REGISTER BY SEPTEMBER 21 FOR SEP 25 HARVEST!
Register now

by Jenni Sabiani

As a wine lover, you've probably drunk some nice wine, gone wine tasting, and even met some winemakers. Some of you may have even had the pleasure of experiencing a HARVEST!  But many of you have yet to experience the thrill of harvest in wine country with First Crush. So what is this Harvest Experience next weekend we keep talking about?

Chances are, you’ve seen Lucy stomping grapes but have YOU ever stomped grapes?  One of the fun, exciting things  you do during First Crush’s Harvest  Getaways is a GRAPE STOMPING COMPETITION!  Here’s how it works:

We assign teams. Each team member takes a turn stomping the grapes (the crusher), separating the juice from the skins with a sieve (the presser), and ladling the juice from the sieve and making a mad dash to the bottling table (the bottler) where they fill up empty wine bottles with the juice. The team members rotate until time runs out.  The victorious team is the one who has filled the most bottles. This is no ordinary barrel stomp - it's fun, competitive, and just a little bit crazy. Lucy would have loved it!

But before  you stomp you’ll need wine and nourishment, which First Crush will provide in your beautiful vineyard setting.

On Saturday September 24, Croad Vineyards and winemaker, Martin Croad will be hosting a fabulous Winemaker Dinner that includes Croad wine selections paired with a delectable 4-course dining experience overlooking the spectacular vineyards.  Some of the delicious tidbits from the menu include: halibut ceviche shooters with fried plantains, braised beef short ribs with chanterelle mushrooms, a trio of truffles and much more.  View the complete menu here!

The following morning begins with a scrumptious breakfast in the vineyards featuring Cahoot’s cuisine (a local favorite) paired with local sparkling wine. Next, you get a guided tour through the vineyards with viticulture expert, Lowell Zelinski.  He’ll teach you about the fascinating world of grape cultivation, harvest, and wine making.  Then comes the leisurely picking in the featured Paso Robles vineyard of the weekend.

Afterward, we move over to the beautiful Silver Horse Winery where you get to crush, sort and destem the fruit right along with winemaker, Steve Kroener. Next, is a tasty gourmet picnic lunch at Silver Horse with Cahoot’s.

The day ends on Saturday evening, September 25, with Silver Horse’s annual Bacchanalia party from 4-8pm, where First Crush Harvesters are invited to eat, drink,  and listen to live music while enjoying the breathtaking view of the hundreds of vineyard acres surrounding the Silver Horse grounds.

In celebration of California Wine Month, we are offering this amazing harvest experience with the winemaker dinner for only $350.  That’s over $200 in savings!

Accommodations for September 24 and 25 are still available from the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express Atascadero (20% Off for Crush Club Members), and La Quinta.

Don’t miss out on this unique experience!  Register now.