It’s harvest time at the NC Teaching Winery and two classes of students got their feet wet by participating in an ancient winemaking practice that dates back thousands of years – the grape stomp!
Professor Gavin Roberson introduced the grape stomp to his winemaking class of Winery and Viticulture Technician students on September 17 and a class of Beverage Business Management students had an opportunity to participate in Professor Peter Rod’s Beverage Alcohol Production class on September 18.
Both classes began by picking grapes in the campus vineyard before they kicked off their shoes and took turns on the stomping bins.
“The grape stomp is a fun way to welcome students to the industry,” noted Robertson. “And a way to introduce students to this simple winemaking technique that has been used to crush grapes for at least 8,000 years.”
Rod’s class, which teaches the basics of wine, beer and spirits production, gives students an idea of the processes, ingredients and costs associated with production, so students can empathize with the challenges and appreciate the decisions winemakers, brewers, and distillers have to make.
“The grape stomp is a great team building opportunity but also allows me to bring classroom theory to life by showing them real vineyards, vines, ancient winemaking techniques and how they compare to modern ones, plus the students take great pride in having created their first wine, even if the first step is with their feet,” said Rod. “We will monitor the progress of the fermenting juice throughout the semester and discuss the specific choices we have as winemakers to influence the style of wine that will ultimately be produced.”
“It was hard work but very fun,” said Beverage Business Management student Navdeep Thakur, shortly after his turn at the stomping bin. He noted that he never encountered winemaking in his home country of India and is now interested in pursuing the business side.
“This is a great opportunity to learn how to make wine; we are lucky that we have the facilities at the College,” said Thakur.
The grape stomp wasn’t an entirely new experience for Beverage Business Management student Sara Murdoch, whose parents own a winery in Jordan, but she enjoyed participating in the activities alongside her classmates – many who were stomping for the first time.
“I feel like it’s a new experience to see all of their reactions,” she said.
While she is pursuing a master’s degree, Murdoch decided to enroll in Beverage Business Management once her interest shifted to the wine industry.
“This program is exactly what I need,” she said.
