Stomping The Grape

A sign advertising grape stomping is shown near the entrance to the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008. While the days when winemaking was done by the foot are long gone, wineries from Napa to New York are rolling out the barrel for those inclined to squish a little merlot between their toes.

Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are shown on the vine at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

A barrel of Zinfandel grapes waiting to be stomped is shown at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

Winemaker Mike Grgich, left, helps Beverly Miller, right, of Akron, Ohio, into a barrel of Zinfandel grapes to do some stomping at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

Beverly Miller of Akron, Ohio, stomps Zinfandel grapes at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

A man gets his legs hosed off after stomping grapes at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

Heidi Smith of Louisburg, N.C., holds up a button after stomping Zinfandel grapes at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.

Winemaker Mike Grgich sips a glass of his Cabernet Sauvignon wine after helping people stomp grapes at the Grgich Hills winery in Rutherford, Calif., Monday, Sept. 15, 2008.