Collection Gift Guide: I've Got a Crush on You
12/01/2005
Crush Camp
Before visiting Sterling Vineyards three years ago to
experience a day in the life of a winemaker, I received some succinct advice:
“Bring your grubbies.” My compatriots and I arrived during the busy harvest
season to learn the finer points of wine production, and we began our day in a
field ripe for harvest. After a primer in viticulture and a demonstration of
picking techniques, we set out—culling knives in hand—to harvest several rows of
merlot. We followed the fruits of our labor to Sterling’s crush pit, where we
raked, sorted, and rinsed our grapes as they entered the winery’s hopper for
crushing. Later came a whirlwind of touring wine caves, discussing winemaking
philosophies with vintners, and tasting wines in various stages of the aging
process. Somewhere along the way, we managed a barrel-rolling contest and a
sit-down lunch where Sterling’s winemaker led an informal discussion on
terroir.
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(Click on image to enlarge.)Today, Sterling’s program—dubbed Crush Camp—has expanded to two days and includes the vineyards of Beaulieu, Provenance, Acacia, and Moon Mountain. And the camp now features a visit to a demo vineyard with nearly 100 grape varietals and a wide range of trellising systems; it gives participants a historical and cultural perspective on various viticulture techniques. A culinary twist has also been added: At the conclusion of day one, winemakers gather for a harvest dinner at Beaulieu’s historic Rutherford House where they again go behind the scenes to help prepare dinner with a well-known local chef such as Joey Altman.
Day two is slightly less rigorous, and begins with a Champagne brunch, a truck ride through Carneros vineyards, and a tailgate tasting where participants learn the intricacies of microclimates. A picnic beneath a grove of trees at Moon Mountain vineyard provides scenic vistas of the distant Golden Gate Bridge. The $1,025 Crush Camp includes accommodations and is limited to 25 participants; exact dates are determined based on harvest conditions.
Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, 707.967.5288, www.diageowines.com