There’s something timeless about rolling up your pants, stepping into a barrel of freshly harvested grapes, and experiencing winemaking the old-fashioned way.

At Childress Vineyards, our annual Grape Stomp is more than a fun fall tradition—it’s a celebration of harvest season, winemaking history, and the journey from grape to glass.

A Tradition That Goes Way Back

Long before modern winemaking equipment existed, grapes had to be crushed by hand—or, more famously, by foot.

Grape stomping was once a practical way to break open freshly harvested grapes and release their juice before fermentation. Large quantities of grapes were placed into vats, where people would use their bare feet to gently crush them.

Why feet? Grapes are surprisingly delicate. Stomping provided enough pressure to break the skins and release the juice without crushing every seed, which could add unwanted bitterness to the wine.

While methods varied throughout history and across wine regions, grape stomping became one of the most recognizable symbols of traditional winemaking.

Do Winemakers Still Stomp Grapes Today?

Not quite!

Modern wineries—including Childress Vineyards—use specialized equipment to process grapes efficiently and precisely. Today’s equipment gives our winemaking team much greater control over the crushing, pressing, fermentation, and aging processes that ultimately shape each wine.

But even though winemaking has evolved, grape stomping remains a fun way to celebrate where it all began.

Harvest Season at Childress Vineyards

Grape Stomp arrives during one of the most exciting times of the year at the vineyard: Harvest Season.

This is when grapes that have spent months growing and ripening in the vineyard are ready to be picked. Once harvested, they make their way to the winery, where the winemaking process begins.

It’s a busy season behind the scenes—and the perfect reason to celebrate!

Step Into the Tradition

Our annual Grape Stomp gives guests the chance to experience a little piece of winemaking history for themselves.

Kick off your shoes, step into the grapes, and start stomping! It’s messy, memorable, and definitely worthy of a photo or two.

Beyond the stomp itself, the event is an opportunity to spend the day at Childress Vineyards, take in the vineyard views, enjoy wine, and celebrate the season with us.

Whether you’re a longtime wine lover or simply looking for a unique experience, Grape Stomp is one of those traditions you have to experience at least once.

A Little Wine Trivia

The next time you’re getting ready to stomp, impress your friends with a few fun facts:

  • Grape stomping is also known as grape treading.
  • The goal was to release juice from the grapes so the winemaking process could begin.
  • Modern wineries use specialized equipment rather than feet to process grapes.
  • Harvest is one of the busiest—and most exciting—times of year at a winery.
  • Today, grape stomps are primarily a celebration of wine history, harvest, and tradition.

Come Make a Little Wine History With Us

Wine may be made a little differently today, but some traditions are too much fun to leave in the past.

Join us at Childress Vineyards for Grape Stomp and experience one of wine’s oldest traditions for yourself.

Ready to get your feet a little purple? We’ll see you at the stomp!