Temecula: Stomp grapes at winery festivals in Southern California

Time to put your cleanest feet forward so you can get squishing this fall. Wineries far and wide are preparing to celebrate harvest season with grape-stomping contests and festivities. Though the juicing-by-foot method has long been replaced by machinery at wineries, grape stomps are a continuing celebratory tradition.

In Napa Valley and surrounding wine country, you can hardly turn a corner without catching wind of a grape stomp during September and October. But if you can’t make it up there, rest assured that Temecula, Southern California’s own winery hotspot, has plenty underway this month and next.

The selection of festivals listed below features wine-tasting and grape-stomping competitions, entertainment and plenty of vittles (including lunch and/or dinner).

Harvest Festival & Grape Stomp, Callaway Winery
When: Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008; 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Cost: $63 to $70 per person
Contact: (951) 676-4001

Second Annual Harvest Festival & Grape Stomp, Mount Palomar Winery
When: Sept. 28, 2008; 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $40 per person, $75 per couple
Contact: (951) 676-5047 Ext. 103

Sixth Annual Grape Stomping Festival, Ponte Winery
When: Sept. 28, 2008; 4 p.m.-9 p.m.
Cost: $95 per adult, $50 per child (12 and under)
Contact: (951) 694-9444

Grape Stomp Blessing of the Wines & Harvest Celebration, South Coast Winery Resort & Spa
When: Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008
Call for details and reservations.
Contact: (951) 587-9463 Ext. 7210

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times