MDCrush for Winemakers
MDCrush provides amateur winemakers with the opportunity to obtain quality wine grapes from local sources when the grapes are ready to be harvested for commercial wine production.
Traditionally, large vineyards or commercial wineries with excess wine grapes will open up a harvest window where amateurs are allowed to come in and pick fruit. The amateurs are usually directed to rows of lesser quality, and the fruit is harvested early. The window is usually closed just prior to harvest for commercial use. So the amateur is paying the most money per pound, and getting fruit of lesser quality, harvested too early.
MDCrush leverages its relationships with local wine growers to correct some of the issues amateur winemakers face when attempting to make homemade wine from local fruit including:
- Monitoring Fruit Quality
- Negotiating price based on Fruit Quality
- Gaining access to bulk sellers by combining smaller orders
- Gaining access to fruit right at harvest
- Organizing delivery of fruit from a central distribution point
- Providing equipment for Crushing and De-stemming fruit
Monitoring Quality
MDCrush monitors wine grape quality with on-site vineyard visits and is in constant contact with growers throughout the growing season.Negotiating Price
MDCrush understands what is required in grapes to make good wine and can negotiate price based on examining fruit quality. You're paying the highest price per pound as an amateur so you should expect the best quality.Access to fruit at harvest, not pre-harvest
When the fruit is ready to be harvested for winemaking, MDCrush coordinates the pickup and distributes the fruit from a central location in Mt. Airy, Maryland.Crushing and De-stemming
MDCrush provides free crushing and de-stemming of wine grapes for orders of 100 lbs or more. If you've purchased your fruit from another source, you are welcome to use our crusher/de-stemmer for a small charge.