As summer slips into fall, harvest season swings into full force—and we could not be more ready for it.
With a rainbow of veggies and fat, juicy clusters of grapes finally ready to pick, celebrations are gearing up (and already selling out) in Napa, Sonoma, and beyond. From old-fashioned grape stomps to luncheons studded with the ripest of the ripe, this year’s harvest happenings will leave your feet stained, your belly full, and your heart happy.
Winery Celebrations
Bouchaine's Crush Party begins with a grape picking contest, October 1 at 11am.
(Courtesy of @bouchaine_vineyards)
Jordan Winery Harvest Lunch
For 40 years, Jordan Winery has been celebrating the harvest season with an alfresco feast available exclusively for members ($120 to $145 depending on membership status). Snag a seat for a four-course lunch paired with the estate’s chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, and olive oil at the exquisite Healdsburg chateau; the menu changes daily based on the garden’s bounty. The two-hour harvest lunch runs Wednesdays through Saturdays from September 20 to October 14. // 1474 Alexander Valley Rd. (Healdsburg), jordanwinery.com
St. Francis Winery Art of the Harvest
Make a toast to this year’s harvest at St. Francis Winery’s Art of the Harvest dinner ($250 non-members, $200 members). Executive chef Peter Janiak will pair the vintner’s artisan chardonnays, sangiovese, and cabs with locally sourced ingredients crafted into dishes like oysters with gravenstein apple mignonette, eggplant and mozzarella cannelloni with tomato sugo, and Sonoma County beef short ribs with roasted pepper polenta. // 100 Pythian Rd. at Hwy 12 (Santa Rosa), stfranciswinery.com
Pine Ridge Vineyards Stags in September
Pine Ridge Vineyards pairs the fall harvest with an immersive two-hour tour of the winery’s full-to-bursting beehives ($125 non-members, $100 members). Taste the freshly drawn honey with three artisanal cheeses and five wines from the Stags Leap District (including a special library pour). // September 30 at 10:30am; 5901 Silverado Trail (Napa), pineridgevineyards.com
Bouchaine Crush Party
In October, things get juicy at Bouchaine’s crush party ($150 non-members, $100 members). The event kicks off with a grape picking contest followed by a good old-fashioned stomping. There will be a paella feast, the first tastes of the 2023 vintage, and prizes for the quickest vineyard harvesters. // October 1 at 11am; 1075 Buchli Station Rd., bouchaine.com
Landmark Vineyards Harvest Festival
Landmark Vineyards is grilling up the goodness at this year’s harvest party. The winery will pair a BBQ lunch with two specially selected vintages of Landmark chardonnay and pinot noir, and serve it all up to the rhythm of live music at their Kenwood Estate ($85 non-members, $68 members). If you want to get to the harvest celebration sooner, Landmark is also holding a pinot and paella harvest lunch at their Hop Kiln Estate (6060 Westside Rd., Healdsburg) on September 23 at 12pm ($85 non-members, $68 members) // October 7 at 12pm; 101 Adobe Canyon Rd. (Kenwood), landmarkwine.com
Bricoleur Vineyards 4th Annual Harvest Party
Bricoleur Vineyards’ harvest party is a bite-sized festival complete with live music, local vendors and craftspeople, artisan pizza, lawn games, and bocce ball. Your ticket ($50 non-members, $35 members) will also get you a glass of Bricoleur’s finest plus a branded tumbler. // October 8 at 11am; 7394 Starr Rd. (Windsor), bricoleurvineyards.com
Clos du Val Harvest Farmers Market
You’ll find the best of the harvest at Clos du Val’s farmers market, where local vendors will be selling everything from plants and honey to jewelry and vegan skincare. Lunch with Ceviche & Co, The Lumpia Fam, Tre Posti, and Desserts by Danae will be paired with glasses of Clos du Val wine. Take home your bounty in a limited-edition branded wine tote stocked with a selection of estate-grown veggies, a floral bouquet, walnuts, and more. // October 8 at 11am; 5330 Silverado Trail (Napa), closduval.comHarvest Festivals
The Sonoma County Harvest Fair's World Champion Grape Stomps will take place on October 14 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.
(Courtesy of @sonoco_fair)
Crush It Harvest Festival
The Estate Yountville celebrates harvest not once but two weekends in a row. The all-day party ($100 adults, $65 kids 12 and under) on the resort’s West Pavillion lawn includes wine tasting with several small production vintners, a lavish BBQ, live music, lawn games and face painting for kiddos, and as its name suggests, a good old fashioned grape stomping. Additional a la carte food and beverage options are also available throughout the day. // September 30 and October 7 at 11am; 6481 Washington St. (Yountville), theestateyountville.com
Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival
The town of Sonoma’s grape stomp competition is no less fun than the more storied county fair version in October. Assemble a team and sign up to crush the competition. Two person individual and family teams can secure a spot for $75; they’ll get a t-shirt and semi-permanent purple feet for their effort. // September 30 at 10am at Historic Sonoma Plaza; 453 1st St. E. (Sonoma), eventbrite.com
Sonoma County Harvest Fair
Sonoma’s Harvest Fair is part wine competition, part food-and-wine heaven. Over two days, judges will evaluate 900 different local wines and a bevy of Sonoma-made cuisine ($75 general admission, $150 VIP). When they’ve made their selections, the gold medal and best in class winners from each category will go on to the Grand Tasting pavilion where attendees can get a taste. If that’s not enough, get a gander of the World Champion Grape Stomps held just outside. // October 14 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds; 1350 Bennett Valley Rd. (Santa Rosa), harvestfair.org
Calaveras Grape Stomp & Gold Rush Street Faire
Head to the Sierra foothills for a grape stomp and harvest festival with a Gold Country vibe. The annual event combines a stomping competition with a street fair full of food, fun, entertainment, and wine from the county’s more than two dozen wineries—there are 28 tasting rooms on Murphy’s Main Street alone! Register to compete before space runs out. // October 7 at 9:30am; 505 Algiers St. (Murphys), gocalaveras.com
Harvest Tidrick Celebration
Back for its second year, Mendocino’s Harvest Tidrick Celebration raises a glass to the vineyards of Anderson Valley. A number of the wineries will be in on the fun, offering harvest-themed tasting experiences and more (participating wineries will be announced soon). You don’t need a ticket to get a taste but reservations at your preferred wineries are strongly encouraged. // November 4-5; Hwy 128 (Mendocino), avwines.com
