Grape Stomping in Italy: The Day I Crushed Grapes With My Feet (And Didn’t Drink Any of It)

Ever attended a grape stomping event? I did, on a Sunday in September 2018, at a winery near Padova. Grape stomping is exactly as fun as it sounds, and slightly more ridiculous.

It’s also harvest season again, which means my brain is currently 40% grapes. So let’s talk about the day I got to relive one of the oldest winemaking methods there is.

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Quick Facts

• Grape stomping is a traditional winemaking method: participants crush grapes with their feet in a vat to release the juice and kick off fermentation
• The event took place at Azienda Agricola Biologica Bacco e Arianna, an organic winery near Padova, on Sunday 9 September 2018
• We picked the grapes, wheeled them in and stomped on a few, then played wine trivia for free bottles
• No, we did not drink what we stomped. That juice is thrown away

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What Is Grape Stomping, Exactly?

Before machines, this was how wine got started. Barefoot people climbed into a vat, stomped the grapes until the juice ran, and the whole thing began its journey toward fermentation. Today, wineries have far more sophisticated equipment for that job. Stomping survives as a tradition, and a rather good party trick.

So when Bacco e Arianna, one of the finest winemakers around Padova, announced a stomping day, I didn’t need much convincing. Wine, grapes and a perfectly good excuse to behave like a medieval peasant? Sign me up.

From Vine to Vat

We didn’t just show up and stomp. First, we picked the grapes ourselves, which is a very different feeling from buying a bottle off a shelf. Then we wheeled them in, and only then did we get to the main event: climbing in and stomping on some.

Is it graceful? No. Is it fun? Absolutely. You also learn a whole lot about how wine is made, which is the real point.

Wait, Do We Drink the Wine We Stomped?

Absolutely not, and I say that as someone who would happily drink fine wine from Veneto. The grapes we stomped were purely for the experience, so they get thrown away. Think of it as a very expensive foot bath, minus the expense and the dignity.

Wine tasting was on the programme too, naturally. This is Italy.

Wine Trivia With Actual Prizes

After the stomping came games. We answered wine trivia, and the winners walked away with free bottles. I’d love to tell you how I did, but let’s say this is a blog about wine, not about my competitive record. It was properly exciting, though, and the kind of competition where everyone leaves happy, even without a bottle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is grape stomping? It’s an old winemaking tradition where people crush grapes with their feet in a vat to release the juice and begin fermentation.

Do you drink the wine from stomped grapes? Not at our event. The grapes we stomped were for the experience and were thrown away afterwards.

Can tourists join a grape harvest in Italy? Yes, some wineries open their vineyards to visitors during vendemmia, the harvest, though harvest events vary a lot. Check what a programme actually includes before you book.

Where did you stomp grapes? At Azienda Agricola Biologica Bacco e Arianna, an organic winery near Padova, on Sunday 9 September 2018.

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Final Thoughts

It’s harvest season, and honestly I’d go again in a heartbeat. If you’ve ever wondered what the old way of making wine felt like, find a winery that runs a stomping day and get your feet in there. Just leave the wine-tasting plans for after, not during.

— Kelly 🍷

#GrapeStomping #ItalianWine #WineHarvest #Vendemmia

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Continue Reading

• How to Plan a Wine Vacation in Italy (Step-by-Step Guide)
• Wine Tourism in Italy: Are We Still Visiting Wineries for the Wine?

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Here are some pictures taken at the event.