At Moulds Family Vineyard, we pride ourselves on dedication. Whether it’s the 180 days needed to ripen our premium grapes or the years invested in stewarding our soil, we believe that great things take patience, heart, and a lot of hard work.
Today, we are thrilled to step away from the vines for a moment to celebrate a massive achievement by a dear friend of the Moulds Family.
We are sending our biggest, most heartfelt congratulations to Ruben Frias and his family on being crowned the 2024 Champion at the 30th Annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival!
A Gourd Like No Other
While we are used to measuring our harvest in tons of Cabernet, Ruben has been focusing on a single, astonishing number: 1,967 pounds.
On Saturday, under the proud gaze of thousands of visitors at one of Northern California’s most iconic fall events, Ruben’s enormous, pale gourd tipped the scales, securing him first place in the Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off.
Ruben, who hails from American Canyon, actually grew this massive gourd right here in Napa over the course of 180 days. That is six months of careful nurturing, monitoring, and dedication. We know how much effort goes into cultivating premium hillside fruit, so we can only imagine the care required to grow a vegetable that weighs nearly a ton!
A Full-Circle Family Victory
This win was a beautiful “full-circle moment” for Ruben. He first began growing giant pumpkins in 2009—and that was also the very first year he took home the top prize at Elk Grove. After 15 years of harvesting these giants and placing a strong second last year, he has reclaimed his title during this milestone 30th anniversary festival.
It wasn’t a solitary effort. After his pumpkin was officially declared the heaviest in California so far this year, Ruben was joined on the scale by his entire family for a moment of well-earned celebration.
His wife, Maricela Estrada, knew immediately that this was the winning gourd. “I knew he was going to win when I saw it,” she proudly shared in a news release.
Celebrating Passion and Spirit
Along with bragging rights throughout Northern California pumpkin patches, Ruben earned a $7,000 prize. But the true reward is the celebration of the passion and spirit of growers within our community.
As Jim Luttrell, board president of Cosumnes Community Services District, noted, “It’s a true testament to the passion and spirit of our community.” We couldn’t agree more. Whether we are growing grapes or giant pumpkins, that spirit is what makes Napa Valley such a special place.
Please join us in raising a glass of your favorite Moulds Family Vineyard Cabernet to Ruben Frias—our local champion of the patch!