Grapevine's 40th annual GrapeFest returns to Historic Main Street Sept. 17–20 with 40 Texas wineries and a new blind tasting.
The four-day festival adds a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris, the 1976 competition where California wines beat French bottles before a panel of mostly French wine experts. Guests at the International Wine Experience pavilion, sponsored by Gaylord Texan Resort, will blind-taste wines from France, Napa Valley and Grapevine's sister cities.
The Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau says the festival draws more than 225,000 visitors and set this year's theme as "Connecting Wine Traditions, One Glass at a Time." When the first GrapeFest launched in 1987, 700 people showed up and six wineries poured.
Tickets and hours
Thursday, Sept. 17, is free all day, with gates open 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Friday admission is free until 5 p.m.; adult tickets are $12 after that. Saturday and Sunday adult tickets are $12. Children ages 6–12 and adults 62 and older pay $6. Kids under 5 get in free. A $25 weekend pass covers all paid days.
People's Choice Wine Tasting Classic
Forty wineries will pour more than 100 wines across 10 categories at what the CVB calls the largest consumer-judged wine tasting competition in the country.
Community Impact reported seven regular and three VIP 90-minute sessions run Thursday through Sunday.
Regular tickets cost $28 in advance or $32 at the festival. VIP tickets, which include lounge access and limited capacity, run $55 in advance or $60 on-site. Each session includes cheese from Southwest Dairy Farmers and a souvenir wine glass. Winners will be announced Sunday, Sept. 20, at 5 p.m.
GrapeStomp and more
Teams of two stomp grapes for two minutes, and the top producers from each day compete in the Grand Championship StompOff on Sunday for the Purple Foot Award.
The International Wine Experience also offers general tastings starting at $16. A VIP option starts at $40.
The Champagne Terrace in Weem's Alley returns with its Florence Door, where guests knock on a small wooden door to receive a glass of champagne, inspired by Italy's historic buchette del vino wine windows.
Food, vendors and family
New food vendors include SoulFire on Wheels serving Filipino cuisine, Piemazing hand pies, The Kettle Corn Cowboys and Rewind Dirty Sodas.
More than 70 artisan vendors will line Main Street, with newcomers Boot Scootin' Bloomin', The Turquoise Egg and RevRan Hats among them.
The KidZone features activities from LEGOLAND Discovery Center and Cook Children's. On Thursday, $30 unlimited carnival ride wristbands are available 5–10 p.m.
Live music
Four stages host acts all weekend. The Grapevine Mills Main Stage lineup includes Vinylize and Tojo on Thursday, Hotel Mac Doobie and 80s Mix Tape on Friday, and Seger System and Heartbreak Petty on Saturday.
Getting there
Free parking with shuttle service is available at the Grapevine Convention Center at 1209 S. Main Street and Gaylord Texan Lot R behind Texas Best Smokehouse at 1001 E. Northwest Hwy. All lots are ADA accessible. Trinity Metro TEXRail and DART Silver Line serve the festival area. Rideshare drop-off is at the Hi-Railer Parking Lot at 410 W. Dallas Road.
The Grapevine Vintage Railroad's Harvest Wine Train, a 21-and-older experience featuring Texas wines, runs Thursday during the festival.
