Stomping, Sipping and Sun: New Paltz Winery Hosts Successful Festival
For a winery, it can be difficult to host an event that can be described as wholesome family fun. This past weekend, that was exactly the goal for Robibero Family Vineyards, who hosted their fifth annual Grape Stomping Festival on September 24 and 25. It turned out to be a rousing success, thanks to near-perfect weather and attractions for all ages.
From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days, families and friends flocked to the vineyards. According to Tiffany Robibero, who owns the winery with her family, over 800 people attended on Saturday alone, with a slightly smaller but still significant crowd on Sunday. Tickets cost $15 in advance or $20 at the door, and included a complimentary wine glass, the opportunity to stomp grapes, and a ticket that could be redeemed for a wine tasting or one full glass. Children were allowed to stomp for free.
When not sampling the wine — or helping to make it — attendees sprawled out on picnic chairs and blankets on the winery’s open fields, enjoying the early fall weather. There were games to play — including corn hole and a giant version of Jenga — and food to eat, both from the winery’s store and the Roadies Diner food truck. A local vendor sold tutus — sized to fit you, your dog or even your bottle of wine. There was also live music from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with Less than Zero on Saturday and the folksy duo Rosie and Brian Dougherty entertaining crowds on Sunday, with covers of everything from Adele to Oasis’s Wonderwall.
Those who participated in the wine sampling were allowed to pick five different wines to sample, choosing from the six red and six white in addition to a rose. All of the wines came from New York state, and ranged from dry to sweet. Examples included a 2015 white Riesling from the Finger Lakes region, and a red Cabernet Sauvignon from Long Island. The most popular wine, according to Robibero, is the 87 North, named after the highway that climbs New York.
All of the wines were of course available for purchase in the vineyard’s store, along with select ciders and beers. Also for sale were cheeses, crackers and other snacks, to be enjoyed with your beverage on the wrap-around deck that provided a scenic view of the small vineyard.
However, one activity was certainly the main attraction — after all, it’s not called the Grape Stomping Festival for nothing. Throughout the day, as many as four people at a time rolled up their jeans and stepped into a shallow bucket of red grapes. They squished to their heart’s content until the bucket became a near liquid mixture, covering the feet and ankles. Afterwards, staff members were ready with water hoses to help stompers clean up.
“I would give it about an 8.5 out of 10,” said Veronica DeRito, 21, who attended the festival on Sunday. “There weren’t as many solid grapes in the bucket by the time I went [around 2 p.m.] but it was still really cool.” Other participants noted that the grape mixture was quite cold and attracted bees.
None of this dampened festival-goer’s spirits, however.
“It’s an event that everyone can enjoy,” said Robibero about the festival, which has taken place on the last weekend of September for the past five years. It marks the beginning of the vineyard’s peak season, which lasts until the end of October. Robibero stated that her favorite part of the event is seeing attendees of all ages having fun, and also reported that this year’s festival has been by far the most successful.
This weekend was not the only time the Robibero family hopes to attract visitors to their vineyard. Live music is scheduled for nearly every weekend through mid-November, and they also host holiday parties and private events. Suffice it to say that whether one is a wine connoisseur or a kid looking for some fun, the Grape Stomping festival had something for you.
