Best Time of the Year to Visit the California Wine Country

Napa Valley | Sonoma Valley | Paso Robles | Mendocino | Healdsburg

Any time is a great time to visit the California wine country. Each time of the year brings its own unique aura and feel to a wine country getaway. Even a cold raining day is a "cool" day in wine

Below we describe what to expect in each season in the wine country. After that you can view the pros and cons of visiting each of our wine regions: The Good, and the Bad.

Now - September 2010

This is most exciting time to be in wine country. The "Crush" is on! Harvest activities will pick up as the month progresses. The smell of grapes is in the air. Read our blog post on the Harvest for more inside information on watching harvest activities.

December and January in wine country

The wineries are much less crowded. You won’t need to fight the crowds and the traffic, particularly in the more popular wine regions of the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The vines are dormant, showing rows and lines of bare trellising. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards

February in Wine Country

Wild mustard flowers bloom in the vineyards in Napa and Sonoma. Wildflowers begin to grow among the vineyards. It’s photo opportunity time in the wine country. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards

March and April in Wine Country

The vines awaken and begin to bud. Wine country wildflowers
are in bloom and a delight to view. Visitor season begins in earnest. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards

May through August in Wine Country

The vines are full of vegetation, and the grapes show magnificently. It is hot in most areas of the wine country and there are great expectations for the coming harvest. Many tourists travel during this time and weekend crowds be considerable. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards

September, October in Wine Country

This is harvest time in the wine country. It’s great fun to visit a winery during the harvest. The harvest time varies depending on the climate and region. This is a busy and bustling time at a winery. Beware of the crowds at this time of the year. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards

November in Wine Country

The vines and trees show off fall colors. This is truly the most beautiful time in wine country. It is another great photo opportunity. Watch 4 Seasons in the Vineyards