Grape Stomp

Grape Stomp is an annual harvest event held each fall at Crow River Winery in southern Minnesota — a hands-on competition where participants register in advance to stomp grapes solo or as a team and compete for prizes. The event takes place on the winery's 120-acre property along Highway 7, south of Hutchinson, Minnesota, where the winery has operated since opening its tasting room in 2012. Specific 2025 dates and ticket prices had not been announced at the time of publication; check the Crow River Winery website for updates.

Grape Stomp is structured around active participation rather than passive tasting. Advance registration is required for the stomping competition, which runs in solo and team formats. Beyond the stomping itself, the event includes wine, beer, food vendors, craft vendors, and live music — a combination that draws families, groups, and casual visitors alongside competitive stompers. The winery describes it as family-friendly, and all ages are welcome on-site.

Crow River Winery's grounds are fully handicap accessible, with outdoor courtyard seating that includes both sunny and shaded spots, most tables equipped with umbrellas. Leashed dogs are permitted in outdoor areas. Visitors who want to extend the day can order food from the on-site Bistro, which operates independently of any event programming. Because stomping spots are competitive and require advance sign-up, registering early is the primary logistical tip the winery emphasizes.

Crow River Winery was built around cold-climate grape varieties developed by the University of Minnesota — a program that has produced winter-hardy cultivars like Marquette, Frontenac, and La Crescent, well suited to Minnesota's growing conditions. The winery farms its own vineyard on the property, which gives the Grape Stomp its harvest-season authenticity: attendees are stomping fruit grown on the same land where the wine is made.