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Custom crush wineries: the California scene and wines to try

How do you break into the wine business with a new winery project without breaking the bank? If Dave Phinney’s The Prisoner is anything to go by, then custom crush facilities might be the answer. Stacy Slinkard explores this expanding wine model in California.

It’s no secret that buying or building a winery requires a significant capital investment. With initial expenditures being cost prohibitive for most start-up projects, many would-be wines might never get made.

Enter the imaginative (and relatively economical) custom crush concept. Custom crush facilities are bonded wineries that allow their clients to produce wine on site. They typically provide start-to-finish winemaking equipment and consulting services for both commercial and private clients.


Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of 10 wines from California custom crush sites



Custom crush wineries: 10 top picks from California


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