Hill Country Wineries Barrel into Harvest with Grape Stomping Events
Austin, TX – Visitors to the Hill Country vineyards this summer are in for an exciting and unique wine harvest experience. In a burst of seasonal merriment, Hill Country wineries are offering grape stomping activities at their annual wine festivals. Texas Hill Country Wineries (THCW), an association that features more than 60 member wineries, encourages wine enthusiasts to maximize this hot summer season with a slew of engaging events.
Grape Stomping: A Classic Harvest Celebration
The most iconic mark of the harvest season in the local winery scene is the grape stomps – handpicked striving for genuine happiness, turning precision into an enduring custom. With grape stomping, as long as anyone can stomp their bare feet in a bushel of grapes, then they’re fitting right into the festival’s charm.
THCW: A Wine-infused Summer
To cater to their diverse audience, THCW has put together a list of six unique grape stomping events (plus a grape punching event for the adventurous ones) across several vineyards this summer. And while the primary activity is universal, each winery adds its own twist to the event.
Winery Events Round-up:
- Fall Creek Vineyards at Driftwood: Taking place on Sunday, September 8, from noon to 5 pm, this free event offers participants a chance to flaunt their winemaking prowess with purchasable commemorative grape stomp T-shirts.
- Texas Wine Collective: Scheduled on Saturday, August 10, from 6:30-9 pm, this unique grape stomping party ($60-80) includes a delightful paella dinner accompanied by live music performances by Kelany & The All-Nighters.
- William Chris Vineyards: For those who prefer a hands-on experience, they offer a grape punching session ($25) on Wednesday, July 31, and Thursday, August 1, where participants will also understand the significance of wine-making.
- Texas Hills Vineyard: Offering more flexibility in scheduling, this winery hosts a free event with live music performances on four separate days – Saturday, August 24; Sunday, August 25; Saturday, August 31; Sunday, September 1.
- Messina Hof: With two options available -an early brunch ($40-60) or a sunset buffet dinner ($75)- on Friday, August 30, and Saturday, August 31, stompers can soothe their stomping energy while marking their footprints on their complimentary T-shirts.
- Hye Meadow: This vineyard presents a recurring grape stomping event ($39) that includes a production tour and tasting session for a comprehensive insight into wine-making processes on Saturdays in August (3, 10, 17, 24, 31).
In addition to these thrilling grape stomping occasions, THCW’s events calendar is flush with other compelling reasons to visit the Hill Country wineries this summer. Its comprehensive map showcases dozens of wineries scattered around Hill Country, offering sorting options based on age restrictions, wheelchair accessibility, and food availability, among other things.
