March 23, 2020
What Is Custom Crush Winemaking?There are several ways that one can approach winemaking. And for those that are newer to the wine industry, custom crush might be an unfamiliar term you’ve come across during your research. Here we address the major question of “What is Custom Crush?” in addition to outlining the major benefits of using a custom crush facility, and why custom crush might be a good fit for you and your production.
Custom Crush is the idea of making wine in a facility with equipment and resources provided by the facility management team. Depending on your winemaking operation, it can be a great way to make wine without the overhead and capital investment of a dedicated winery.
Winemaking Goals
Your first step is to identify your winemaking goals. When your goals are clear, it is easier to make the right decisions for your wine brand. Do you want to make wine or manage a facility? Setting up a dedicated winery is a bit like the responsibilities of owning a house (but usually much larger): You are going to have a lot of equipment and infrastructure to install, repair, upgrade, as well as permitting and personnel to employ in operating that facility. Many people prefer to place their focus on the craft of winemaking rather than the burden of a facility. If you’d rather not manage a facility, then custom crush might be the way to go.
Additionally, you will need to identify your unique needs, values, and objectives. Do you make small or large lots of wine? Do you start with grapes or bulk wine? What is your target price point? Do you have any specific tasting room or hospitality needs? Are you starting with a wine label or do you also own a vineyard? These are important questions to ask yourself before you embark on this endeavor.
Custom Crush wineries can adapt to varying methods of making wine. One winemaking technique is sorting all the grapes that are received into the winery by hand.
What Benefits Does a Custom Crush Facility Offer?
A custom crush facility offers a variety of benefits. First you might want to consider the financial and accounting advantages that they present. Custom crush is usually priced at a fixed cost per ton or case that allows for more accurate financial forecasting and budgeting. Since the custom crush company owns or operates the facility, they alleviate the capital-intensive costs of setting up a winery.
Custom crush offers a variety of labor benefits. The staff is both trained and skilled in best practices, which is directly related to the quality of their winemaking. You, as a winemaker or winery owner, can direct your winemaking goals and know that a skilled team is carrying out the work. Custom crush absorbs labor-related liability and any additional payroll expenses (insurance, workman’s comp, etc.)
Perhaps the equipment and the facility itself offer the widest range of advantages. When you use custom crush, you have access to high-end equipment with limited or no maintenance or upkeep costs. The custom crush staff also understands the permitting process and handles the permit process from end-to-end. The list of permits required to make wine is extensive.
