Best Times for a Winery Visit

Photo: Vineyard off the Silverado Trail in Napa, California in Spring

 First, let me clarify - in my opinion, there is never a 'bad' time to visit a winery for a tasting. I've often found that if I am having a good day, a wine tasting adds to it, and if I am having a bad day, concentrating on the wine and beautiful vineyards around me, lifts my spirits.

All of that said, if you are planning a formal trip out to wine country, vineyards, like any other form of agriculture, do vary greatly by season, and so too do the activities offered by wineries and wine associations. Below are some of my recommendations:

Vineyards by Season

I enjoy visiting wineries in spring because the vineyards are beginning to final show the start of green growth after the winter. Toward the end of winter and the beginning of Spring is a time many wineries and associations hold popular events (like Barrel Tasting on the Wine Road in Sonoma County, Barrels and Verticals up in Lake County) which are a great way to 'winery hop' and, for a flat fee, taste a wide variety of wine from participating wineries. Late winter and early spring, however, at least for Northern California, can be rainy. But, I actually like this because generally wineries are less crowded, and, because of this, you can often craft a more personal wine tasting experience. 

In the summer, the California vineyards are lush and green and the weather tends to be dry and quit hot. What this means, is that while the vineyards are pretty, it might not be the best time to sign up for a walking tour of the winery grounds. Instead, this is a perfect time to do some exploring in the wine cool, damp, wine caves. A few wine cave tours I recommend are: Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards in Sonoma (you also learn about the process of making wine sparkle which is very interesting) and Deerfield Ranch Winery also in Sonoma (where you actually can have your wine tasting in the cave).

Fall, in my opinion, is the most beautiful time to visit the vineyards because of the brilliant colored leaves the grape vines produce. Each varietal of grape (e.g., Pinot Noir, Chardonnay) has a unique signature color pattern, and when you find a good vantage point overlooking fields and fields of brightly colored vineyards, it truly is a spectacular moment. In late August, September, and sometimes early October, is an event in wine country known as 'Crush'. This is when the grapes are picked from the vines and literally crushed separating the juice from the grape skins, and the beginning of the wine bottling process is started. For visiting, it is a great time to learn about the wine making process in action. Some wineries will let you taste some of the pre-crushed grapes, and others, if you are lucky, might let you partake in some of the crush activities (for example, Laujor Estate in Lake County hosts an annual wine stomping event for wine club members).