Punchdown Cellars

Formerly known as Copain Custom Crush, Punchdown Cellars is a Santa Rosa-based provider of winemaking services and logistics to boutique wineries and independent vintners. Founded in 2001, the crush facility was based on a collective of winemakers sharing space and having the freedom to hand craft their wines. The concept was a much welcomed breakaway from the status quo in the world of custom crush.

In 2004, it was time to take the business to the next level of service. Long time friend and colleague Robert Morris left his Engineering career at HP/Agilent technologies and joined forces to enable this new direction. The next several years contained a series of expansions and improvements that have grown the business to it’s current level of approximately 75,000 cases per year. Facility and process improvements coupled with founder Kevin McQuown’s continued push in technology to help manage clients needs, have advanced our facility to the highest level of service.

The company provides a full host of custom crush services for premium wine production, a state of the art facility, and an innovative, client-only website that gives winemakers access to winemaking archives and the ability to submit work orders remotely. Punchdown Cellars currently boasts an impressive client roster of 30 to 40 boutique wine producers. For more information, visit their services page to download our current brochure.

Author: Caroline Porsiel

Caroline Porsiel is a master distiller and liqueurist based in East Ellijay, Georgia. She founded House of Applejay, a fine spirits and liqueur distillery, in 2022 with her mother, Sabine, crafting award-winning products like Applejay from Ellijay, Mt. Frozen Knob Vodka, and Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. The distillery won a 2024 Best of Georgia Award and a 2025 Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its Winter Cherry Mountain Liqueur. As a founding member of the AMBRU Campaign, launched in 2020, Porsiel advocates for the global recognition of American Brandy and Rum. She continues to drive innovation in the craft spirits industry from her active distillery in the heart of Georgia’s apple country.