The Grape Stomp at Orfila Vineyards

After winding down the last summer play days, there’s an obvious frustration in the air surrounding what comes with the advent of fall: less sun, more clothing, fewer excuses to coffee break at the beach, so on and so forth. Normally I would advise my aggravated friends to take a breath and relax with a glass of wine. My sound counsel goes unchanging this year, with an additional pointer on how to let go of pent-up irritation. Our friends at Orfila Vineyards & Winery impart the 18th Annual Grape Stomp in the San Pasqual Valley, where you can stomp and crush your own wine, and drink a few glasses too.

This annual harvest event features an extensive amount of foods and wines, live music, vineyard tractor rides, and the ever-therapeutic grape-stomping opportunities. On August 27th, beginning at 4pm, guests are welcome to stomp the fall into existence and embrace the harvest season. This event provides the chance to sample new wines from a region experiencing an exciting renaissance of an old tradition locally grown with an abundance of quality wine and food.

For $85, a ticket to the affairs includes a lush wine tasting reception along with hors d’oeuvres, a full dinner buffet, and of course, opportunities to stomp the grapes to a delicious pulp. In the reception platter, you’ll find a wide assortment of California cheeses and sliced La Brea baguettes. Accompany your fine wine with baked mushroom-topped Brie, as well as Pâtés and Vegetarian Pâtés and gourmet crackers. The light and fresh bites continue with assorted fruit in season with a honey yogurt dip, as well as garden vegetable spears with a Bleu cheese dip with caramelized shallots.

The dinner buffet offered to attending guests includes mixed greens tossed in orange-fennel vinaigrette with toasted almonds, blood oranges, oven roasted beet chips, feta cheese and basil. Have your pick from a couscous salad with red bell pepper, green olives, pine nuts, capers, and more. Or try the oven-roasted lemon herb drenched chicken breast marinated in dry white wine, grilled flat iron steak, vegetable lasagna, asparagus spears and cheesy garlic bread. For dessert, Orfila is serving up some strawberry shortcake with balsamic black pepper syrup.

You don’t want to step into fall begrudgingly wishing it was still swimsuit season. Stomp it out, dear oenophiles, and enjoy this all-inclusive ticket to one of the first harvest festivals. The Orfila Vineyards & Winery are renowned for 70 acres of premium wine grapes including Syrahs, Merlots, Chardonnays, Sangioveses and Rieslings. The special evening will even include a live performance by Java Sounds featuring saxophonist Adrienne Nims and singer Paula Prophet.

Feel the grapes oozing between your toes and the juice produced right beneath you, in this old-world tradition. For more information on the 2011 Grape Stomp, visit the Orfila Vineyards website.

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