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Great grape stomps

At harvest festivals, compete with your feet.

During harvest time in a vineyard, turning purple has nothing to do with the Minnesota Vikings.

Purple is what you'll be if you get into a wooden tub of grapes and try to turn them into juice with your bare feet. Vineyards don't get their juice that way anymore, but many still offer a grape stomp, and there's nothing goofier to do on an autumn day.

There are prizes for those who extract the most juice and those who show the most "style,'' so wearing a creative costume helps. And many grape stomps feature an "I Love Lucy'' look-alike contest, in tribute to the famous 1956 episode in which the comedienne takes a job in an Italian vineyard and, of course, makes a mess of things.

Most stomps require contestants to pre-register and pay a small fee. Everyone gets to sample wine, eat and listen to live music.

September

Grape stomp at Crofut Family Winery in Jordan, Minn., just southwest of Minneapolis.

Grape stomp at Saint Croix Vineyards near Stillwater, Minn., in the St. Croix River Valley.

Grape Stomp at Carlos Creek Winery in Alexandria, Minn. There are stomps Saturday and Sunday at this elegant lakes-area vineyard, plus a barn dance Friday, an "I Love Lucy'' look-alike contest Sunday, two music stages, Segway try-outs and 150 crafts vendors.

Stomp, Spit and Bob at Cedar Creek Settlement winery in Cedarburg, Wis. This stomp is part of the big Wine & Harvest Festival in this picturesque town just north of Milwaukee. Adult stomps are at 2 and 4 p.m. and kids' stomps at 1 and 3 p.m.; there are also grape-spitting and apple-bobbing contests, with prizes awarded to winners.

Grape Stomp at Glacial Ridge Winery between Spicer and New London in Minnesota's Little Crow lakes country. The festival at this new vineyard includes a Lucy look-alike contest.

Fall Harvest Festival at Chateau St. Croix just north of St. Croix Falls, Wis., with a grape stomp plus an "I Love Lucy'' look-alike contest, corn maze, carriage rides and Renaissance and medieval games.

Wet Whistle Wine Festival at Von Stiehl Winery, along Lake Michigan in Algoma, Wis.

Oktoberfest & Pig Roast at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. There are separate grape stomps for children, adults and couples both afternoons (victors determined by crowd cheering), plus barrel races and a grape-spitting contest. The winery includes a restaurant and bed-and-breakfast.

Grape Stomp at Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, Decorah in the bluff country of northeast Iowa.

October

Great Grape Stomp at Morgan Creek Vineyards near New Ulm, Minn. This picturesque vineyard features stomps at 1 and 3 p.m. and entertainment that includes Morris and belly dancing and evening jazz.  Food includes Swiss raclette and pizzas from the outdoor wood-fired oven.

Last updated on October 13, 2008