CRUSHPAD BLOG

100s of Boutique Brands in Crushpad Tasting Room

Published by noah at Aug 27, 2010 - Comments? None yet

It’s finally happened. After months of Napa County permitting bliss, our Silverado Trail Tasting Room had a successful soft opening last weekend. The inaugural Crushpad winemakers featured in the tasting room were Peter & Alison Engel of Petrali, and John & Jan Remington of Remington Vineyards.

The Remington’s were on hand all weekend pouring, telling their story and most importantly, selling wine. The enthusiastic crowd was even big enough at times to spill out onto our sunny back patio.

Throughout the year we’re going to be featuring hundreds of our clients wines from over 50 different vineyards, in a multitude of styles.  There’s literally no other tasting room in Napa, or the world for the matter, where you’ll be able to taste so many diverse California wines from so many different producers. Some produced in lot sizes as little as one barrel.

Current hours are 11-4, but we’re working on extending that until 5PM. Please call 707.226.8569 x116 to make a tasting room appointment or click here to book online.


Rafael Vineyard Walk with Mike Zitzlaff

Published by eric at Aug 20, 2010 - Comments? None yet

Rafael Vineyard resides in one of Napa Valley’s youngest AVAs, the Oak Knoll District.  As harvest approaches it’s time for Crushpad Chief Winemaker Mike Zitzlaff to get out into the vineyard and check up on the fruit.

To learn more about the Oak Knoll District, we’re also leading a tour of the AVA September 28th.


Crushpad & Andy Beckstoffer @ NVG’s Harvest Stomp

Published by eric at Aug 11, 2010 - Comments? None yet

We’ll be pouring and auctioning off a killer hands-on winemaking experience with Andy Beckstoffer at this year’s Harvest Stomp.  The event is August 28th at Napa’s Hudson Vineyard and includes dancing, live music, exhibition style food, major schmoozing opportunities, and a chance to wine over $12,000 worth of Napa wine.  Proceeds support the Napa Valley Grapegrower’s mission of preserving and promoting sustainability through outreach and education.

Check out our auction lot:

Join renowned Napa Valley grapegrower Andy Beckstoffer for a morning of harvesting fruit for your very own barrel of vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon at his famed Georges III Vineyard in the Rutherford appellation.  You get the opportunity to play winemaker, crafting this wine to your personal specifications with the assistance and expertise of the Crushpad winemaking team in Napa.

First planted in the 1850s by Thomas Rutherford, for whom the town is named after, he received it as a wedding gift from his wife’s grandfather, George Yount, the Georges III vineyard has produced many of Beaulieu Vineyard’s renowned Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Beckstoffer began farming the vineyard in 1971, purchased it in 1989, and renamed it Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III in honor of both Georges De Latour and his Beaulieu designation.

This complete winemaking experience will play out like this: Read the rest of this entry »


RivkaSimone on IntoWine.com

Published by noah at Aug 05, 2010 - Comments? None yet

One of our commerce members, RivkaSimone Wines, was recently video reviewed on the intowine.com website. Check it out.


Topping Barrels & Vin Jaune

Published by eric at Jul 27, 2010 - Comments? None yet

Courtesy of Charlotte Buisson Dackow

What does it mean when we top barrels?

Wooden barrels are an interesting vessel for wine - not only does each one impart flavor to the wine, but they also “breathe” the wine in and out. The air exchange between the barrel and the atmosphere, although low, allows some evaporation of the liquid inside. This portion of wine lost to evaporation during aging in oak barrels is appropriately called the “Angels’ Share.” Makes perfect sense that the only way to emotionally deal with lost wine in times past was to at least believe that Angels received a proper allotment.

Moreover, since wood is naturally porous – especially if it is a new barrel – small amounts of wine are also usually absorbed by the barrel itself.

Over time, this ever increasing gap between the wine and the top of the barrel can encourage oxidation or the development of bacteria in the wine. To avoid these risks, we regularly top the barrels with wine, usually issued from the same vineyard and vintage.

A Rare Exception:

The Vin Jaune – literally “Yellow Wine” – the signature white wine from the Jura region in France, is a wine voluntarily not topped for at least six years and three months! While aging this way, a film of yeast forms on the surface of the wine and preserves it from oxidation. Once matured, the Vin Jaune expresses very characteristic nutty flavors due to the yeast film.


Split Rock Vineyard Tour

Published by eric at Jul 26, 2010 - Comments? None yet

We recently took a trip up to Split Rock Vineyard to check up on our Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blocks and chat with Patrick Mahaney about what makes the site unique. Made a video about it. Like to see it? Here it goes…

Get a taste of Split Rock Pinot Noir in our Vineyard Preview Tasting Pack.


Crushpad Passport: Live like a local

Published by noah at Jul 14, 2010 - 1 Comment so far

Today we launched the Crushpad Passport program to give our clients insider access to some pretty cool stuff up in Napa.  Some of the special offers in the Passport Program can’t be found elsewhere…and we’re adding new perks each week. But for now, here’s a peek at what Passport cardholders can access.

We’ve got an amazing tour at the organically farmed Skipstone Ranch, that features a picturesque amphitheater-shaped vineyard.  The private vineyard tour ends with an intimate tasting of the Skipstone wines that are crafted by Philipe Melka.

Our clients will be treated liked royalty at the uber-sleek Vineyard 29.  Wait until you see the tasting room there.  Seriously, I wouldn’t hesitate to eat off the floors in that winery.

Try the reserve tasting at highly regarded Viader on Howell Mountain.  Delia Viader has been crafting some of Napa’s most iconic wines for the past 25 years.

There are also discounts and upgrades at luxury hotels like the impeccable Carneros Inn and the Silverado Resort.

…and much more.  All for doing what our clients love to do at Crushpad: make wine.


Beaune in the U.S.A.

Published by eric at Jul 07, 2010 - Comments? None yet

We’re happy to announce Charlotte Buisson Dackow as our new intern from Burgundy, France. Having worked harvests at home and as far away as New Zealand, Charlotte will be adding her philosophy and experience to all things Crushpad - wine education and hands on experiences in particular. In her own words below, why leave Burgundy?

Working in the wine industry is a great excuse to travel, and being a French girl from Burgundy seems to also make it very easy. Throughout my different experiences around the world, I always get asked one question in particular, and although it is cliché and the answer seems pretty obvious, it always seems to turn into an interrogation: Is French wine the best?

Naturally, France represents the classic image of wine: the elegance of Burgundy, the power of Bordeaux, the subtlety of the Loire Valley and Alsace and the originality of the South. All these different terroirs make French wine a legend. But what is it like in reality?

Being born and raised in Beaune, Burgundy, certainly one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, it’s also one of the most traditional and conservative ones. It took considerable distance and curiosity to truly understand new wine regions such as New Zealand, Australia and California. When I finally discovered Crushpad last January, it was a real shock. An innovative concept and a quality process at the same time? This was something definitely missing in the rest of the wine world.

Wine lovers don’t have so many options: wine tasting, buying bottles, maybe even picking grapes or sneak a peak in the winery during harvest - but what if we want more? It bugs me to admit it, but the answer is here in Napa, California, wine country that only has 150 years of wine history. So, while people are getting their hands purple from punching down their future Crushpad-made Pinot Noir, what is France doing?

We do have some excuses. Twenty years ago, nobody had to be creative to sell wine in Burgundy. The French tradition, even though admired by the rest of the world, can sometimes be a burden especially when it does not pair with quality and accessibility. Often, the wine community in France is seen as a closed, exclusive and complicated world. And, even though this world does create fascination, it also risks making more and more people indifferent to it. Perhaps we should instead focus on the tradition of sharing wine rather than holding onto the ones that might shut future generations out.

And there is actually something that a lot of people don’t know: wine is fun and Crushpad definitely gets that. These guys not only help thousands of people make their own wine every year - that is to say making their dream come true - but they also make wine ideologically accessible to all. They remind us that learning can be fun with playful classes such as vineyard walks, crush camps, and blending sessions.

No, wine isn’t necessarily boring, exclusive or complicated.

This is basically why I left my Burgundian home and ended up an intern at Crushpad. I am not denying my origin. To me, the best wine in the world will always come from Vosne-Romanée, but I do think the French wine industry would gain a lot by “opening-up” a little bit more. We are slowly getting there, and Crushpad Bordeaux is a step in the right direction, but what a about a Crushpad Burgundy?  Well, it won’t be tomorrow for sure…But there’s nothing wrong about dreaming!

Written by Charlotte Buisson Dackow

Throwdown in NYC: Crushpad vs. City Winery

Published by eric at Jul 02, 2010 - Comments? None yet

Although loosely inspired by Rocky IV, the recent “Throwdown” blind tasting competition between SF’s Crushpad and NYC’s City Winery has always been about a mutual respect for both companies drive towards democratizing wine. The shared passion for creating a winedrinker-to-winemaker community and the unique social bonds created therein is the real meat of this Frazier vs. Ali kind of historic matchup.

Crushpad CEO Michael Brill using remaining strength to hoist Championship belt.

Despite Crushpad, billed as the heavy weight reigning champion with 4000 barrels and six vintages, and the challenger, City Winery, coming in at 400 barrels and two vintages, the event showcased great wines on both sides.

Granted, Crushpad may have taken home the Championship this time, but City Winery’s Michael Dorf has already begun a Burgess Meredith inspired training schedule that will promise another epic battle next year.

As Crushpad CEO Michael Brill said after the match, “We did this because we’ve been helping each other for the past few years and are members of the mutual respect society.  We thought it would be fun to see how far both wineries have come and what better way to do it than have the community judge the wines.”


Visiting Your Wine on the Vine: Coombsville, Napa

Published by eric at Jun 29, 2010 - Comments? None yet

We took some clients over to see how their grapes are coming along and to start actively taking part in the story of their own wine.

The Cabernet Sauvignon that we source from Coombsville is also available in our Vineyard Preview Tasting Pack.  Take a virtual tour then take a real sip.

The next vineyard tour will feature the Pinot Noir of Split Rock in the Petaluma Gap.  Book your spot here.


We’ve Added One to the Flock

Published by eric at Jun 24, 2010 - 1 Comment so far

The Illuminati, Skull and Bones, Fight Club.  These are mere baby steps towards preparing oneself for joining the winemaking team at Crushpad. With this in mind, we are proud to announce Adam Smith.

At Crushpad, Smith will primarily focus on working with clients making Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from the nearly 40 top California vineyards in our portfolio.

“Being a winemaker at Crushpad requires a special skill set,” said Crushpad’s Cheif Winemaker Mike Zitzlaff. Not only do our winemakers need experience making a wide range of wine styles but, perhaps most importantly, they need to be able to transfer their wine knowledge to Crushpad clients effectively.  Adam certainly has those skills.”

Smith, a native Californian, has spent the past five years honing his skills at a number of iconic wineries, most recently as Assistant Winemaker at Bethel Heights Vinyard in the Eola-Amity Hills area of Oregon. Prior to this, Adam worked at Craggy Range, one of New Zealand’s iconic wineries, and Shea Wine Cellars and Domaine Serene in Oregon.

“I’m really excited to begin working with Crushpad’s passionate client base,” Smith noted.  “It’s going to be tremendously rewarding to work with them on literally hundreds of unique and personal wines.”

While at these top tier wineries, Smith worked on many critically acclaimed wines including the 2006 Domaine Serene “Winery Hill Vineyard” Pinot which received 94 points from Robert Parker and the 2008 Shea Estate Pinot Noir which grabbed 93 points from Wine Spectator.

If you want to dig a little deeper, here is a sampling of other award winning wines he’s produced:

Domaine Serene:

2007 “Yamhill Cuvée” Pinot Noir - 90 POINTS - Robert Parker

2006 Grace Vineyard - 93 pts WS

2006 Clos du Soleil Chardonnay - 92 pts WS

2007 Clos du Soleil Chardonnay - 92 pts WS

2006 “Evenstad Reserve” Pinot Noir - 92 POINTS - Wine Spectator - 91 POINTS - Robert Parker

2006 “Mark Bradford Vineyard” Pinot Noir - 93 POINTS - Robert Parker - 92 POINTS - Wine Spectator

2006 “Jerusalem Hill Vineyard” Pinot Noir - 92 POINTS - Robert Parker - 91 POINTS - Wine Spectator

2006 Rockblock “Reserve” Syrah - 91 POINTS - Wine Spectator

2005 Rockblock “Del Rio Vineyard” Syrah - 91 POINTS - Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine

Bethel Heights Vineyard:

2008 Estate Grown Chardonnay - 90 pts Tanzer


The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Published by eric at Jun 21, 2010 - Comments? None yet

Crushpad CEO Michael Brill on Fox Business News discussing the do-it-yourself wine market.


Go With Your Gut - Vineyard Preview Packs

Published by eric at Jun 16, 2010 - Comments? None yet

In a world where wine can be described as tasting “mousy” or like “petroleum,” how about the chance to taste and decide for yourself before committing to making a full barrel?

To that end, we’ve put together a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard preview pack that each contain 4 innovative 50ml TinyBottle samples showcasing 4 distinct vineyards.

if you’re interested in making your own barrel of Cab or Pinot this year, crack each of these open and go with your gut before being carpet bombed with esoteric descriptors and overwhelmed by the power of suggestion.

That said, once you’ve had a chance to taste, watch videos of our winemakers as they taste and discuss what makes each of these vineyards unique.  It’s a rare opportunity to taste by location within a varietal and learn about the bigger picture surrounding these vineyards. Each pack is $20 and comes with free shipping. Learn more here.


Would you trust UPS to deliver your baby?

Published by noah at Jun 10, 2010 - Comments? None yet

Me neither.  That’s why Wanda and Rick Speer (AKA two of the nicest people on the planet) decided to drive their baby home from Napa to Chicago themselves.  OK, so maybe it wasn’t actually a baby but pretty darn close.  These road dogs picked up their 08 White Hawk Syrah and 09 Galleron Road Sauv Blanc in Napa and then hit the road back to Sweet Chicago like some alternate universe Blues Brothers.  33 hours of travel. Sleeping on top of the wine in shifts. Now that’s dedication!


Accolades for Patel in New Wine Spectator

Published by noah at Jun 02, 2010 - Comments? None yet

The new Wine Spectator Insider came out today and Patel Winery scored a big 92 points from Mr Laube with their 2007 Patel Proprietary Red Blend.

There is no doubt that some of the best wines to ever come out of Crushpad are being released right now. Lots more validation of that fact will be coming out over the summer.