When is Harvest Season in Napa Valley?
Harvest Season in Napa Valley is typically August through October. The hot, dry summers ripen the grapes and we start to harvest white wine grapes (for our Sauvignon Blanc for example), and red wine grapes last in late October (including our world-renowned Cabernet Sauvignon grapes).
What does the Grape Harvesting Process look like?
When our winemaking team decides the time is just right, harvest begins! They are watching the grapes closely in this time period, and carefully monitoring the weather. The grapes must have the perfect balance of acidity and sugar, and because this is so dependent on the weather the first day of harvest season is different year to year.
Fun Fact:
Our grapes are still hand harvested! Workers go through the rows of vineyards and pick grapes bunch by bunch, cutting them off the vine with a sharp blade. Hand harvesting can be a long process, but it allows our skilled workers to pick only the best grapes, and gently drop them into containers—helping us to produce the highest quality wine as a result.
Once the grapes are harvested, we bring them to our production facility in St. Helena for sorting. We want only the absolute best quality grapes for our wine, and as they move down a conveyer belt any unripe and damaged grapes will be discarded before moving on to be crushed. We do this using a machine called an optical sorter—a machine that can read the size, shape, color, and organic makeup of each berry in just 30 milliseconds.
Tips for Making the Most of your Visit During Harvest Season
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Plan Ahead
Harvest Season is a popular time to visit Napa Valley, so we recommend planning your trip well in advance. We have several exciting wine tasting experiences to choose from, and they do book up fast! -
Explore Napa Valley outside the wineries
Napa Valley has so much to offer this time of year, in addition to the beautiful wineries. There are local farmers markets, art galleries, and hiking and bike trails that can give you a glimpse into the magic of our area.
If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you can take an early morning hot air balloon ride to watch the sunrise over the vineyards for a breathtaking view! -
Attend a Harvest Event
Napa Valley is in full celebration mode this time of year, and there are so many events held to honor harvest and the new vintage of wines. From immersive winemaking, to lavish extravaganzas there is no shortage of things to do—HALL hosts our annual Kathryn Hall Harvest Celebration in September, for example. It is one of our biggest parties of the year, with live music, amazing food, and exclusive pours of our newest release wines.