Dakota Vines Owners Have ‘Grape Expectations’ For 2nd Annual Grape Stomp

Answer: The Dakota Vines / Crooked Lane Farm Grape Stomp Vineyard and Vineyard on August 21, in which any grapes at picking distance will be trampled, flattened and crushed until they let out a bit of wine (or whine) .

After the winery’s first grape plant in 2019 attracted several hundred people, Dakota Vines owners Bob and Deb Grosz have grape expectations for this year’s event, which offers a competitive footing. , a variety of local vendors, food and live music. The celebration will take place at the nearby Crooked Lane Farm, 17385 County Rd. 4, Colfax, owned by their good friends Mary Jo Schmid and Brent Larson.

Homeowners are especially excited about this year’s shindig, as COVID made it necessary to cancel last year’s trampling. “The event was canceled last summer, and the community is so excited we can move forward,” said Deb Grosz.

Deb says Richland County has embraced the winery, which was started three years ago by the couple, who work as educators during the school year in the Fargo School District. Since opening their store, locals have volunteered for everything from bottling the wine to hanging posters to help publicize the trampling. The residents of Richland County “call it ‘our vineyard‘,” Deb says. “We have nearly two dozen community volunteers who will make this day a reality… It makes us so happy that they welcomed us.

The main attraction, of course, is the Stomp, in which 20 teams of two people will split into groups of four to make their way through five rounds in search of the ultimate grape juice glory.

The goal is to see who can produce the most juice after 90 seconds of frenzied footwork. Each team consists of a stomper, which climbs barefoot into a plastic-lined, sanitized half-barrel of whiskey to crush 20 pounds of wine grapes while the second teammate stands beside the barrel, making sure the valve through which the juice flows does not flow. get clogged.

It sounds like fun, but it’s actually harder than you might think. “I used to think 90 seconds didn’t seem like a very long time, but once you’re done you’re really tired,” Deb says.

One of the reasons is that these aren’t the big, fleshy grapes like the ones you buy in a supermarket. They are tiny wine grapes – almost like blueberries – so you have to work a lot harder to make juice.

Deb laughed when asked if size 12 would give competitors a leg up on the competition. “I don’t think so,” she said. “I guess toughness and endurance are the main things.”

The dynamic duo that produces the highest volume of juice, of all heat, will be crowned Champion Grape Stomp and receive six bottles of wine. Most will be relieved to know that it won’t contain “foot wine,” from past tramples, Deb says.

Competitors will likely wear costumes, or at least matching T-shirts, to amplify the fun. Chances are, attendees will spot at least one Lucy Ricardo costume from the legendary Grape Stomp scene / fight from the beloved episode “Lucy’s Italian Movie” in this series.

Participants who want to spare their purple feet can simply pose in clean whiskey barrels to simulate grape trampling for a photoshoot, Deb says.

Children are welcome to attend the event, although participation in the Grape Stride is limited to adults only. This 21-and-over stipulation helps prevent the competition structure from becoming too complex and also ensures that the competition’s wine prizes are age-appropriate, Deb says.

Families should find plenty to do, as there will be 28 vendors there, selling everything from artwork, jewelry, handmade soap and wood crafts to baked goods, food for puppies and locally made barbecue sauce.

Mary Jo Schmid will be running a craft tutorial for all budding DIY enthusiasts.

Blackbird Pizza in downtown Fargo will sell food and wine, beer, soda and water.

There will also be Meat Rabbits, although they are not on the menu. The local band, described by one writer as “a polka-rock that looks like a kaleidoscope of placemats and roses set to… Led Zeppelin”, will perform, as will another favorite among locals, The Crop Dusters.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite or for $ 5 at the door. Bracelets will be needed to purchase alcohol, so don’t forget your ID.

They are also asking the public not to bring animals to the event – not even grape Danes – except for service animals.