Cape Cod isn’t necessarily known as wine country, but there are a few winemakers in the area. Harwich’s First Crush Winery is a unique venture that has quickly become a community staple since opening its doors in September 2015, and it is well worth visiting during your vacation.
First Crush enjoys a relatively secluded location on Main Street in Harwich near a section of the Cape Cod Rail Trail. You’ll probably need a vehicle to reach the facility from your vacation rental, but the quality of the wine makes it worth the trek.
This winery has a unique co-op wine club and a popular tasting room with antique decor and a welcoming vibe. Here’s everything you should know about visiting First Crush Winery in Harwich, MA.
The Grapes
As you approach First Crush Winery, the first thing you’ll notice is the lack of a vineyard. That’s because the winery gets its grapes from a trusted provider in Northern California’s Napa Valley region, ensuring consistency in the year-to-year harvests.
While growing grapes on Cape Cod is possible, as proven by Truro Vineyards, the cold winter weather and humid climate can create challenges. First Crush Winery eliminates much of this risk by importing grapes from an ideal climate zone, ensuring their full catalog is available each and every year.
Available Wines
Once you enter the winery, you’ll see a surprisingly wide variety of wines available for purchase. First Crush makes 50,000 bottles of wine annually, and many have won awards in the past, so you know you’re getting a high-quality product for your money.
Red wines produced by First Crush Winery include Fusion (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 8% Malbec, 5% Petite Verdot), visZINary (65% Primitivo Zinfandel, 35% Petite Syrah), Amoré (80% Sangiovese, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 3% Petite Verdot), and Rapture (100% Sangiovese). Fusion, visZINary, and Rapture are award-winning creations you must try if you love red wine.
There’s a variety of white wines available at First Crush, too, including Innocence (88% Dry Riesling, 5% Sweet Riesling, 7% Sangiovese), Star Spangled (100% Sauvignon Blanc), and Enchanted (100% Chardonnay).
The winery also has a couple of unique cranberry wines, Cran Blanc and Three-Sip-Cran, that use Cape Cod cranberries. Cran Blanc is a 50% Cape Cod Cranberries/California raisins, 50% Sauvignon Blanc blend, while Three-Sip-Cran is 75% Cape Cod cranberries and 25% California raisins.
The Tasting Room
You can visit the First Crush tasting room during your Cape Cod vacation, and you don’t need a reservation unless you arrive with a group of six or more. It’s possible to sit inside or outside in the summer, and you’ll have two options for your tasting.
The first option is the standard tasting, which costs $15 and allows you to sample five wines. The premium option is $20 and includes six wine samples, including one reserve option, and a chocolate cookie. You can also grab a cheese and cracker plate for an additional $12 or have wine by the glass after your tasting.
COOP Memberships
While you can buy wine by the bottle from First Crush Winery, the business has a unique wine club you might consider. About 42% of all wine the facility produces goes to members of its COOP program, and there’s no membership fee to join.
Becoming a COOP member involves prepaying for at least one case of First Crush wine and 50% of a second case. You can choose any wine you wish to fill your cases, and all you have to do is purchase 24 bottles per year to remain active.
You’ll save significantly by becoming a COOP member because you’ll only pay $17.50 per bottle. You can also buy additional bottles beyond your reserved cases for $18 each or reserve three or more cases and only pay $16.66 per bottle.
Wine club members pick their cases up from the winery in the summer or fall, so if you plan to make Cape Cod your annual vacation spot, becoming a COOP member makes a lot of sense.
COOP members also have access to special events at the winery and can participate in the wine-making process. You don’t have to partake, but it’s possible to assist with the crushing, fermentation, pressing, and bottling processes while receiving professional guidance along the way.
Visiting First Crush
Wine lovers visiting Cape Cod simply have to check out First Crush because of the quality products they create. Having the option of joining the wine club and participating in the wine-making process is a bonus that many locals and visitors appreciate, as well.
First Crush Winery is a local gem in Harwich and is a must-visit location for anyone looking to try some local wine. You might just find a new favorite during your Cape Cod vacation.
