There is something in the air during Harvest Season in Napa Valley. Maybe it’s the smell of grapes being turned into wine or the buzz of the vineyard workers or the incoming of visitors at local Napa Valley hotspots. Every year from August through October, winemakers and vineyard workers race against nature to pick grapes at the peak of ripeness and get them into the fermenter, to start making wine.
Harvest is one of the peak seasons for travel to Napa Valley, mainly because there is so much to do. While visiting Napa Valley, make sure not to miss out. Make sure to take time to smell the scent of fermentation in the air. Locals say there is no other smell like it.
Wine Tasting During Harvest
While wine tasting, ask your wine host if they do “behind the scenes” tours of the winemaking cellars. Depending on how busy the team is, they may allow you to go into the cellar and try some wine straight out of the barrel. Visit Judd’s Hill on Silverado Trail for a fun and informal look at the winemaking process, or explore St. Supery for harvest tours (call ahead to reserve) of their cellar.
Dining During Harvest
Napa Valley cuisine focuses on seasonal and local ingredients, so look out for heirloom tomatoes, pork, butternut squash, figs, and pumpkin to be on the menu. Visit The Farmer & the Fox in St. Helena for a creative, seasonal menu, or Napa Riverfront in downtown Napa for riverside dining.
There is lots of excitement during harvest, but there are also a lot of travelers. Make sure to make reservations at your favorite Napa Valley restaurants and wineries to book your visits.
Events During Harvest
Many wineries have harvest events going on during the season. Here are some of our favorites below:
On Saturday, August 8, Inglenook in Rutherford is hosting their annual Red Hot August Nights Harvest Party. The winery is celebrating harvest at the Chateau with a full buffet dinner, featuring a whole roast pig, handmade pizzas, and more, all paired with Inglenook wines. Larry Lynch & The Mob will be playing, so attendees can dance the night away, play lawn games with friends, relax in the cigar lounge, or jump in the photo booth.
Tickets are $160 per person, with a limit of 4 tickets. For wine club members, tickets are $120 per member, with a limit of 8 tickets.
Peju Winery is hosting their Harvest Celebration on Saturday, September 19th at their Rutherford estate. Celebrate the heart of harvest with great wines from Napa Valley, local and seasonal harvest cuisine, and good friends & family. Guests will be able to dance under the stars and enjoy the beauty of the harvest moon.
Tickets are $225 per person and $205 for members.
Grgich Winery in St. Helena hosts an annual Grape Stomp, just for wine club members each harvest season and locals and travelers agree, it is an event they look forward to all year round. The stomp which happens on Saturday, October 3rd, celebrates the start of harvest with Miljenko “Mike” Grgich (who has been grape stomping for over 85 years) and Violet Grgich. Kick off your shoes and get your feet dirty by stomping grapes and enjoying great wines and local food.
Tickets are $30 each, for wine club members and friends only.
One of the best ways to see all that Napa Valley harvest has to offer is to ride the Wine Train through vineyards between Napa and St. Helena. Enjoying the changing colors of the valley while strolling by in a lush train car is one the top of every Napa Valley “must do” list.
For an even more magical experience, attend one of the Wine Train’s Sunset Dinner Trains. The Train departs from downtown Napa when the vineyards are still bathed in warm sunlight, with the often spectacular sunsets occurring en route. These events run from May until late September.
Tickets are $124 – $199 per person, and reservations are required.
No matter what you do during your visit to Napa Valley during harvest, there is something special about being a part of the action and learning more about the dedication Napa vineyard owners and winemakers have to growing grapes and making the wine you love.