After the picking comes the crushing; usually done mechanically in large presses these days, but a growing number of wineries (particularly New World estates in America and Australia) are reviving the retro charms and huge fun to be had in stomping the grapes by foot! A grape stomp make a great end to a grape picking trip if you are in the right part of the world.
Opportunities to stomp and crush grapes by foot are plentiful at harvest time. Look out for stomping fairs and festivals as well as individual experiences at wineries.
At one wine festival in Minnesota they even hold a 'trash the dress' competition, where all competitors are expected to wear a wedding dress as they crush the grapes!
Take a look at this video to get an idea of the fun to be had at a wine stomp!
Sonoma County Grape Camp based: California, USA website: sonomagrapecamp.com
Three-day Grape Camp vacation which offers hands-on experience of grape picking and winemaking instruction in the blending of wine during the fall grape harvest season in Sonoma County, California, where participants stay at the luxurious Kenwood Inn and Spa. An event sponsored by the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission.
| grape picking/harvest | wine making | USA |
Vine & Dine Grape Picking based: Surrey, UK website: Vine&Dine
This unique 'Vine & Dine Grape Picking Experience' offers a snapshot in the day of a working vineyard and winery at the largest vineyard in England. It includes wine tasting and a behind-the-scenes tour of the working winery.
| wine tours | wine appreciation/tasting | grape picking/harvest | England |
Arianna & Friends based: Pisa, Italy website: ariannandfriends.com/grape-harvest-experience-tuscany
Grape picking packages in Tuscany, three night breaks for lovers of the harvest.
| grape picking/harvest | Italy |
Columbia Valley Winery Association: Catch the Crush based: Washington, USA website: columbiavalleywine.com/catchthecrush.htm
Celebrate the grape harvest and crush in Columbia Valley, in the heart of Washington's wine country.
| grape picking/harvest | USA |
Crillon le Brave Hotel based: Provence, France website: crillonlebrave.com
September vendanges package of two mornings of grape harvesting, including 3 nights hotel accommodation, breakfast, picnic lunch and dinner.
| grape picking/harvest | France |
Grapevine Wine Tours based: Mendoza, Argentina website: thegrapevine-winetours.com
Wine tourism in Argentina, including wine tours, tastings and wine harvest festivals.
| wine tours | grape picking/harvest | Argentina |
Paso Robles Wine Country: Harvest Wine Weekend based: California, USA website: pasowine.com/events/harvest.php
Experience the grape harvest as wineries open their doors; help with the picking, crushing and fermentation, go to winemaker dinners, vineyard barbecues and educational seminars.
| grape picking/harvest | USA |
Piedmont Holidays based: Piedmont, Italy website: piedmontholiday.com/...grape-harvest-holiday
Short grape harvest holidays in Piedmont, with one day grape picking in the vineyard and another wine tasting; villa accommodation.
| grape picking/harvest | wine appreciation/tasting | Italy |
The sites listed above are offering grape picking holidays and grape harvest experiences as a recreational holiday activity, often as part of a programme of other wine related or holiday activities. They do not include working and paid grape picking, for which we recommend you do a specific search using the Search Engines. The site listed below may also be a good place to start:
Appellation Contrôlée based: Netherlands website: apcon.nl
Source for grape picking jobs during the vendanges (grape harvest) in the Beaujolais and Maconais regions of France, very informative site with lots of useful information.
DEFINITIONS
FOR TOUR OPERATORS WISHING TO BE LISTED:
Travel-quest's grape harvest and grape picking holidays section lists holidays, vacations, weekends and short breaks where grape picking and participation in the grape harvest is offered as an experience. This should be hands-on experience of picking grapes in a vineyard or winery rather than demonstrations of the activity as part of a vineyard tour. The experience may include other wine related activities such as winery tours or tastings, but the grape picking and harvesting should form a significant part of the break. The experiences listed should be offered as recreational holiday activities rather than as paid grape picking jobs, which are not covered by this directory at present.
