The Texas Hill Country was deluged again by heavy rains in July. The wineries and vineyards received excessive rain which will delay the grape harvest in the Texas Hill Country by weeks. This time the loss of life was not as catastrophic since the sting of last year’s heavy rain is still remembered with emergency preparedness as a priority. Wineries and other hill country businesses immediately worked together to aid their fellow neighbors.
My wine public relations friend, Morgan Perry told me, “Before anything else, our thoughts are with the families and communities affected by this week’s flooding across the Hill Country, and with the first responders still working around the clock. It’s been a hard few days for the region.”
He further added, “I also wanted to reach out with an update on Fredericksburg specifically, given the national coverage of Pedernales River flood levels near Johnson City. Downtown Fredericksburg and Main Street shops have remained open throughout the rain events, and there is currently no reported damage to area vineyards.”
Several of the region’s most-visited wineries, including Augusta Vin, Becker, Grape Creek, William Chris, Halter Ranch, and Michael Ros, have confirmed they were open last weekend. However, several wineries were closed for a short period of time last week with roads closed due to flooding. It does pay to be watchful, including the tropical storm that is predicted to hit southeast Texas on Friday.
In the interim, Texas wineries and vineyards will be celebrating the coming grape harvest. Upcoming harvest celebrations collaborated from several
Texas Hill Country wineries include:
Wildseed Farms Vineyard – Grape Stomp
Step into a classic grape harvest tradition at Wildseed Farms! Every Saturday in August, stomp grapes the old-fashioned way, enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, and take home a unique footprint keepsake from your stomping experience. Fun, messy, and unforgettable for wine lovers and families alike.
Cost: Admission is free
Texas Wine Collective – Sip, Stomp, & Two-Step
Date: August 8th
An unforgettable evening of Texas wine, outdoor dining, grape stomping, live country music by Dawson Holland Band, and dancing under the stars. Ticket price includes a welcome splash, a glass of wine with Texas BBQ dinner, a T-shirt, and grape stomping!
Cost: $85 per person / $75 Members
Texas Hills Vineyard – I Love Lucy Charity Grape Stomp
Kick off your shoes, jump into the oak barrels, and recreate the most iconic TV wine moment in history! Stomp and Stamp Your Souvenir! While jumping in the grapes is completely FREE, you won’t want to leave without proof! We’ll have limited-edition, premium white Texas Hills Vineyard T-Shirts available for purchase ($25). Step straight out of the vat and onto your shirt to create your own custom, purple-footprint “Lucy” souvenir! What’s Happening Outdoors (Saturday): The “Lucy Sangria”: Cool down with our special, limited-edition Lucy Sangria! Sweet, refreshing, and poured fresh all day long. The Lucy Costume Contest: Come dressed as Lucy, Ethel, or an Italian grape crusher for a chance to win serious bragging rights and vineyard prizes. Live Hill Country Music: Kick back on the patio with a glass of wine and enjoy live tunes from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Eat for a Cause: Bring your appetite! 75% of all food proceeds go directly to support our local Volunteer Firefighters. Every bite helps fund the brave first responders keeping our community safe. Can’t Make It On Saturday? Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss out on the fun! We are hosting a casual, come-and-go Sunday Stomp on August 9th from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM. The grape vats will be open and souvenir t-shirts will still be available for purchase so you can get your stomp on at your own pace.
Messina Hof Hill Country Harvest Festival
Date: August 21st (Hill Country Sunset Harvest) & August 22nd (Hill Country Daytime Harvest)
Join us in Fredericksburg to celebrate the magic of harvest season by helping shape our upcoming vintage! Guests will get the chance to pick the very grapes destined for our exclusive Hill Country Private Reserve Papa Paulo Port. After picking, take part in the time-honored tradition of old-world grape stomping and leave your mark by signing a souvenir “Harvest Crew” t-shirt with your own purple footprints. The Friday evening Sunset Harvest includes a seasonal buffet dinner paired with award-winning wines, behind-the-scenes winemaking insights from our owners, and a celebratory port toast. The Saturday Daytime Harvest features vineyard picking, stomping, and wine tastings, with an optional upgrade to a Vineyard Cuisine™ brunch box and mimosa bar experience.
Cost: Hill Country Sunset Harvest $75; Hill Country Daytime Harvest $40
Lost Draw Wines – Harvest Dinner
Date: August 22nd
Celebrate the harvest season with an unforgettable evening in our Barrel Hall featuring a delicious four-course dinner prepared by Pecan Street Catering.
Cost: $135 per person
Becker Vineyards – Annual Grape Stomp
Date: September 5th & September 6th
Come stomp grapes with us as we celebrate the harvest season! Grape stomping is the traditional way of separating juice from skins for white wines or separating wine from skins for the red wines! Grape Stomping is complimentary. We have T-shirts for sale ($20 – $25) to “stomp” your footprints on! We do have light Bistro items and Cheese-Charcuterie for sale at our Verandah Bar. Stomping Hours: Saturday, 10 AM – 5:30 PM; Sunday, 10 AM – 5:30 PM.
Cost: Grape Stomping is complimentary.
Source: Read original article
Publisher: All Conroe Courier articles Verve MRSS 2.0 Multiple Photos