Calling all wine aficionados, wine snobs and wine newbies. The city of Grapevine, centrally located between Dallas and Fort Worth, is the home of the largest wine festival in the southwest and will host the 38th annual affair Sept. 12-15. GrapeFest is all about global wines with a Lone Star vibe.
With a city that was settled in 1844 and named for the wild mustang grapes that grew across the rich black soil of the Grape Vine Prairie, must they know a thing or two about wine.
Grapevine’s Historic Main Street will be the hub of all activities during the festival. Savor award-winning wines from international vineyards alongside some of the best wines Texas has to offer. Attendees can experience wines from three premier wine valleys of the world – Barossa, Australia, Krems, Austria and Parras, Mexico in the International Wine Experience sponsored by Gaylord Texan Resort. Guests can also decide which Texas wines are top-notch in the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic.
Champagne and sparkling wine will be served by the glass at Champagne Terrace, sponsored by Hilton DFW Lakes and it will be all about the blush and rosés at the Rosé Rendezvous at the Gazebo, sponsored by Messina Hof and Landon Wineries, featuring live music, pink décor and an array of photo opportunities.
Wine lovers can also take their knowledge to the next level with the Barossa Premium Wine Experience and Master Class featuring top Barossa winemaker, Dean Hewitson of Hewitson Estate. Enjoy premium Barossa wines, expert guidance and earn a Barossa Wine Expert certification. There are also Wine and Food Pairing Seminars where guests can learn to pair different wine varietals with their food like a pro, while exploring the wine valleys of Barossa, Krems and Parras.
Take part in the fierce competition at GrapeStomp sponsored by Sam’s Club. Teams of two take turns stomping about 18 pounds of grapes over 2 minutes to see who stomps the most juice. The winner at the end of the weekend wins the highly coveted Purple Foot Award. There is also the Champagne Cork Shoot-Off sponsored by Texas Gun Experience, where guests pop a champagne bottle and try to hit a target. The winners of that competition will compete in the Grand Shoot-Off finals on Sunday.
Taste buds will enjoy fun, new festival foods including smackin mac and cheese, Del Campo empanadas, Granny Dee’s Pierogis and more, as well as traditional favorites like funnel cakes and corn dogs. Don’t forget the shopping, with dozens of vendors up and down Historic Main Street featuring unique artisans and an all-new marketplace. Enjoy new to GrapeFest artists like Holly Glenn Arts and Phoenix Inlay, Inc. and don’t miss Gypsy Lilac featuring an Instagram-worthy vintage floral truck.
GrapeFest also features a vibrant festival atmosphere with live music on four stages, featuring exciting tribute artists like “Taylor Swift Tribute: Reputation” and “Animals, the Maroon 5 Tribute.”
Attendees can also enter to win the trip of a lifetime- round-trip tickets for two from Qantas Airlines to Barossa Wine Country, Australia.
Daily general admission tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and older) and children. They can be purchased online at grapefest.com. Weekend passes are $20. Additional ticketed experiences include Barossa Master Classes, wine pairing workshops, People’s Choice, VIP People’s Choice, International Wine Experience and VIP international Wine Experience.
Festival hours are Thursday, Sept. 12 (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.); Friday, Sept. 13 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.); Saturday, Sept. 14 (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.); Sunday, Sept. 15 (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).