SO YOU WANT TO GO GRAPE STOMPING?
Got wrath? Stomp it out on innocent little grapes this fall at grape-stomping and harvest events in Napa Valley and the Amador County wine regions:
Grgich Hills Estate, Rutherford
Jump in a barrel of freshly picked grapes and stomp till you’re blue in the feet — just like Miljenko Grgich did as a child in Croatia — then create a unique keepsake by stamping your grape-stained feet on a white “I Stomped at Grgich Hills” T-shirt. Guests 21 and over will also enjoy a glass of Grgich Hills Estate wine in a monogrammed GoVino wine glass, which you can take home as a souvenir.
The 2017 Grape Stomp is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Oct. 29; 1829
St. Helena Highway, Rutherford; $35 general, $25 for minors and non-wine-consuming stompers; reservations required for groups of eight or more. Details: www. grgich.com.
Calistoga Ranch, Calistoga
For the ultimate autumn wine experience, book the ranch’s annual Grape Stomp and Harvest Party resort package. It’s not cheap, but it features the latest Calistoga Ranch releases plus offerings from local wineries, artisans, vendors and live music.The package includes lodge accommodations and two tickets to the Grape Stomp and Poolside Harvest Dinner with wine pairing. Festivities begin at 4 p.m. Monday; 580 Lommel Road, Calistoga; rates begin at $1,580. Details: calistogaranch.aubergeresorts.com.
Amador Big Crush BBQ and Grape Stomp, Plymouth
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of The Big Crush harvest festival, the Amador Vintners Association will host a special barbecue and grape stomp at the Amador County Fairgrounds, about 40 miles east of Sacramento. It’s an over21 evening of grape stomping, buffet dining, live music, dancing, harvest games, local craft beer and Amador County wines. Three stomping heats will take place at 6:30, 7:15 and 8 p.m. with six two-person teams per heat competing for fun prizes. E-mail director@ amadorwine.com or call 209245-6992 to reserve a stomping spot for your team.
The fun starts at 6 p.m., Oct. 6 at 18621 Sherwood St. in Plymouth. Tickets are $45, with proceeds going toward repair of the Plymouth Public Swimming Pool. Details: www. amadorwine.com. (P.S. You’ll find details on the Big Crush itself, which runs Oct. 7-8, at that link, too.)