Fortress Custom Crush opens full-service winemaking site in Paso Robles
Director of Winemaking and General Manager Jeremy Leffert.
New facility led by Jeremy Leffert serves wineries of all sizes
– Fortress Custom Crush has opened a full-service winemaking facility in westside Paso Robles, offering production capabilities to winery clients of all sizes. The operation is led by Director of Winemaking and General Manager Jeremy Leffert, a veteran Central Coast winemaker with experience in proprietary wine production and custom crush services.
“We provide a perfect solution for brands of all sizes that want to save on capital and labor without sacrificing the highest standards of wine quality,” Leffert said. “We have cultivated a team of highly skilled individuals who have enormous passion for their work and a proven attention to detail. We plan to raise the standard of what wineries expect from a custom crush relationship on the Central Coast.”
The facility, located along Highway 46 West, offers winemaking services from the crush pad to bottling. It accommodates a wide range of volumes, with fermentations available from one ton to 22 tons. Vessels include small bins, concrete, oak, and stainless steel. Services continue through aging, blending, and packaging, with ongoing consultation and communication provided.
Leffert has worked at the facility since 2015 and oversaw its recent conversion to a full-service custom crush operation. Since the 2017 vintage, 92 percent of wines produced by his team have received scores of 91 points or higher. Forty-eight of those wines received scores above 94 points from critics including Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, and Tasting Panel.
“I have an aptitude for the needs of winemakers,” Leffert said. “I personally know what it’s like to be a proprietary winemaker who is reliant on the performance of a custom crush partner. This experience sets the tone for how we operate at Fortress Custom Crush.”
The management team includes Matt Ortman, a second-generation winemaker and former construction manager. Ortman now oversees client logistics, capital improvements, and business development. Fortress Custom Crush is owned by a division of Covelop, a San Luis Obispo development, construction, and property management firm led by Damien Mavis and Pat Arnold.
“One of the things that sets our team apart is an emphasis on a positive workplace culture and the belief that wine quality starts in the vineyard and can only be executed with a happy, clean, and motivated cellar,” Leffert said.
Fortress Custom Crush is accepting new clients ahead of the 2025 growing season and harvest. More information is available at www.FortressCustomCrush.com.
