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Wrath of grapes greets would-be wine stompers Mail Tribune / Drew Fleming American Language Academy students from Southern Oregon University formed teams in the Great Grape Stomp competition during the annual Harvest Festival sponsored by the Weisinger family winery in Ashland. From the right, they were: Miwa Haran, with Tomoko Yamasaki; Emiko Nagao, with Masako Kato, and the eventual winners, Yongwoo Park and Masahiko Kitagawa, who is just out of view. Ashland contest provides students with a chance to get their feet wet By Meg Landers ASHLAND � Eric Weisinger knows what it takes to be an award-winning grape stomper. "Webbed feet," said Weisinger, grinning. His family-owned vineyard and winery south of Ashland hosted its Harvest Festival 2000 and Great Grape Stomp Saturday in association with Ashland�s Chamber of Commerce. In the first round of the five-round competition, eight stompers lined up for shoe and sock removal and to receive instructions. The object for the four teams of two was to produce the most juice in 60 seconds. Hyunmin Jung, from Korea, and his stomping partner, Wanjung Lee, from Taiwan, fidgeted nervously as they waited for grapes to be placed in their half-barrel. The pair, like the other stompers in the first round, were from Southern Oregon University�s American Language Academy. "There are two guys who are pretty old," said Jung. "They are heavier than us, they have advantage. But we can beat them." Fifteen pounds of table grapes were thrown into each barrel. At the signal from Weisinger, the frenzied stomping began. Teammates clung to each other for balance as the eggplant-colored juice sprayed everywhere. At the bell, the stompers ceased, bending over to catch their breath and waiting to see how much juice their crushing produced. The liquid trickled out of a spout in the bottom of the barrel. Once poured into a wine bottle, his team�s 1� inches proved Jung right: The "old guys" had won. Yongwoo Park, all of age 25, of South Korea, and his 29-year-old teammate Masahiko Kitagawa, of Japan, admitted they thought they had the edge. "Stomping is not easy," said Park. "We know each other ... so we can do it." They each received a bottle of wine, and advanced to the championship round later in the day. At stake was a free stay in the Weisinger vineyard cottage. "We�ve done this every year for about eight years now," said John Weisinger, the owner. "The ones who seem to just love it are the kids, and they�re good." Grape-stomping is almost a lost art, said John Weisinger. "Now machines do that," he said. "It�s not nearly as fun or romantic." The "wine" squeezed by the competitors� toes Saturday will not actually be consumed. But there was plenty of wine for sale. "This valley in Bear Creek drainage has flavors that are totally unique to the world," said John Weisinger, looking out over his five-acre vineyard. "It�s not like we live up in Salem or Portland where we have to apologize for the grapes we have," he said. "We produce wines that are as good as any in the world." Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2000 Mail Tribune, Inc.