SeeCalifornia.com

California doesn’t own the grape stomp craze, though we do produce more than 80% of U.S. wine.  From Minnesota to Alabama, Pahrump (Nevada) to the Lone Star State (Texas,) grape stomping festivals offer fun in the least expected places.

The United States actually borrows an age old process, a method of maceration used in traditional wine-making, turning it into entertainment. It is documented in a Roman Empire sarcophagus from the 3rd century AD, with a depiction of  a group of Erotes harvesting and stomping grapes at Vindemia, a rural festival.

Today when unwitting Americans seek trips to European wine destinations with hopes of attending grape stomps at something akin to Oktoberfest, they may be disappointed. But there’s no need for that. They should head for California, home to nearly 4,000 bonded winery businesses (in 49 out of 58 counties.) The Grape State attracts 23.6 million annual tourists who visit wineries and participate in tastings, dinners, club events and yes, grape stomps!

You see, in California winery marketers aren’t JUST about promoting consumption of some of the world’s best wines. They often believe that people who buy their products should have a good time. If the public wants, say, a grunion run (at California beaches,) or a grape stomp at California wineries, there are many enterprising entrepreneurs who make it happen, thanks to their savvy tourism experience.

Let California’s grape stomp season begin!

• ESCONDIDO: Orfila Winery Grape Stomp August 24, 2019
• ST. HELENA: Peju Grape Stomp August 17
• SAN JOSE: Italian Family Festa Grape Stomp August 24-25
• RUTHERFORD: Grgich Hills Estate Blessing of the Grapes August 30

SEPTEMBER 2019 CALIFORNIA GRAPE STOMPS

• ST. HELENA: Sept.6
• JULIAN: Sept.7
• HEALDSBURG: Sept.14
• MADERA: Sept.14
• RAMONA:  Sept.14
• TEMECULA: Sept.15
• CALISTOGA: Sept.20
• TEMECULA: Sept.22
• SONOMA: Sept.27-29

OCTOBER GRAPE STOMPS

• Paso Robles, Santa Ynez, Solvang, Temecula, Murphys, St. Helena, Lakeport, Santa Rosa … and many more>