It’s been an enjoyable summer in Napa Valley, filled with plenty of wine tasting, great food, and great friends. As we wind down another summer and head into fall, it’s time to get excited about the upcoming wine harvest season. Grape-growing is a long and involved process that occurs throughout the year, but the fall harvest season is special. Vineyards and the wineries come to life, as their workers race against the clock to pick grapes at their peak ripeness and begin the winemaking process. The entire valley is filled with the wonderful smells of harvest, and celebrations take place at wineries everywhere. From grape stomping and parades to gourmet food and the season’s best wine parties, harvest season is a great time to visit us in Napa Valley. Our Bed and Breakfast, situated on the border between the Sonoma and Napa wine regions, and at the gateway to the Los Carneros Wine Region, is the perfect place to base your fall getaway. Book your room at our Napa Bed and Breakfast today!
2019 Wine Harvest Events You Don’t Want to Miss!
The first wines of the season to get picked are those for sparkling wines, followed by white wines, then most of the red varieties. The grapes for Napa’s signature Cabernet Sauvignon are picked later than most. Given that we’re situated between two of the greatest wine-growing regions in the country, you can expect there to be a variety of excellent wine harvest events for you to partake in. To help you make the most of your time in Napa this fall, we’ve created a list of 10 of our favorite harvest celebrations and grape stomps in both Napa and Sonoma.
Napa Harvest Events
- Join in the Fall Wines Celebration at Robert Biale Vineyards. Later in the season, Biale Vineyards will also host an Al Fresco Dinner with its fall wines, prepared by Chef Bernardo Ayala of Napa Valley Bistro.
- Join Stags Leap Wine Cellars at their Harvest celebration, and learn all about the wine harvest in Napa through a hands-on, immersive experience. Afterward, you’ll be rewarded for your hard work with a seated al fresco lunch paired with some of the winery’s finest Napa Valley wines.
- Join in with Rutherford Hill Winery for their annual “Barn Bash” release party, where you’ll be served a special selection of Rutherford Hill and Terlato Vineyards wines paired with authentic barbecue fare.
- The Hess Collection is hosting its annual Lion’s Release Dinner, which includes a garden reception and formal dinner by Executive Chef Chad Hendrickson in the Hess Art Museum.
- V. Sattui Winery will hold its annual Harvest Ball. Here, you’ll dine on a multi-course dinner prepared by an Italian-born, Michelin-starred chef, while sipping on award-winning V. Sattui wines. Their annual Crush Party is also a fun event to attend and includes live music, an old-fashioned grape stomp, a live-fire Tuscan grill, wood-fired pizza ovens, and a wonderful variety of wines to sample.
- Stomp some grapes and enjoy a glass of wine at Grgich Hills Estate, where founder Mike Grgich’s takes visitors back to his roots in Croatia.
Sonoma Harvest Events
- Head to Meadowcroft Wines, and enjoy their Hands-on Harvest Experience. Owner Tom Meadowcroft will lead attendees in harvesting pinot noir grapes. You’ll spend the morning hand-picking grapes, and getting a feel for what the wine harvest is really all about. Afterward, savor a delicious breakfast in their tasting room.
- The Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival is one of the most comprehensive harvest celebrations in the area. This weekend-long celebration includes plenty of fun, like a grape stomp competition, the Annual Firefighter Water Fight, live music, and their traditional “Get Your Glow on” Parade.
- Another great festival to attend in Sonoma is the 45th Annual Sonoma County Harvest Fair. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the region’s top winemakers, growers, microbrewers, and artisans. Essential experiences at this event include the Grand Tasting, which features regional cuisine, craft beer, and wine from over 100 wineries, along with the World Championship Grape Stomp.
- Join in over 12 wineries in Sonoma, as they open their doors for the Sonoma Valley Crush. It’s a great chance to meet winemakers, learn about the harvest process, taste grapes in the vineyards, and drink freshly pressed juice. Each winery offers a range of hands-on experiences.
If you’re looking for more fun things to do in Napa, try these great hands-on wine experiences and other fall harvest events around the valley. Though not wine-related, another great fall harvest event to attend this fall is The CIA at Copia’s third-annual Ciderfest. Spend the afternoon enjoying seasonal food, live music, and local cider on September 1, 2019.
Unwind at a Romantic Bed and Breakfast
All of your hard work during harvest needs to be rewarded. For that, there are the relaxing accommodations at Napa’s most romantic Bed and Breakfast, the Candlelight Inn. We offer exceptional guest rooms coupled with unparalleled service and hospitality, all just minutes from downtown Napa. Come join us for 2019’s upcoming harvest season! Book your room today.
