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Many people think of Fall as
an ideal time to visit Napa Valley or
other wine regions - when grapes are
being harvested and wines are happily
fermenting in wineries'
cellars. While it's true that Fall is
a particularly exciting time of year in the
Valley, each season boasts its own unique
charm.
If you're planning a trip to Napa, here are our
tips for what to expect during each season and
which months are best:
Visiting Napa Valley in
Winter
Winter
is a quiet season in Napa, which
makes it incredibly easy to make tasting or
dinner reservations. Although the vines
themselves are dormant, the rows in
between the vines are full of greenery and
wildflowers because Winter is when Napa gets
almost all its annual rainfall. If you
don't want to get wet, avoid December and
January when rain is heaviest.
Many events are scheduled during this time,
such as the Napa Valley Mustard Festival in
February, in order to bring in more
visitors.
Pros: Vineyards
lush with wildflowers. Fewer crowds and fun
events.
Cons: Can be very
rainy and chilly, especially in
December/January.
Visiting
Napa Valley in
Spring
Spring is when
Winter's heavy rains have finally tapered off,
with just a few inches expected in April and
May generally totally dry. Temperatures around
Napa Valley are also starting to go up,
without hitting the 100 degree plus spikes of
Summer, making it the most comfortable
season weather-wise.
After going dormant in November, this is when
vines bud and go into flower. While you won't
get the full foliage or recognizable
grapes of Summer and Fall, this is a
crucial time for determining that year's
grape quality.
Pros:
Mild weather. See the vines bud and flower. Not
too busy yet.
Cons: Don't expect to
see anything yet that looks like a
grape.
Visiting Napa Valley in
Summer
By Summer
time, sun has arrived in full
force! During Summer, Napa
Valley truly looks like a postcard with
bright blue skies and rich sunshine over
rolling hills. Vines by now are full of
leaves as well as grape bunches, so you'll
enjoy breathtaking vistas throughout your trip
and will come home with great
pictures.
That sunshine and beauty, however, also start
to draw in the bigger crowds. You'll deal
with more traffic and lines at the tasting
bars. Also, some days can be extremely hot,
with afternoon heat spikes that can
be over 100 degrees.
Pros: Beautiful,
sunny days. Vines in full foliage and heavy
with grapes.
Cons: Can be hot hot
hot! Crowds start to get thick.
Visiting
Napa Valley in
Fall
Fall in Napa
Valley is all about Harvest. There's lots to
see - from watching crews cutting down
bunches in the vineyards to crushing and
pressing at the cellar. Fall is
also unfortunately all about
crowds. Expect to have to elbow for
room at the tasting bar and don't expect a lot
of attention from your pourer. Driving behind
slow grape trucks might also drive you a bit
crazy.
Crowds do thin out in November once all the
grapes are picked. There might
be some drizzly rain but the foliage
change on the vines is glorious.
Pros: The
excitement of Harvest in Sept/Oct. Amazing
foliage colors in
Nov.
Cons: Heaviest crowds and traffic,
including numbingly slow grape trucks.
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