25th Annual Grape Stomp Festival at Pahrump Valley Winery Oct. 7-8
Celebrate the harvest season of iconic grapes, fall and full moons all while channeling your inner Lucy feet first at the 25th Annual Grape Stomp Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fun Ladies Dressed Up for Grape Stomp Festival at Pahrump Valley Winery
The Event is hosted by Bill and Gretchen Loken owners and winemakers of Pahrump Valley Winery & Symphony’s Restaurant. The Loken’s are “bringing gold to the silver state” since 2004 producing nationally recognized wines as Nevada’s largest and most successful winery, proud recipients of over 450 national wine awards.
Grape Stomp Festival Participants at Pahrump Valley Winery
Grape Stomp Festival goers will experience all the excitement of viewing the Stomp competition, wine tasting, food, live music, artisan/craft booths, raffles, and the biggest wine sale of the year. General admission is $10 at the door. The fun Grape Stomp competition, with two-person teams vying to stomp or “crush” the greatest amount of juice in half barrels of grapes, is $50 per team includes complimentary t-shirt and certificate.
Stomping Competition at Grape Stomp Festival Pahrump Valley Winery
Stomp participants will compete in the fruit-smashing action starting at 12 noon every hour on the hour until 3:45 p.m. in two-minute stomping heats every 15 minutes and points are earned for most juiced within two minutes. Winners will be selected by the largest volume of juice produced, and awards will be given for gold, bronze and silver each hour. Trophies also will be awarded for best costume and worst stompers as determined by the judges.
For pre-registration and to check availability to Stomp, visit http://www.pahrumpwinery.com/Events, or call 775-751-7800 or toll free 800-368-9763.
Guests can sample a variety of different wines of brands, based on availability, including Barbera, Syrah, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Symphony, Desert Blush, Burgundy, Merlot, Crème Sherry, and others. The history-making Nevada Ridge wines, Zinfandel, Primitivo, Barbera, Tempranillo and Silver State Red all made from Nevada grown and produced grapes with 100 national wine awards to date will also be sold at the Festival, based on availability.
2017 harvest season is now underway by Pahrump Valley Winery’s co-owners and winemakers Bill and Gretchen Loken and their staff of 10 hand-picking over several weeks a whopping 35-40 tons of grapes from eight acres of vines spread over three vineyards on site at two-acres at Pahrump Valley Winery, five acres in Armargosa and one and half acres in Crystal Heights. One healthy grape vine can produce up to five bottles of wine, one ton of wine will produce 65 cases of Nevada-produced wines and 120,000 bottles of wine per year are produced with over 22 different varities of wines.
“The Nevada wine industry is in its infancy, and we’re excited to play the leading role in proving Nevada can and is capable of producing quality and award-winning wines,” Gretchen states. “Certain areas of Nevada have shown the ability to grow quality wine grapes that are necessary for quality wine. Over the coming years, we’re confident that other growing areas will be discovered and developed into wine regions right here in Nevada. We’re proud to say we’re bringing gold to the Silver State.”
A $1 million expansion is underway to add 7,000 square feet for production, bottling, and event space that is scheduled for completion by end of this year. The winery will significantly expand its production from 9,000 cases annually to up to 40,000 cases, and the larger facility will house 200 barrels, 16 fermentation tanks, a tasting area, and seating for up to 80 for weddings, meetings, and special events.
For daily tour schedules, free wine tasting, dinner reservations at Symphony’s or more information, visit www.pahrumpwinery.com/events, or call Pahrump Valley Winery toll free at 800-368-9763 or 775-751-7800.