Father, son crush grape competition

 A father-son team competing for the first time won the 16th annual Calaveras Grape Stomp in Murphys on Saturday, producing 14.39 pounds of grape juice from 50 pounds of fruit in five minutes.

Greg Wright and his son, Brian, beat last year’s first-place winners, Matt Hatcher and Jennifer Berry, both of Murphys, by almost two pounds.
   

Hatcher and Berry created 12.71 pounds. Third place finishers Dale and Jennifer Marcum, of Los Gatos, produced 11.30 pounds of juice.

The Wrights live in Hercules, Contra Costa County, and recently purchased a second home in Murphys.

 They were among 120 teams competing in the stomp, in which one team member stomps on the grapes while the other keeps the juice flowing from the barrel out a spout and into the measuring bucket.

Three tons of grapes were crushed during the stomp, while hundreds of people cheered, clapped and sampled wines and other beverages in Murphys Community Park.

 Winning the best costume contest were the “Vineyard Vixens,” Amanda Lux and Rachel Forbes, of Reno, in costumes reminiscent of Dutch girls, hand-made by Forbes.

“We come to the grape stomp every year,” Lux said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

Master of Ceremonies Doug Brown, of Avery, said he has been part of the annual event since its inception.

“It’s different every year,” he said. “It’s all about the personalities. I love interacting with the teams. They range in age from 4 or 5 to their 80s, and they come from all over the country. We had a lady this year from New York.”

Stage official Bill Vierra, of San Andreas, said he helps make sure everyone follows the rules.

 “This year someone tried dumping juice from the barrel directly into the measuring container,” he said. “That was a new one.”

Thousands of dollars raised at the event go toward scholarships and to about 20 organizations and agencies that help the community. The total raised this year was not tallied in time for this story.

 “We have about 100 volunteers who really make this work,” said Ann Davis, executive director of the Calaveras Winegrape Alliance, which sponsors the annual event.