Circle Saturday, October 4 on your wine calendar. That is the date of the annual harvest celebration in Murphys (Calaveras Co.), which is traditionally the biggest weekend of the year in our little Gold Rush town. The annual Grape Stomp - now in its 15th year - attracts competitors from across the U.S. (last year I interviewed a couple who traveled from New Jersey...just for the Grape Stomp!). Teams of two (the "stomper" and the "mucker") compete against the clock (and other teams) to see who can produce the most juice in the allotted time. Wacky costumes are welcomed and prizes (cash and wine) are given for costumes as well as to the winning stomp team.
But wait! There's more! There is also a street faire, where attendees can shop from among a large array of artisan food and merchandise tents - and, remember, there are thirteen tasting rooms within walking distance of the Murphys Community Park, the home of the Grape Stomp.
And if that were not enough, there will be an expanded live and silent auction featuring the best lineup of items seen in years. 100% of the proceeds from this auction go to local Calaveras charities in what is the Calaveras Wine Grape Alliance's biggest charity event of the year. This year's auction is offering unique wine and recreational experiences than cannot be found elsewhere, such as behind the scenes winemaking and exclusive winery experiences, weekend get-aways, an Ironstone Concert package,wine bottling, and a broad array of gourmet dinners and fine wine pairings.
Information can be found at www.calaveraswines.org. If you've not been to this festival before, I inviite you to join us, get your feet wet (and purple), and enjoy an autumn dose of Calaveras hospitality.