Ideally situated in in Sonoma Valley—just 45 minutes from the heart of Napa Valley and a short drive from the Russian River AVA—Sugarloaf Crush (SLC) provides the latest equipment, cutting-edge technology, and a dedicated, experienced team to deliver ultra-premium winemaking for a wide range of clients in the heart of California wine country.
Founded in 2016, SLC has assembled a winning combination of precision production equipment and tailored processes designed for crafting premium wines from all varieties. In 2019, SLC opened the doors of its spectacular, 7,000-foot Hospitality Center, complete with by-appointment tasting room, thoughtfully designed private tasting suites with indoor and outdoor seating, and a superbly appointed large-event space with class-two commercial kitchen.
“We’re located in a beautiful location between two mountain ranges with vineyards out in front of the property,” explains Ronald Du Preez, Sugarloaf Crush General Manager. “We offer the absolute best in custom winemaking for discerning clients, along with great hospitality and that classic wine country feel.”
Sugarloaf Crush is outfitted with a comprehensive range of quality production equipment and facility enhancements that include:
- A cold room for immediate reception of off-loaded fruit;
- A Carlsen vibrating cluster sorting table that extracts hard raisins and MOG prior to destemming;
- An Oscillys 200 destemmer with variable roller-width settings for the near perfect berry selection
- A post-destemming sorting table from Vaslin-Bucher integrated with a WECO optical sorter
Sugarloaf Cush offers two, four, six, eight and ten-ton fermentation tank options to accommodate a full range of production needs, with the goal to support clients crafting smaller lots of high-end fruit. The facility was designed with flexibility in mind.
For tank transfer, destemmed berries can be moved via stainless-steel bin dumping or peristaltic pump. All tanks are TankNet-controlled with hot and cold glycol capabilities.
Additionally, three separate barrel rooms provide a variety of heating, cooling and humidity settings to keep barrels in perfect condition throughout the lifecycle of individual wines.
InnoVint winery management software ties the operation together and ensures everyone is on the same page, with real-time access and processing updates facilitating clear communication between crew and clients, 24/7.
Because direct sales are an essential part of every fine wine equation, SLC recently opened its onsite Hospitality Center for member clients. Featuring a by-appointment tasting room, separate indoor/outdoor suites for private tastings, and a commercial kitchen with all the gourmet bells and whistles required for next-level entertaining, the Center is a key draw for those looking for a complete custom crush service offering.
For facility tours and more information, go to www.sugarloafcrush.com.
