CALAVERAS WINEGRAPE ALLIANCE GRAPE STOMP

Produced by the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, the Calaveras Grape Stomp, held in conjunction with the Gold Rush Street Faire, is a unique, fun-filled day for the whole family. Proceeds from the Calaveras Grape Stomp support local community groups.

At the Grape Stomp, teams of two, a Swabber (sometimes called a Mucker) and a Stomper compete to try and stomp the most juice out of measured amounts of wine grapes. An experienced panel of experts precisely weighs the juice, and prizes are awarded to all the winners. There are special prizes for the top finishers in the Championship Stomp.

Teams are encouraged to appear in costume (like we could prevent it anyway) and prizes are awarded for costumes based on originality, design, and effort.

But there's more to the Grape Stomp than just the wanton destruction of two tons of perfectly good fruit. There's also a terrific silent auction where you can score some key bargains on Calaveras Wines, ski packages at Bear Valley, and other great items.

There's also a call auction offering amazing wine experiences at some of Calaveras' award-winning wineries, featuring fabulous gourmet dinners, vineyard tours, and a chance to rub shoulders with some of the leading winemakers in the Sierra Foothills. Proceeds support local community groups.

So make your plans now (for the 1st Saturday in October) to have some great food, award-winning wine, unique .... uh, entertainment, and a massive Street Faire, all in the picturesque and historic Gold Rush town of Murphys, CA