The #1 time to come is when your schedule allows. 

November through March is our “Offseason.” Also known as our “rain season”. Napa and Sonoma are in Northern California, not sunny Southern California with beaches and surfing. We get on average 30 inches of rain, just a little less than Seattle. Winter temps are 50’s & 60’s during the day and 30’s & 40’s at night.

• Make the most of discounted accommodations, tastings, and tours.
• Experience a more relaxed and personal atmosphere at wineries and tasting rooms.
• Visit smaller, family-owned wineries or join special winter tastings.
• It’s easier to secure reservations at top restaurants

April, May, June The weather starts to get better, warmer, chance of rain decreases, the days are longer, and the vines start to grow rapidly, as the temps spike up. Once the rain stops, the beautiful green hills and grasses turn brown but the vines provide the color.  Temps are 45 to 75 in April and May, 50 to 85 in June.

As more people start to visit the area, hotel, B&B prices start to inch up, the prime restaurant reservation times get tougher to secure. I always recommend, make your dinner reservations as far out as they’ll take them. That way you can eat from 6:00 to 8:00 pm not get stuck with the 4:30 or 9:00 time.

July, August, September, no rain, no humidity, no bugs, 55 degrees overnight, 90’s during the day. We do get a few very hot days each year, where the temps get over 100.  Hottest part of the day is from 3:00 to 6:00. After 6:00 temps start going down. You’ll need a sweater at 8:00 pm. Cool mornings and hot afternoons are perfect growing conditions for grapes.

• This is “High Season”. Hotel rates highest, tough to get a reservation for the weekends
• Try and come during the weekdays
• Grapes start to develop sugar and turn color, called Veraison
• Chardonnay & Pinot grapes get picked as early as July to make Sparkling Wine
• These grapes & Sav Blanc, Zinfandel, Malbec will get picked for still wines by the end of September

October is my favorite month. The hot days are behind us, averaging 45 to 77. After the grapes are picked, the vines to go dormant for the winter, which creates the fall colors. Cabernet Sauvignon are the last grapes to get picked. Fingers crossed that no natural disaster hits, frost or long spell of rain or unnatural disaster, fire, that prevents the grapes from getting harvested.

• Fall colors
• Grape picking, processing, lots of added activity going on
• Wine making, many of our small winery partners will let you in behind the curtains to watch