Posted by: thepinetree on 10/06/2008 10:58 AM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 10/06/2008 01:44 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Matt Hatcher & Jennifer Berry Take Home Top Honors at the 15th Annual Calaveras Grape Stomp! ~With Finals Video Enclosed By John Hamilton
Murphys, CA...The Hatcher Winery Team dethroned the Cluster Busters team of Ron Lawrence, Alan Hoffman who were striving for a Fourpete. The wet weather did nothing to soak the spirits of the competitors or even the crowds. Murphys was filled to the brim again on Saturday with the Grape Stomp in the park and the Goldrush Street Fair on Main Street. Well over 100 teams stomped and crushed their way to the coveted title...
Doug Brown talks to the 2008 Grape Stomp Champions Jennifer Berry & Matt Hatcher. Photos By Hanna Alldrin
The styles were as varied as the results. There were the Rabbits who hopped out of the starting blocks and tried to pound every grape into submission as fast as they could. These were balanced by the calculating tortoises who methodically worked the grapes. The real power seemed to lay with the muckers. This is the thankless and dirty job of keeping the spigot flowing and moving all of the juice out of the barrel as fast as possible. While the crushers were high above the fray the muckers have to be right down in the splashing, squirting & stomping.
This year brought a new team at the top of the grape skin pile. The Hatcher Winery team will be the new team to try and defend their title next year. The Cluster Busters going in were the perennial favorites. This local team always seems to be in the hunt right down to the wire. They have won numerous times over the last decade and were the champions for the last three years straight.
This year they actually slipped to Third. The Chico Crushers team of Phil Downing & Don Navarro were bridesmaids the Second year in a row. Who will it be next year? Will the Cluster Busters regain their championship form? Can the Chico Crushers take it up another notch? Will Jennifer & Matt be able to defend? Will Jennifer make Matt Muck next year? These are weighty questions that bear careful considerations.
The Bret Harte Football Team handled all of the barrell duties & Doug Brown did another great job as emcee. The Winegrape Alliance & Schantz & Assoc. were the brains behind the event.
