Central Coast Wine Services

34°54′39″N 120°27′00″W / 34.910711°N 120.450094°W / 34.910711; -120.450094Central Coast Wine Services is a multi-winery processing and warehouse facility located in Santa Maria, California, United States. Founded in 1988, Central Coast Wine Services serves as a warehouse facilities for wineries throughout the Central Coast (California) and includes a custom crush facility as well as bottling line and winemaking equipment rental. The company owns a branch location in Paso Robles. As of 2007, the facility was assisting in the production for over 40 different wine labels, including The Hitching Post wine label of the restaurant featured in the 2004 American film Sideways.

Central Coast Wine Services
LocationSanta Maria, California, US
AppellationSanta Maria Valley
FormerlyCentral Coast Wine Warehouse
Founded1988
First vintage1988
Key peopleChris Brown (winemaker), Jim Lunt (General Manager), Steve Miller (Owner), Nicholas Miller (Owner)
Known forLane Tanner, Core, Paul Lato, Herman Story, McPrice Meyers, Costa de Oro, clos Pepe, J. Wilkes, Conway Vineyards, Kunin, Sans Permis
VarietalsPinot noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Merlot, Grenache
Tastingnot open to public
Websitehttp://www.centralcoastwineservices.com

History edit

The Central Coast Wine Services was founded in 1988 by the Miller family[1] as a warehouse facility for wineries in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties to store their finished cases of bottled wine. Over the years the firm has expanded into a variety of wine making services including: custom crushing of grapes, custom winemaking, bottling, and bonded wine-making production space rental.

Industry edit

The Central Coast Wine Services and its branch location, the Paso Robles Wine Services, are in a small peer group of wineries whose primary business is custom production for other wine labels, rather than producing wine for a label they own.[2] Other such facilities include: Napa Wine Company,[3] Sonoma Wine Company,[4] Courtside Cellars,[5] and Golden State Vinters.

These types of facilities are an American twist on various wine cooperatives such as KWV and Saint-Victor-la-Coste. They differ in that they are privately owned by the customers of the facilities and each has its own label. They are similar in that they utilize the same equipment (crusher-destemmers, wine presses, and stainless steel cooperage) and are often associated with a particular region's enological development.

Facility edit

The Central Coast Wine Services is the home to 40 different labels. That represents approximately one third of the labels in Santa Barbara county.[6] Owing to the concentration of wineries in the facility, it has become a center for other wine industry service providers such as Vinquiry.[7]

Capacity of the Facility edit

  • Current Square footage of facility: 250,000
  • Stainless Steel Storage: 1,800,000 US gallons (6,800 m3)
  • Case Good Storage: 485,000 cases
  • Bottling capacity: 3,000 cases per day
  • Barrel storage: 10,000+ barrels
  • Press capacity: 600 short tons (540 t) per day
  • Certified scale: 70-foot (21 m) truck scale and 5000 lbs. "bin" scale
  • A P Facilities: Approximately 40 individual wineries[8]

Media References edit

The Hitching Post restaurant and winery features prominently in the movie Sideways. The Hitching Post Wine is produced by Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley at the Central Coast Wine Services.[9]

References edit

  1. ^ ""Wine Column: Bob Miller Remembered", Santa Maria Times". Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  2. ^ ""How to Work With Custom Crush Facilities as Partners", Wine Business Monthly". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  3. ^ "Official Site, Napa Wine Company". Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  4. ^ "Official Site, Sonoma Wine Company". Archived from the original on May 31, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  5. ^ "Official Site, Courtside Cellars". Archived from the original on May 20, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2007.
  6. ^ ""A closer look at PRWS: 75 Central Coast brands under one roof", Wines & Vines". Wines & Vines. 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  7. ^ "Official Site, Vinquiry". Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.
  8. ^ ""Facility", Central Coast Wine Services". Archived from the original on February 7, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2007.
  9. ^ ""Sideways", Hitching Post Website". Archived from the original on May 22, 2007. Retrieved May 12, 2007.

External links edit