Contract Winemaking
Independent, small-scale production — grounded in experience, not volume.
Contract winemaking through Post Ferment is built around hands-on production, clear decision-making, and realistic outcomes. This is not custom crush by default, and it is not designed for scale.
It is designed for growers and small brands who want their wine made with care, transparency, and involvement — by someone who will be present from fruit intake through to bottling.
Who This Is For
Vineyard owners with fruit but no bonded facility
Small brands producing limited volumes
Growers seeking clarity and direct input around winemaking decisions
Wineries requiring additional cellar capacity or vintage overflow support
Projects where collaboration, communication, and intent matter
Projects are primarily focused within the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley, with select exceptions depending on vintage and capacity.
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There is no house style imposed here.
Every wine begins with fruit condition, intent, and constraints — and decisions follow from there. The focus is on making sound wine honestly, with interventions used deliberately rather than by default.
Guiding principles include:
Fruit-driven decision making
Minimal intervention where appropriate (not dogmatic)
Clear explanation of additives and adjustments
Practical blending strategy
Respect for time, structure, and patience
No miracles promised. No shortcuts disguised as technique.
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Contract winemaking may include:
Harvest intake and fermentation management
Additive planning and bench trials
Cap management, pressing, and settling
Blending trials and strategy
Barrel coordination (client-owned or arranged)
Bottling preparation and oversight
Record keeping and compliance support
Specific services depend on fruit, volume, timing, and facility availability.
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Winemaking services are carried out at a bonded California winery located at 18101 Montebello Road, Cupertino, CA 95014, where I am actively involved.
The site primarily services fruit from the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and Santa Clara Valley AVA. In select vintages, the facility can also accommodate limited overflow production from other wineries when timing, capacity, and stylistic alignment allow.
Contract availability is intentionally constrained by:
Vintage conditions
Tank and barrel space
Production timing
Stylistic fit
Capacity is kept small by design to ensure proper oversight, accountability, and hands-on involvement throughout the winemaking process.
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With over twenty-five years in the wine industry, my background spans:
Five countries
More than a dozen wine regions
Biodynamic and organic vineyards
Large-scale commercial production
Small, site-driven wines
That range informs how I approach contract work — not as a formula, but as a set of tools applied with restraint.
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Conversations begin with fruit, volume, and intent — not packaging or branding.
If the project makes sense for both parties, we move forward with a clear scope, timeline, and expectations.
Availability is limited, and not every project is taken on.
Enquiries:
info@postferment.com+1 858 859 5844
If you're interested in working with us, complete the form with a few details about your project. We'll review your message and get back to you within 48 hours.