I don’t know what crosses your mind when you hear the word Pigeage, [pronounced… peej-AHJE] but… ok, ok, I must admit, I have never actually heard this word before, how bout you!? Pigeage is a French term that basically means grape stomping!! Pigeage [just because I like saying it.. haha] always makes me think about that episode of “I love Lucy” [you know the one that Julia Roberts was watching in Pretty Woman??] where she is stomping grapes. Lucy’s facial expressions are hilarious and I thought she made the whole act of stomping grapes seem pretty unpleasant.
While I wouldn't call it unpleasant, you can see by the look on my face [pictured below] that I was not prepared for what I felt. I'm not sure what I thought it would be like, but it was very chilly on my feet, and I was definitely NOT expecting that!! I am certainly glad that I was not above my ankles in grapes like Lucy was, and I didn’t dance around like she did in the episode!! LOL I know that I was probably not the first person to stomp these particular grapes, but I was expecting to feel more mushiness, you know… up and in between my toes!! [like when you squash a grape in your mouth] The whole experience was steeped in tradition, and I would totally do it again!!
Grape stomping was used for centuries as an age-old maceration method. [a process to soften or become softened by soaking in a liquid] The grapes are pressed by foot in an open fermentation tank [or barrel] and it is considered to be another way to start the wine making process. Today a wine press is used to extract the juice from the grapes which is then turned into wine!! The creation of the mechanical wine press came about towards the end of the 20th century, this is when the US banned the maceration method of stomping grapes for the purpose of wine production.
Now you may be thinking [because I had a similar thought myself] how safe, and more importantly how sanitary can pigeage [grape stomping] really be!? I have read that it is considered safe when implementing proper winemaking practices, like washing your feet before stomping the grapes. It went on to mention that the grapes themselves are not very clean when they come in from the field, since they are grown in open air and have the possibility [and I'm gonna say probability] to be covered by slug slime and/or bird droppings. Do not fear, most of the pathogen elimination takes place during the fermentation process, and when adding high alcohol content.
Grgich Hills proudly boasts about their estate grown, certified organic wines. They are family owned and operated since 1977. Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, from Yugoslavia joined forces with Austin Hills, from San Francisco to form Grgich Hills. Their dream was to make the best wines in the world!! I love the quote Mike gave saying, “I realize that you don’t make wine with only your head and your senses. You make wine with your heart. You have to pour your heart and your love into the wine.”
Sadly, Mike Grgich died in December of 2023, he was a whopping 100 years young!! Today Grgich Hills Estates is run by Mike’s daughter Violet Grgich, his nephew Ivo Jeramaz, and the third generation had taken and interest in keeping the family heritage alive, with Maja and Justin joining the team!! Pigeage may be a lost and dying art, but it is still considered a tradition at select wineries around the world and is often an experience to take part in at wine festivals and competitions. I highly recommend stomping some grapes if you are ever presented with the opportunity!!
I absolutely loved my “I stomped at Grgich Hills” t-shirt!! [pictured above] Unfortunately, I wore and washed it quite a bit and the footprints faded into almost invisibility. Also, I am pretty sure I also tasted wine here, I was just so enamored with the grape stomping part, and my t-shirt, that I neglected to take any photos of the actually winery!! I guess this all just means I will have to [someday] revisit and get some proper documentation!!
Next week Wine with Wixy will be visiting the famous Chateau Montelena Vineyard!! Tune in if you want to know just how they became so famous!!
Cheers to you my wine loving friends, and TTFN!!
Comments