GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (September 17, 2017) – Large crowds celebrated Grapevine’s 31st Annual GrapeFest - A Texas Wine Experience in Historic Downtown Grapevine September 14, 15, 16 and 17. Visitors tasted and savored the wines of Texas, and unique wines from New York and Canada, including Icewine not normally available in Texas. Guests also participated in festival favorites such as the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the Liberty Park Plaza Wine Experience, GrapeStomp, experienced fun family-friendly activities and enjoyed a beautiful festival weekend.
Throughout the festival, the guest wineries were quite impressed with the warm Texas welcome to the wines they served in the Liberty Park Plaza Wine Experience
“We’ve participated in many events and shows and we have never experienced such positive reactions to our wines. GrapeFest was a huge success for us,” said Ted Cupp, owner, Thirsty Owl Wine Company.
“The Liberty Park Plaza Wine Experience was immensely popular throughout the weekend,” said festival co-chair, Les Wilson. “Many of the wines sold out during the festival. In fact, Red Cat from Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards’ was sold out by 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.”
Other wines that sold out during the festival included the Canadian Icewines and Rieslings.
Almost one-third of the world’s population was represented at the 2017 Mayoral GrapeStomp with international teams from Grapevine’s Sister Cities of Parras de la Fuente, Mexico and West Lothian, Scotland and a team representing the People’s Republic of China. There were 15 teams from across North Texas including Balch Springs, Bedford, Carrollton, Combine, Euless, Forest Hill, Grapevine, Haslet, Mansfield, North Richland Hills, Pantego and Wilmer. The winners of the Most Juice Stomped Award with 38.5 ounces, was the team from Wilmer, featuring Mayor Casey Burgess and Laurie Evans. Some of the other winners included the team from Euless, which won the Funniest Costume and the team from Balch Springs which won the Judges MVP.
One of the signature GrapeFest events, the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, is the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation. Guests had the opportunity to sample 146 Texas wines from 39 Texas wineries. Seven of the 11 sessions were sold out. Some of the Texas wineries in attendance included Becker Vineyards, Cross Timbers Winery, Delaney Vineyards, Haak Vineyards & Winery, Old Man Scary Cellars and this year’s Tall in Texas award recipients, Lost Oak Winery and Brennan Vineyards. After sampling the wines, guests then voted on their favorites in ten categories.
“This year, of the 39 participating wineries, the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic featured six first-time participating wineries as part of the competition,” said Victoria Wilson, festival co-chair. “Several of these wineries took home medals, including Bull Lion Ranch, winner of the gold in the Red: Blends category and Old Man Scary Cellars who won the bronze in the White: Blends Category.”
The winners of the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic are:
White: Dry
- Gold: Landon Winery, Viognier, 2016
- Silver: Wedding Oak Winery, Roussanne, 2016
- Bronze: Brennan Vineyards, Classic Viognier, 2015
White: Off Dry
- Gold: Messina Hof Winery, Father & Son Cuvee, 2016
- Silver: Llano Estacado Winery, Pinot Grigio, 2016
- Bronze: Blue Ostrich Winery, Vin Blanc, 2015
White: Sweet
- Gold: Messina Hof Winery, Angel Late Harvest Riesling, NV
- Silver: Landon Winery, Yellow Rose, NV
- Bronze: Bella Stella Winery, Pears Well, 2016
White: Blends
- Gold: Silver Dollar Winery, IM’Peached, 2015
- Silver: Bingham Family Vineyards, Cloudburst, 2014
- Bronze: Old Man Scary Cellars, Prima Volta, 2015
Blush/Rosé
- Gold: Bella Stella Winery, Musacadine Medley, 2016
- Silver: Blue Ostrich Winery, Pink Muscat, 2016
- Bronze: Enoch’s Stomp, Susan’s Secret, 2016
Red: Light
- Gold: Messina Hof Winery, Private Res Pinot Noir, 2016
- Silver: Silver Dollar Winery, Peace* Maker Merlot Res, 2014
- Bronze: Landon Winery, Pinot Noir, 2015
Red: Medium
- Gold: Messina Hof Winery, GSM, NV
- Silver: Landon Winery, Tempranillo, 2015
- Bronze: Blue Ostrich Winery, Dolcetto, 2016
Red: Bold
- Gold: Blue Ostrich Winery, Bruder, 2014
- Silver: Texas Hills Vineyard, Kick Butt Cab, 2014
- Bronze: Red Caboose Winery, Touriga Nacional, 2012
Red: Sweet
- Gold: Chisholm Trail Winery, Ghost Rider, 2015
- Silver: Los Pinos Ranch Vineyards, Besitos de Chocolate, NV
- Bronze: Bella Stella Winery, Just Right Red, 2016
Red: Blends
- Gold: Bull Lion Ranch, Texianti, 2015
- Silver: Bella Stella Winery, This Red’s For You, 2015
- Bronze: Bingham Family Vineyards, Dirt Farmer, 2014
Grapes were flying and feet were stomping at GrapeStomp, where three-time defending champions Lam and Jorge Bermeo, both from Dallas, won the Coveted Purple Foot Award for the fourth year in a row. Throughout the festival, teams of two stomped 18 pounds of grapes for two minutes. Winners of the GrapeStomp daily sessions competed in the Grand Championship Stomp-Off on Sunday. Under the team name Awesome & Awesomer, the Bermeos stomped a total of 26.25 ounces in the finale.
In 2018, the 32nd Annual GrapeFest will take place September 13, 14, 15 and 16. The 31st Annual GrapeFest - A Texas Wine Experience was presented by Bank of the West. Attendance numbers for the 31st Annual GrapeFest will be available on Wednesday, September 20. For more information, visit www.GrapeFest.com.
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