📚 BEYOND THE BINDING: The Winemaker's Wife meets Grape Stomping

Ever wondered what it's like to step into the pages of a book—literally? We're reading The Winemaker's Wife, set in the champagne vineyards of France during WWII, before stomping grapes ourselves at a Bucks County winery. It's the ultimate pairing: history, heartbreak, and harvest in one unforgettable afternoon.

Details for you:
STEP 1: BUY your ticket for Grape Stomping 🍇 Grape Stomping Event at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery

• When: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
• ⛅ RAIN OR SHINE!
• Venue: Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
• Address: 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie, PA 18944
• Phone: (215) 249-3559
• Tickets are limited and selling fast! Get yours here
• Total investment: $44 ticket + book + your additional drinks/snacks at winery = grape-filled memories with fellow book lovers!

Your Ticket Includes: 🍷 A glass of Bishop Estate wine 👕 An "I Stomped at Bishop Estate" T-shirt 🥂 An exclusive Smashin' Pumpkin wine glass 📸 Beautiful vineyard views, tons of photo ops, and plenty of laughter as you become part of the winemaking tradition

STEP 2: RSVP | ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Purchase your ticket FIRST, then RSVP on Meetup.

STEP 3: READ the book 📚 The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel

• Available: $10.41 on Amazon
• Formats: Kindle, Audiobook, Hardback, Paperback
• Pages: 400 (Don't worry if you don't finish—just read what you can!)

STEP 4: Join us for the Event! 🍇 Grape Stomping & Discussion at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00 PM ET

• ⛅ RAIN OR SHINE!
• Address: 2730 Hilltown Pike, Perkasie, PA 18944
• Phone: (215) 249-3559
• Website: Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
• We'll stomp grapes together, then gather at the winery for book discussion over wine!

WHAT TO WEAR & BRING
Wear:

• Dark-colored clothes you don't mind getting stained (grape juice is permanent!)
• Shorts, capris, or pants you can roll up above the knee
• Consider bringing a small bag for your phone/wallet while stomping
• Flip-flops or sandals - easy to slip on after stomping and that you do not mind getting stained
• Leave your nice shoes in the car - this gets messy and that's the fun of it!

Optional but helpful!:

• Towel - to clean your feet after stomping
• Wet wipes
• Water bottle

About the Book The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel
Set in the Champagne region of France during WWII, this dual-timeline novel weaves together love, betrayal, and resistance. When young Inès marries into the storied Chauveau champagne house in 1940, the German occupation brings danger to everyone—especially Céline, the Jewish wife of their winemaker. Decades later, in 2019, Liv returns to France with her mysterious grandmother to uncover long-buried secrets about what happened during the war. With 4.23 stars and over 92,000 ratings on Goodreads, this heartbreaking yet hopeful story explores how wine, family, and the land connect us across generations.
Reading connection: Harmel's vivid descriptions of champagne-making—from the careful harvest to the transformation of grapes into wine—will make you see the grape stomping experience through new eyes. As you crush grapes beneath your feet, you'll connect to the French winemakers who risked everything to protect their vineyards and their loved ones during one of history's darkest hours.

About the Event Grape Stomping at Bishop Estate Vineyard & Winery
Experience the time-honored tradition of grape stomping during harvest season! Roll up your pants, step into a barrel of fresh grapes, and crush them the old-fashioned way. After our stomping adventure, we'll gather at the winery to discuss the book, share a glass of wine, and celebrate how stories bring us together in the most unexpected ways.

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

• Wine as witness to history: How does Harmel use the champagne house and vineyard as more than just a setting—how does the wine itself become a character that carries the weight of secrets, survival, and memory?
• Love and betrayal in wartime: Both Inès and Céline face impossible choices between love and survival. Which character's decisions resonated most with you, and could you see yourself making similar choices under such circumstances?
• Past and present connections: How does the 2019 storyline with Liv and her grandmother illuminate the WWII narrative? What does the book suggest about how we inherit family secrets and historical trauma?
• Grape stomping parallels: Now that you've stomped grapes yourself, how does the physical experience change your understanding of the winemaking scenes in the book? What does it teach you about the labor, tradition, and love that goes into each bottle?
• Your own reactions, questions, and observations!

🌟 WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS

• Experience the book's themes hands-on through grape stomping
• Connect history to present-day winemaking traditions
• Meet fellow literature enthusiasts in a beautiful vineyard setting
• Taste wine while discussing a wine-centered story
• Take home an "I Stomped at Bishop Estate" T-shirt and exclusive wine glass
• Make memories that blend books, friendship, and adventure

QUESTIONS? Check our Rules of Engagement before signing up. Message Heather with any questions.
See you there! 🍇📖🍷