The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance (CWA) has hosted the annual Grape Stomp Competition and Harvest Celebration in Murphys, CA for 26 years. This annual competition and fundraising event has become a tradition for many who meetup for a reunion weekend in Calaveras Wine Country. After careful consideration of current social distancing laws around large-scale events due to pandemic, the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance team has decided to host the first of its kind, “Virtual Grape Stomp: Backyard Edition” on Sunday, September 27th using Zoom meeting services.
What is a Virtual Grape Stomp? Teams of two register online through the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance website for a “Grape Stomp Kit” that includes a stomp barrel, 25 pounds of grapes, juice measuring devices, tasting passes for each adult stomper and stomp instructions. Once registered, teams will receive “How To” tips in an Instructional Video – how to setup Backyard Grape Stomp, how to measure juice as well as secrets from Grape Stomp Hall of Famers. Each team has three minutes to produce as much juice as possible from 25 pounds of grapes and the backyard stomp will be recorded using Zoom online meeting services. Official stomp results will be reviewed in the Zoom video recordings and each team will enter their stats in an online form provided with instructions. The Top 10 Virtual Stomp Teams will be awarded prizes and bragging rights. Costumes are highly recommended and judging will be based on skills, spirit and style. During registration, stomp teams will select their kit pickup date/time for either the Friday or Saturday before the virtual event. Kits will be ready for pickup at the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance Wine Information Center at 202 Main Street in Murphys.
To get stompers pumped up about the virtual event, teams will enjoy a day of wine tasting in Calaveras Wine Country with their 1-Day Tasting Pass provided at time of kit pickup. Team entry fee is $120 and includes Grape Stomp Kit items, 1-Day Tasting Pass for each stomper, Measuring Supplies, access to Virtual Grape Stomp event hosted using Zoom and a few surprises. A limited number of 400 registrations are available for the first virtual stop and will sell out. Advance registration is required at: https://www.calaveraswines.org/grape-stomp. All registered stompers get advance access to the online silent auction.
The CWA will also host an online Silent Auction. Each year, local owners of wineries, adventure companies, shops, service providers, restaurants and hotels donate incredible items and gift certificates to the Grape Stomp Auction. Annual contributions raise between $8000-$10000 that gets donated to local organizations and high school scholarship programs. “Thanks to the support of our board of directors, we have put our heads together to develop a virtual program that will ensure this annual event continues,” explains Sandra Hess, Executive Director, Calaveras Winegrape Alliance. “Each year we sell out of Grape Stomp team registrations at 120 maximum slots and with the virtual grape stomp we can open up to 400 stomp teams from the comfort of their backyards – what fun!” she shares.
To learn more about the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance or the annual Grape Stomp & Harvest Festival, visit www.calaveraswines.orgor email info@calaveraswines.org.
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