demonstrations to blending seminars to classes on wine pairings and sensory evaluation.

The Crush Club
The First Crush “Crush Club” is a membership program that will be launched in 2010. Membership is optional but valuable. It will include benefits such as discounts on classes and winemaking packages, wine purchases and educational items and products; invitations to private member events; and discounts from our participating partners such as hotels, restaurants and wineries. More information about The Crush Club will be available soon.