Viticulture briefs

<p class="bold allcaps">Crushpad buyers rename company The Wine Foundry</p> <p>The embattled custom-crush facility formerly known as Crushpad has been renamed The Wine Foundry by its new owners.</p><p>The company, owned by Castlegate Capital Advisors, has relocated from an office at Sebastiani Winery to a wine production facility at 21660 8th St. East in Sonoma.</p><p>Castlegate acquired Crushpad's assets earlier this year, avoiding a mass liquidation that could have occurred under a court trustee or assignee, the company said. Customers are incurring additional processing costs for their wines.</p><p>“The majority of private barrel clients are having us finish their orders, which gives us the opportunity to prove ourselves and regain their confidence,” Aaron Hayos, a director at Castlegate and a part owner of The Wine Foundry, said in a statement.</p><h3>Partnership buys Christopher Creek winery</h3> <p>Christopher Creek, a small winery in Healdsburg, has been sold to Dominic Foppoli, Robert Dahl and Phil Lutgen.</p><p>The deal included the 4,000-case winery, brand, inventory and 10 acres of vineyards.</p><p>Foppoli declined to reveal the purchase price, but said it had been on the market for $3 million to $5 million. Funds for the purchase came from a wine export business Foppoli started during the recession, he said.</p><p>Michael Bruson, previously the winemaker at Michel-Schlumberger, will stay on as winemaker, Foppoli said. The new owners plan to add staff, upgrade facilities and host charitable events.</p><p>Foppoli also co-owns Foppoli Wines and Old Redwood Brewing Co. in Windsor, Dom Whitney Wines in Healdsburg and Benevolo Wines in Napa.</p><h3>SSU hosts pair of viticulture seminars</h3> <p>The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University will host two viticulture seminars next month. </p><p>“Practical Vineyard Management,” led by Aaron DeBeers, general manager at Teucer in Coombsville, will be held on Nov. 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. As owner and founder of Vinoptic Consulting, he has worked with Duckhorn Vineyards, Cakebread, Opus One and Paul Hobbs.</p><p>“The Experts' Secrets to Selling Wine Grapes,” led by Nick Frey, president of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, will be held on Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. to noon. Frey will lead a panel discussion including Dave Magnasco, director of grower relations at Constellation and Randy Luginbill, vice president of winery relations at Silverado Premium Properties.</p><p>For more information contact Jessica Heing at 664-3347 or jessica.heing@sonoma.edu.</p><p>Compiled by Staff Writer Cathy Bussewitz. Submit items to cathy.bussewitz@pressdemocrat.com.</p>