Now they want to pop your winemaking cherry, which in this case would be a grape, by leading you by the hand through the entire process, from harvest to stomp to blend to bottle to sip.   (With the hangover, you’re on your own, baby.)  They’ve engaged a team of winemaking experts to ensure that your experience will be mishap free, and numerous fun events and workshops are available via various packages.

Said packages are called ‘Grape Escape Harvest Experiences’, and they come in levels to correspond to your particular level of interest.  The full Monty includes hands-on participation in the harvest,  de-stemming, sorting and crushing; then later, you can provide own input into a specific, personal custom blend (classes on the subject are offered), then the bottling and labeling (you’re provided with a California Big Brother pre-approved label template).  Finally, if you opt for it, at the end of the road (up to eighteen months for red wines, twelve for white) you’ll get two cases of your own custom vino.

And, so that you’ll really ‘feel’ the harvesting experience, also available (independently) are Spanish lessons and a green card workshop.

During the one and two day options, depending on your level of involvement, three gourmet meals and beautiful wines are served; the actual physical output of picking and stomping is as much or as little as you prefer.

Since these activities take place at different times throughout the year (the harvest itself happens during September and October) you’ll have to make several return trips to the Zelinski’s digs for whatever stage of the process is current.

Admittedly, the prices are steep for me in recession-ravished Detroit, but since coast to coast jet setting for the individual winemaking steps is sort of impractical for Midwesterners regardless of pay grade, a better option might be to go once, and then let Becky and Lowell bottle and label for you—which they’ll do at no additional charge.  And compared to the competition--Crushpad, for example--the tariff is rather in order.

For a Californian with an interest in the mechanics behind that special Paso Robles merlot, however, it’s an ideal and pampered excursion.  Entry level is $438 with the running-on-all-pistons levels, Master Vintner coming it at $1362, with substantial discounts for Crush Club members—a steal at $35.  If you’re serious about the experience, the membership is the only way to go; the price of admission is more than made up for in the discount.

Another option is to come as a group.  Businesses, social leagues, work teams, outlaw motorcycle gangs, Crips, Bloods or Mrs. Terrace's kindergarten classes; any group of eight to ten can come en masse at a cost pre-arranged by calling  (805) 434-2772 OR (877) 82-CRUSH for information.

All the details can be had at http://www.firstcrushwinemaking.com/

If you decide to give one of the Zelinski’s innovative and very cool-sounding day trips a try, drop me a line and let me know how it went.  I’ll keep an eye out.

And speaking of eyes; goodnight Rossi twin, wherever you are.

Go to article