Despite the heat (more likely BECAUSE of the heat) the harvest must go on. Texas Harvest 2023 is happening right now and August is full of super fun harvest activities. Whether you actively help with the harvest or join in events to celebrate the bounty, it’s a great way to join in the excitement of the kickoff to the 2023 winemaking process.
Texas Wine Collective Grape Stomp and Paella Party
Enjoy the sweet fragrance of ripened grapes in the air and ring in the next vintage. Come for live music by Kelany & The All-Nighters, dinner, and wine. The ticket price includes wine tasting, a glass of wine with Paella dinner, a T-Shirt, and grape stomping!
When: Saturday, Aug 12th, 2023, 6:30-9:00pm
Price: $80, Club Member Price $70
Tickets: https://www.texaswinecollective.com/Wine-Shop/Event-Tickets
Dry Comal Creek Vineyards Harvest Brunch
Here’s your opportunity to check harvesting grapes off your bucket list! Go help the folks at Dry Comal Creek pick their 2023 vintage. After you work up an appetite, enjoy brunch by Indie Eatz. Not to be missed!
When: July 30, Sunday at 8:30am
Price: $110/couple, $60/individual
Tickets/Info: drycomalcreekvineyards.com
Hye Meadow Winery Grape Stomp & Tour
Learn about the wonder of wine making with Hye Meadow. Ttaste the wines and of course have fun getting your feet wet at their Grape Stomp event!! Your experience includes Production Tour, Tasting, Grape Stomp, Souvenir (with footprints).
When: August 5, 12, 19, 26 at 11:30am, 1:30pm, or 3:30pm
Price: $49.99
Info/Tickets: www.hyemeadow.com/pages/events
Hawk’s Shadow Winery & Vineyard Harvest
There’s nothing like brave and committed folks who want to have a true Texas grape harvest experience. Go do actual harvest at Hawk’s Shadow. Harvest happens when the grapes are ready, so you have to be flexible. When the time comes, they will start around 6am, and harvest until 8am-ish. Sound like your cup of tea? Then contact Matt Mohondro at [email protected] and stay tuned to their website & social media for more specific information.
When: Latter half of July &/or the early part of August from 6am – 8am
Where: Hawk’s Shadow Vineyard, 7500 McGregor Lane, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Price: You provide your free labor.
Info: www.hawksshadow.com/events/
Westcave Cellars Winery & Brewery Grape Stomp
Ready to jump into a bin of grapes and stomp and splash?! Well go join the folks at Westcave Cellars. This was a “new to me” producer that has been around for awhile. I absolutely love their wines and had an amazing visit with them. It will be a fun time and you can even bring the kiddos. Plus you’ll be able to make some grape footprints on a t-shirt.
When: Aug, 5-6, 1:00pm – 4:00pm
Price: $20.00 includes a souvenir t-shirt (kids 10 and under stomp free)
Info/Tickets: https://westcave-cellars.obtainwine.com/collection/tickets
There’s also a VIP edition for $70 that takes places August 5 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm. The price includes a glass of wine, souvenir t-shirt, and a buffet dinner.
Pedernales Cellars Grape Stomp
Join Pedernales Cellars on August 26 and 27 for one of their favorite events of the year! Participants will have the opportunity to stomp grapes and put your footprints on your own Pedernales Cellars t-shirt! After stomping, your group is welcome to enjoy a glass or a bottle on the lawn area.
When: August 26 & 27 with slots every 15 minutes from 10:15 am – 5:15 pm on the 26th and 12:15 pm – 4:15 pm on the 27th.
Price: $30 / person (includes a Pedernales Cellars logo’d shirt to stomp on and take home)
Info/Tickets: https://www.exploretock.com/pedernalescellars/experience/424030/2023-grape-stomp?date=2023-08-26&size=2&time=10%3A00
Texas Hills Vineyard 23rd Annual Grape Stomp
On August 19 Texas Hills kicks off the fun with the Lucys coming to stomp, live music, and a food truck, The Smokin Wok. And listen up – stomping is free!
When: August 19, 20, 26, 27
Price- FREE and it is FIFO (the accountant in me loves this!)
Info/Tickets: https://www.texashillsvineyard.com/events/2023-23rd-Annual-Grape-Stomp
Messina Hof Harvest Festival
Last, but certainly not least is Messina Hof. If anyone knows how to throw a harvest party, it’s Messina Hof! Join them for the Bryan Estate Winery’s 46th Annual Harvest Festival as well as the Hill Country Winery’s 11th Annual Harvest Festival! There are tons of fun Texas harvest 2023 events at multiple locations, so be sure to check out their website. But here are a few that I love:
Bryan Estate:
Moonlit Harvest: August 4, 11 & 25 from 7:30PM-10:00PM.
– Immerse yourself in moonlight and wines as you pick and stomp the grapes that go into their award-winning Ports at the Estate vineyard
– Enjoy a delicious Vineyard Cuisine buffet and great selections from the wine bar as you socialize and dine over the vineyard
Daytime Harvest: August 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 9AM-11:30AM
– Bring your friends and family to the Estate vineyard for a fun-filled day of picking and stomping the grapes that go into creating Messina Hof’s well known award-winning Ports.
– Go behind the scenes with exclusive tours and tasting experiences from the winemakers and owners
Harvest Festival Murder Mystery Dinner: August 12 & 18 from 7PM-9:30PM.
-Each Murder Mystery Dinner is led by an equally thematic host, who will “set the stage” so to speak and guide you through the story. In between each course, each character will be able to interact and collect clues as to who the murderer is. Or is it you? This sounds like so much fun!
Harvest Festival Outdoor Luau: August 19 from 7:30-10PM
– Pull out the Hawaiian shirts from your closet and grab your leis for the outdoor luau. This event will feature some traditional Hawaiian recipes paired with Messina Hof’s award-winning wines.
Harvest Festival Grand Final Gala: August 26th from 7PM-9:30PM
– This elegant evening event raises a toast to a successful Harvest Festival at Messina Hof Estate Winery.
– This year’s theme is ‘Come Experience the Spirit of Harvest’.
Hill Country:
Harvest Festival Sunset Harvest: September 1 from 6PM-8:30PM
– Experience an evening of grape picking and stomping the very grapes that go into making the Messina Hof Hill Country exclusive Private Reserve Papa Paulo Port
Harvest Festival Daytime Harvest: September 2 from 9AM-11:30AM
– Bring your friends and family out for a fun-filled day of picking and stomping …” “
Wedding Oak Wine Train to Burnet
This is not a harvest event, but sells out so quickly so I’m giving you a heads on the last three rides of the year coming up in September, October, and November. I absolutely love the Wedding Oak Wine Train and had an absolute blast when I rode it last summer. Check out my video recap as well as my blog post. Passengers will enjoy a 2-hour train ride from Cedar Park spanning the South San Gabriel River while enjoying an intimate talk and wine tasting with members of the Wedding Oak family. In Burnet, you’re able to spend two hours at the stunning tasting room at Wedding Oak Winery, complete with two-story views, a patio, and a rooftop terrace. Finally, relax and enjoy the ride as the train returns to the Cedar Park Depot in the afternoon.
Where: Wine Train departs from the Cedar Park Depot at 401 E. Whitestone, C-100, Cedar Park, TX 78613
When: Train departs 11:00 a.m. sharp and returns at 5:00 p.m.
Remaining 2023 Dates & Ticket Links:
September 24, 2023: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7035843/wedding-oak-wine-train-cedar-park-cedar-park-depot
October 8, 2023: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/8417707/wedding-oak-wine-train-cedar-park-cedar-park-depot
November 19, 2023 (The LAST Wedding Oak Wine Train Event for this year!): https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/5206087/wedding-oak-wine-train-last-of-2023-cedar-park-cedar-park-depot
I do hope you’re able to get out there and enjoy some of the Texas harvest 2023 fun. I have a couple of events that I’m eyeing and need to get on them stat!
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