Tahoe Ridge annual grape stomp Saturday

Tahoe Ridge Winery will host its third annual grape stomp 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Genoa.

Two-person teams must sign up in advance by calling 783-1566 or by visiting the tasting room at 2285 Main Street, Genoa.

Cost is $25 per team for the stomper and the swabbie. Individuals 18 years or younger must have a legal guardian sign a release waiver.

Teams are filling up fast, with 24 teams max. Each team member will receive an official Tahoe Ridge Winery-Grape Stomp T-shirt.

Rick Halbardier, CEO and director of winemaking, said Tahoe Ridge recently won the gold, silver and bronze medals for Nevada-grown and produced wines in the 2009 International Cold Climate Wine Competition held in Minneapolis, Minn., Aug. 25-27.

He said the winning wines will be sold exclusively through the Tahoe Ridge Pioneer Wine Club and its new marketplace and bistro opening this fall in Minden.

The gold medal went to the company's 2008 St. Croix, Buffalo Creek Vineyard, Gardnerville. The silver medal went to the 2008 Frontenac, Buffalo Creek Vineyard, Gardnerville, and the bronze went to the 2008 La Crosse, Buffalo Creek Vineyard, Gardnerville.

"I believe that after 20 years of continuous work and the investment of over $2 million into the research associated with the development of a wine and grape growing industry in Northern Nevada, we have finally established the grape varietals that will take Nevada to the next level," Halbardier said.

He said the company's 2009 commercial wine competition medal count stands at 19 medals through August. This year will mark Tahoe Ridge's 17th harvest of grapes from Nevada vineyards and 20 years in the development of the Nevada wine and grape growing industry.

Interspecific wine grapes are developed by researchers at Cornell University and the University of Minnesota. Tahoe Ridge began work with interspecific wine grapes back in 1999 and now has more than 15,000 of these vines planted in the Carson, Smith, Washoe and Mason Valley areas of Northern Nevada.

Tahoe Ridge Winery harvested the first commercial interspecific wine grapes from the Buffalo Creek Vineyard in 2008. Buffalo Creek Vineyard is owned and operated by David and Susan Semas. The vineyard was planted in 2006 and is approximately eight acres in size. The vineyard is planted to two red interspecific wine grape varieties, St. Croix and Frontenac, and two white interspecific wine grape varieties, La Crosse and Brianna.

For more information, call 783-1566 or visit www.tahoeridge.com.