Preview of the 35th Annual GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience

Celebrate wine at the 35^th Annual GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience, presented by Bank of the West, September 16, 17, 18, and 19. This year’s theme, Texas Wine. Come and Taste It! invites you to sip your way through delicious wines from Texas. Festival guest wineries from South Australia’s Barossa Valley and California’s Napa Valley will also be serving uniquely exquisite wines.

GrapeFest is the largest wine festival in the southwest United States and offers four days of family-friendly festival fun. Signature events include People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, the largest consumer-judged wine competition in the nation; Champagne Terrace; the Liberty Park Plaza “Taste of Two Valleys” Wine Experience with guest wineries from South Australia’s Barossa Valley and California’s Napa Valley; GrapeStomp; Champagne Cork Shootoff; children’s FunZone; GrapeFest Tennis and Pickleball Classic; ItalianCarFest™; live entertainment, and much more!

People’s Choice

Savor the flavors of a wide variety of Texas varietals from multiple Texas wineries at the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic at its new location in the Historic Cotton Belt Railroad District. New this year is a VIP two-hour tasting on Thursday, September 16 at 5 p.m. for $45 per ticket. This event includes light hors d’oeuvres and a souvenir glass. With eleven 90-minute sessions throughout the weekend, this signature event is one of the most popular GrapeFest events. Limited tickets are available for each session. Wine is judged across 10 different categories and guests vote for their favorites. Winners of the competition are announced on Sunday, September 19 at 5 p.m. Cheese offered at this event is donated by Southwest Dairy Farmers. This is a separately ticketed event. Tickets are $23 in advance. Starting at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 16 tickets will be $25. Guests must be 21+ to enter.

Champagne Terrace & Grapevine Wine Pavilion

Champagne Terrace sponsored by Hilton DFW Lakes, has returned to the shade of the oak trees in Weems Alley, located between the Historic Palace Theatre and City Hall. Enjoy the garden-like setting under the porte cochère as you sip sparkling mimosas and poinsettias by the glass. Also, stop by the Grapevine Wine Pavilion to enjoy wines from Main Street’s local wineries and tasting rooms.

Taste of Two Valleys

Experience a “Taste of Two Valleys” with wines from South Australia’s Barossa Valley and California’s Napa Valley inside the Liberty Park Plaza Wine Experience, sponsored by Gaylord Texan Resort. Participating wineries from South Australia’s Barossa Valley include Yalumba, Chateau Tanunda, Torbreck Vintners, Langmeil Winery, and Heathvale Wines. Participating California Napa Valley wineries include Bootleg, Trefethen, The Hess Collection, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and Kerr Cellars.

GrapeStomp

Have a smashing time at GrapeStomp! Teams of two take turns crushing approximately 18 pounds of grapes for two minutes at the annual GrapeStomp competition. Teams that stomp the most juice qualify for the Grand Champion StompOff on Sunday, September 19 with the winners being awarded the coveted “Purple Foot” award. The entry fee is $10 per team. Stop by to see the Mayoral GrapeStomp on Sunday, September 19 at 11 a.m. The GrapeStomp is located near East Wall Street next to City Hall.

Champagne Cork Shoot Off

Test your skills shooting a champagne cork at the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off, sponsored by the Texas Gun Experience. Contestants will compete for cash prizes on the Grapevine Mills Stage. Daily winners earn prizes and will be invited to compete in the Grand Shoot-Off on Sunday, September 19. Entry is $5 per person.

Admission

The 35^th Annual GrapeFest opens on Thursday, September 16 at 11 a.m. Check the GrapeFest website for all Festival hours and much, much more information.

Photos courtesy of the Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau