Success Story: Altamont Vineyard & Winery

Altamont Vineyard & Winery is a family-owned winery known for its scenic vineyard nestled in the foothills of the Helderberg Mountains. Founded by Louis DiCrescenzo in 2016 and now run with his son, Michael, the winery has expanded from a passion project to a thriving business hosting weddings, parties, and other outdoor gatherings. With 25 grape varieties grown across 15 acres, it has become a hidden gem, born from a family's deep love for winemaking - a story that began with Louis working alongside his grandfather in their family’s vineyard in Italy.

The Challenge: Outdated Equipment Slowing Growth

As the winery’s production and event bookings increased post-pandemic, the DiCrescenzos faced a major bottleneck in the form of an aging 35-year-old grape press. The outdated press required extensive manual labor, yielded less juice, and slowed production.

Michael DiCrescenzo sought funding to upgrade to a modern must pump and pneumatic press, which would reduce labor costs, improve efficiency, and enhance the quality of the wine. However, securing financing proved challenging—after multiple unsuccessful attempts at obtaining USDA grants, the winery needed a fast, reliable funding solution.

The Solution: Pioneer’s Express Small Business Lending

Pioneer’s Express Small Business Lending program was designed to help businesses like Altamont Vineyard & Winery get the capital they need—quickly and with minimal paperwork. After struggling with lengthy and unsuccessful grant applications, Michael turned to Pioneer.

With a streamlined approval process, the winery secured a loan of nearly $40,000 in just two business days, covering 90% of the cost of the new press and pump. Unlike previous grant options that required a 50/50 match, Pioneer’s loan structure allowed the DiCrescenzos to move forward with only a 10% upfront investment.

The Results

With the new grape press and pump in place, Altamont Vineyard & Winery is set to double production capacity while improving efficiency and wine quality. The upgrade will:

  •  Reduce production costs and manual labor.
  •  Increase output from two press loads per day to three to five press loads per day.
  •  Improve wine quality by reducing oxidation.

For Michael and his family, this investment is about more than just new equipment—it’s the next stepping stone toward the future they are realizing for the winery.

Why Pioneer?

Pioneer’s Express Small Business Lending program helps small businesses act quickly when opportunity strikes. With decisions in just two business days and funding shortly after, small businesses can get the capital they need—fast.

Need funding to move your business forward?