Altus Grape Fest returns for 28th year

story by Connie Las-Schneider

Folks in Franklin County aren’t going to let the heat stop the 28th annual Altus Grape Fest and its public grape stomps, Bacchus look-alike contest, fireworks, music and other events.

Grape Fest is scheduled for Friday (July 29) and Saturday (July 30) at Altus City Park. The Fest marks the 28th anniversary of the Altus region’s federal designation as one of about 200 Appellation of Origin wine producing regions in the U.S.

Arkansas is the largest grape juice and wine producer in the Southern states, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.

Public records indicate Altus had un-official gatherings to celebrate the start of the annual grape harvest sporadically from the turn of the century until the 1920’s, when Prohibition put a cork in the event that held a seal for almost 60 years.

The cork popped in 1984 when the coveted Appellation of Origin viticulture designation was bestowed on Altus. According to the U.S. Department of Treasury Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Altus is one of three areas in Arkansas to be awarded this designation, along with the Arkansas Mountain appellation around Paris and the Ozark Mountain appellation which includes Fayetteville, North West Arkansas and parts of Missouri and Oklahoma.

In addition to promotional opportunities the Appellation of Origin provides, only wine made from grapes grown in viticulture Appellation of Origin areas may use the area’s name (Altus, in this case) on their labels.

While Altus has long been known as the Wine Capital of Arkansas, it took Altus almost 100 years to be officially recognized by the federal government for its wine and grape production.

The wine business in Altus began more than 120 years ago. The area’s first wine makers  were Swiss/German immigrants who came to Altus on the Iron Mountain Railroad in the 1880’s, enticed by the area’s  sandy soil and perfect micro-climate for grape cultivation, said Paul Post, a 5th generation winemaker from Post Familie Winery.

“You could say the wine business in Altus started on the right track,” said Post, who explained that one of his ancestors first sold the family’s homemade wine to passengers when the train stopped in Altus to refuel and take on water.

Today the Post family continues to expand the family business with vineyards and a modern wine and juice making operation.

Weiderkehr Cellars has also produced wines and juices since the 1880’s and their hand-dug cellars can still be toured today. The historic Weiderkehr restaurant next door is listed on the Federal Register of Historic Places.

Mount Bethel Winery opened in the 1950’s and Chateau Aux Arc is the latest addition to the area’s wine making tradition.

Table grapes also thrive in the Altus micro-climate and several growers sell their fresh produce in the area.

To support and encourage the area’s grape economy, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus offers Viticulture (wine making) and Enology (grape production) certificate programs.

GRAPE FEST
Grape Fest kicks off the celebration Friday starting at 5 pm with a celebrity grape stomping competition, a Bacchus look-alike contest, live entertainment and a street dance. Admission is free.

For those not familiar with grape stomping, a measured amount of grapes is put into each vat and contestants try to out stomp each other to produce the most grape juice which is collected in a container under the vat.

On Saturday, the Fest continues with six more grape stomps in which festival goers may participate, plus musical entertainment, a wait-staff tray carrying competition, a kid’s balloon tossing contest, juried arts and crafts show, and judging of the popular amateur wine making contest.

A biscuits and gravy breakfast will be served 7:30 to 9 a.m., and wine and juice tastings from local wineries will be offered both days. Table grapes will also be for sale.