North Tahoe Festival Offers Grape Stomping September 26

Business Wire, Sept 16, 2003

News Editors/Travel Writers/Food & Wine Writers

TAHOE CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 16, 2003

Hundreds of wine lovers head to the Sierra every fall for a taste and perhaps a lesson or two in fine libations and cuisine at the Lake Tahoe Autumn Food and Wine Festival. A new twist to this year's Festival entails a Friday grape stomp that invites epicureans to get up to their bare ankles in 1,100 pounds of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

The inaugural grape stomp is part of the Chateau Les Feet Charity Luncheon at Graham's Restaurant in Squaw Valley. The festivities begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, September 26, and includes a sampling of ten Sierra Foothill wines, alfresco luncheon, garlic peeling contest, bocce ball, and live music.

The grape stomp will put teams eight teams of four tag-teaming through barrels of grapes for 30 minutes. One teammate will stomp, one will assist with balance, one will maintain the spigot, while the fourth will ideally be standing by in the wings ready to jump in.

"It's actually a lot of hard work," Graham Rock, owner of Graham's Restaurant, said. "It's a lot of fun, but I think people will be surprised at how difficult it is to get the juice out of those grapes."

Rock expects the contest to produce about one full barrel of juice and several tired stompers. Prizes will include gift certificates to Graham's as well as tickets to Festival events throughout the weekend. Tickets are $50 per person. All proceeds from the luncheon will go to Project MANA Food Bank.

The Festival continues Saturday with flavors of Mexico culinary demonstrations, Mexico's Sacred Chocolate Legacy, Weber grilling classes, tequila and salsa pairings sponsored by Blue Agave in Tahoe City, PlumpJack Winery reserve tastings, Beringer wine, cheese and chocolate pairings, Zinfandel panel tasting and lunch, mountain celebrity chef cook-off, Chappellet reserve tasting, and a celebrity chef dinner. The Grand Tasting and Culinary Competition comprises the Festival's finale, bringing 30 of the area's top restaurants, paired with world-class wineries, creating the must-attend event of the year in North Lake Tahoe. Grand Tasting tickets are $70 in advance, $80 per person at the door.

Corporate sponsors of the event include Kitchen Aid, San Francisco Magazine, Niello Audi, KOLO-TV News Channel 8, Twin Peaks Catering, and Weber Grills. A percentage of proceeds from the Festival will benefit the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce and Project MANA.

The Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival is a fund-raiser produced by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. For more information on lodging or to order tickets, contact the Association's Lake Tahoe Central Reservations division, the area's largest reservation center, at 800-824-6348, the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, or visit their website at www.mytahoevacation.com.