What Is Grape Stomping?

Few winery traditions capture the spirit of harvest season quite like grape stomping. Equal parts playful, messy, and memorable, this unique event invites guests to roll up their pants, jump into the barrel, and celebrate winemaking in a hands-on way. Check with individual vineyards and wineries for event details, as experiences vary by location.

Grape Stomping Tips

Before you head out to a grape stomp, check out these tips to set yourself up for success:

Dress for the Mess

Remember, you're smashing grapes with your feet in Texas Wine Country. Things are bound to get messy. For this winery visit, wear comfortable clothes that you don't mind getting grape juice on. Be sure to bring a pair of sandals or flip-flops to change into once you've rinsed the grapes from your toes.

Know Your Footing

Grape stomping barrels and tubs can be slippery. Keep your weight centered and take short, deliberate steps rather than lifting your feet too high. A low, rolling stomp is more effective than a full lift-and-drop, and it keeps you upright.

Work the Edges

Grapes tend to roll to the center of the tub and pile up. Work the perimeter first to keep the fruit moving and break down the skins more evenly. This is the technique traditional stompers use to get the most juice out of a barrel.

Find a Technique

Grape stomping has roots in one of winemaking's oldest traditions: breaking down the fruit to release the juice before modern equipment took over the process. Today it's celebrated more for the experience than the craft, but if you're still looking for the best technique, try to focus on breaking the skins evenly rather than stomping with force, and avoid crushing the seeds, which can release bitter tannins into the juice.

Plan Your Visit Accordingly

Harvest season in the Texas Hill Country typically runs July through September, with August being the most active month for stomping events. Grapes stomped earlier in the season tend to be firmer and less juicy than late-harvest fruit.

Capture the Moment

Stomping on grapes is a moment you'll want to remember. Make memories with friends and family as you take turns making purple footprints on commemorative T-shirts. Be sure to share your photos on Instagram and Facebook with the hashtags #FBGTX and #txwinecountry.

Three women smiling and standing in a grape stomping tub

Grape Harvest Events

During the late summer and into early fall, wineries across the Texas Hill Country bring in the grape harvest and open their barrels to visitors. Check our events calendar to find a grape stomping event during your trip to Fredericksburg and Gillespie County.

Purple grapes hanging on a green vine in Fredericksburg, TX

Plan Your Visit

Cap off the experience with a glass of Texas wine during your visit. Texas Wine Country pours everything from crisp sweet whites to bold dry reds. After your stomp, head to one of Fredericksburg's local restaurants or pick up a bottle from the vineyard to enjoy back at your hotel.

Start planning your visit to Fredericksburg and Gillespie County, and browse the full lineup of upcoming wine events and fall festivals.

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