GRAPEFEST® CELEBRATES MILESTONE EVENT WITH NEW EXPERIENCES, WINE TRADITIONS AND FOUR DAYS OF FESTIVAL FUN

The four-day pageant takes place on Historic Main Street September 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2026

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS – Make new reminiscences on the Largest Wine Festival within the Southwest, the fortieth Annual GrapeFest – A Texas Wine Experience offered by Bank of the West. This 12 months, GrapeFest celebrates its milestone fortieth pageant with the theme, Connecting Wine Traditions, One Glass at a Time. When the primary GrapeFest was held in 1987, 700 individuals attended and Texas was residence to only over a dozen wineries and solely six poured on the inaugural People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic. Four a long time later, GrapeFest attracts greater than 225,000 guests to Historic Main Street for 4 days of wine traditions, competitors, distinctive buying, nice meals and dwell leisure. Here’s a have a look at a few of what to anticipate as GrapeFest celebrates this milestone:
THE RETURN OF THE FLORENCE DOOR Due to fashionable demand the Florence Door expertise will return to GrapeFest. Head to Champagne Terrace, sponsored by Hilton DFW Lakes, the place you’ll be able to knock on the small picket door and obtain a glass of champagne. The picture-perfect Florence-style wine window is a nod to the Sixteenth-century buchette del vino, as soon as utilized by winemakers to promote wines to the general public as they stroll by on the cobblestone-lined streets.
NEW FESTIVAL FOODS Alongside pageant staples like funnel desserts, corny canines and Steak on a Stake, uncover new pageant fare together with Filipino delicacies from SoulFire on Wheels, hand pies from Piemazing and uncover new snacks from The Kettle Corn Cowboys and Astronaut Snacks. Don’t neglect the millennial-themed Rewind Dirty Sodas. Historic Main Street boutiques, galleries, cafés, eating places and vineyard tasting rooms will even be able to welcome you in the course of the pageant.
NEW SHOPPING VENDORS Enjoy your favorites and uncover new distributors alongside Historic Main Street with greater than 70 artisan distributors. Get wild at Boot Scootin’ Bloomin’ as you handpick and make your personal wildflower bouquet to take residence. Find distinctive glassware, together with wine glasses, at The Turquoise Egg the place artists hand paint the glass with alcohol ink. Discover handcrafted objects from a mess of distributors from wooden and artwork to jewellery, together with Luce di Lucca Jewelry, and discover a customized western hat at RevRan Hats. Browse by means of the Grapevine Art Project distributors to find extra one-of-a-kind objects.

THE JUDGEMENT OF PARIS Savor wines from France, Napa Valley and Grapevine’s Sister Cities contained in the International Wine Experience, sponsored by Gaylord Texan Resort. Choose from a number of ticketed tasting experiences, together with a VIP choice. Throughout the weekend, visitors will even have alternatives to take part in GrapeFest’s model of the Judgment of Paris contained in the International Wine Experience. That blind tasting commemorates the historic 1976 Judgment of Paris, when Napa Valley wines famously prevailed over French wines in a landmark tasting, serving to put New World wines on the International stage.
YOU JUDGE THE BEST TEXAS WINES At the People’s Choice Wine Tasting Classic, sponsored by Audi Grapevine, you’ll get to expertise 40 Texas wineries showcasing 100 wines. During the 90-minute tasting session you’ll sip, savor and vote in your favorites. There are 10 ticketed classes to select from, together with three VIP classes. The winners will likely be introduced Sunday at 5 p.m.
WINE SEMINARS Learn from wine consultants and broaden your information at GrapeFest’s wine seminars.
•
Barossa Premium Wine Experience and Master Class, $15
•
Around the World in 60 Minutes with Cabernet Sauvignon, $25
•
Around the World in 60 Minutes with Sauvignon Blanc, $25
GRAPESTOMP Bring your best pal and leap into wine barrels to crush the competitors within the fan favourite GrapeStomp. Teams of two will stomp 15 kilos of grapes for 2 minutes. The winners from every day will compete within the Grand Champion StompOff on Sunday afternoon for the coveted Purple Foot Award!
FOUR STAGES OF LIVE MUSIC The soundtrack of GrapeFest involves life as 4 phases showcase 4 days of dwell music celebrating the 4 a long time which have formed the pageant. From crowd-pleasing classics to at the moment’s favorites, every stage honors the music, reminiscences and traditions which have made the pageant a must-attend celebration for 40 years. Enjoy tribute artists performing favourite hits together with 80s Mix Tape on Friday evening and Heartbreak Petty Saturday evening on the Grapevine Mills Main Stage. Live music will even fill the Champagne Terrace, International Wine Experience and Town Square Gazebo.
FAMILY FUN Enjoy family-friendly enjoyable on the Kidzone and Carnival & Midway. On Thursday get pleasure from free admission to the pageant and you may as well buy $30 limitless carnival trip wristbands from 5 – 10 p.m.
HARVEST WINE TRAIN Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s seasonal wine prepare will roll onto the tracks Thursday throughout GrapeFest. This 21+ wine expertise will characteristic Texas wines and seasonal flavors. Tickets can be found now at GVRR.com.

PLAN YOUR GRAPEFEST EXPERIENCE
HOURS
•
Thursday, September 17: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. – Free admission all-day
•
Friday, September 18: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. – Free till 5 p.m.
•
Saturday, September 19: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
•
Sunday, September 20: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
ADMISSION
•
Adults $12 day by day admission
•
Seniors (62+) $6 day by day admission
•
Children (6 – 12) $6 day by day admission
•
Children (Under 5) Complimentary
•
Weekend Pass Pin: $25, covers entry all weekend
PARKING
•
Free parking and shuttle service: Grapevine Convention Center 1209 S. Main Street
•
Free parking and shuttle service: Gaylord Texan Lot R (Behind Texas Best Smokehouse, 1001 E. Northwest Hwy.)
•
Free and paid parking all through Grapevine’s Historic District
•
Skip the drive and trip on Trinity Metro TEXRail and DART Silver Line
•
Rideshare drop off and choose up areas:
o
Hi-Railer Parking Lot at 410 West Dallas Road
To discover extra info and buy your tickets to GrapeFest and all of the experiences prematurely go to GrapeFest.com. You may discover particular GrapeFest resort charges and make a weekend out of it!