Harvest is the favorite time of year for most winemakers -even though the season is truly "twenty-four/seven" as grapes are harvested at their peak sugar/flavor content and crush activities run around the clock at most wineries.
In the midst of all of this activity, the wineries of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance pause on Saturday, October 3, to present the most popular event of the wine year: Grape Stomp. This year marks the sixteenth annual staging of this event - and its popularity has increased every year. Visitors now come from as far away as the East Coast for the opportunity to compete for prizes - and fun - in the stomp competition.
Stomp competition, you ask? Exactly! Two-person teams (one "stomper" and one "mucker") vie with other teams in timed competition to see which team can produce the most juice from their 25 pounds of grapes. One person stands in the wine barrel and stomps the grapes ("Methode Ancienne" redefinedl) while the mucker guides the juice through the slot in the barrel into the measuring bucket. Heats are held throughout the day with heat winners meeting in the championship round late in the day. Many teams dress in costumes (think Lucy and Ethyl, clusters of grapes, or costumes beyond your imagination) and the action can get a little wild - and always remains fun.
And if the stomp itself were not enough, member wineries offer discounts and special tastings in their tasting rooms during the day and the annual Gold Rush Street Fair - with vendor booths filled with food, drink, and crafts - taking over Main Street in Murphys. Murphys' ever-growing array of superb restaurants will be open as well, so regardless of your interests, there will be something to tantalize you.
All this happens on Saturday, October 3, in downtown Murphys, CA. The grape stomp occurs in Murphys Community Park in the heart of Murphys and the Street Faire is on Main Street. Grape Stomp time slots can be reserved in advance (and probably should be, as every slot is sold out every year) by visiting www.calaveraswines.org and clicking on the "Grape Stomp" block Don't miss out! This could be YOUR year to walk away with the prize.
If you have any comments about this - or any - of my blog entries, please contact me at paladin.mod@gmail.com. I respond to all emails and will post ones that seem appropriate.
In the midst of all of this activity, the wineries of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance pause on Saturday, October 3, to present the most popular event of the wine year: Grape Stomp. This year marks the sixteenth annual staging of this event - and its popularity has increased every year. Visitors now come from as far away as the East Coast for the opportunity to compete for prizes - and fun - in the stomp competition.
Stomp competition, you ask? Exactly! Two-person teams (one "stomper" and one "mucker") vie with other teams in timed competition to see which team can produce the most juice from their 25 pounds of grapes. One person stands in the wine barrel and stomps the grapes ("Methode Ancienne" redefinedl) while the mucker guides the juice through the slot in the barrel into the measuring bucket. Heats are held throughout the day with heat winners meeting in the championship round late in the day. Many teams dress in costumes (think Lucy and Ethyl, clusters of grapes, or costumes beyond your imagination) and the action can get a little wild - and always remains fun.
And if the stomp itself were not enough, member wineries offer discounts and special tastings in their tasting rooms during the day and the annual Gold Rush Street Fair - with vendor booths filled with food, drink, and crafts - taking over Main Street in Murphys. Murphys' ever-growing array of superb restaurants will be open as well, so regardless of your interests, there will be something to tantalize you.
All this happens on Saturday, October 3, in downtown Murphys, CA. The grape stomp occurs in Murphys Community Park in the heart of Murphys and the Street Faire is on Main Street. Grape Stomp time slots can be reserved in advance (and probably should be, as every slot is sold out every year) by visiting www.calaveraswines.org and clicking on the "Grape Stomp" block Don't miss out! This could be YOUR year to walk away with the prize.
If you have any comments about this - or any - of my blog entries, please contact me at paladin.mod@gmail.com. I respond to all emails and will post ones that seem appropriate.