Each year from August through October, Napa Valley comes alive with the excitement and rush of harvest. Winery teams can be seen picking grapes in the vineyards for crush, and some wineries even offer special harvest tours so you can witness the winery production facilities in action. Here are some experiences to truly write home about – from “a day in the life” of harvest to making your own custom blend to stomping the grapes. Many of these experiences are by appointment only, so be sure to plan ahead and call for more details.

Harvest Events

From Fruit to Wine: The Magic of Harvest

Location: Groth Vineyards & Winery
Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023
Price: $125 per person

Go behind the scenes in the cellar and among the vines at Groth Vineyards & Winery. You’ll walk the vineyard to gather grapes, then return to the winery to evaluate their ripeness and predict the optimal pick date. Tour the crush pad and cellar to learn the crucial first steps of turning fruit into wine. And taste the first juice of the vintage along with a flight of Groth wines!


grapes in bins at Groth Winery & Vineyards


Hands-On Harvest Experience

Location: Trefethen Family Vineyards
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Price: This event is sold out (mark your calendar for next year)

You’ll start your day with an in-depth vineyard tour and the opportunity to get “hands on” picking grapes. After harvest, you will enjoy an incredible al fresco lunch paired with Trefethen wines, then follow the freshly harvested crop to the winery and learn about winemaking practices.


women smiling in a vineyard at the Hands On Harvest event


Technical Tour and Harvest Lunch

Location: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023
Price: $225 per person | $195 per wine club member

Experience harvest with Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' Head Winemaker Marcus Notaro and his team. Marcus has prepared a morning full of tactical winemaking processes and harvest fun. Learn about the intricacies and intensity of harvesting Napa Valley grapes. After your harvest experience, relax and enjoy lunch al fresco paired with Stag's Leap Wine Cellars' wines.


women smiling in a vineyard at the Hands On Harvest event


Crush Party

Location: Bouchaine Vineyards
Date: Sunday, October 1, 2023
Price: $150 per person | $100 per wine club member

Celebrate the 2023 Harvest by joining Bouchaine Vineyards for a grape picking contest. Clip clusters from the vine, stomp grapes, and sip a sneak peek of 2023 vintage wines from tank. You can even win a prize for the biggest grape harvest!


two people standing in a grape bin crushing grapes


Behind the Cellar Door: A Harvest Experience

Location: Cuvaison Estate Wines
Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023
Price: $185 per adult

Join Cuvaison for an immersive harvest experience at the Los Carneros estate. The day begins in the vineyards and on their crush pad, where you will engage in various winery tasks and actively contribute to the creation of their 2023 vintage wines. After spending the afternoon with their winemaking and cellar teams, relax and savor an exceptional dinner paired with Cuvaison's most prized wines, taking place in the charming vineyard house.


group of people in Cuvaison's vineyard at the harvest event


Crush Party

Location: V. Sattui Winery
Date: Friday, October 13, 2023
Price: $175 per person | $140 per wine club member

Experience harvest during one of the most exciting times of year in Napa Valley & step behind-the-scenes of a working winery. Participate in an old-fashioned grape stomp, and meet their growers and winemakers. Enjoy live music and food at this open house event and taste from over 45 wines!


standing in a grape bin with grapes on his foot


Winery Experiences

If you can't make it to Napa Valley during harvest, don't worry – a few Napa Valley wineries offer hands-on wine experiences year-round. 

Conn Creek Winery

The Barrel Blending Experience lets you play winemaker for a day and take home the fruit of your labor. Your experience includes a Napa Valley AVA overview, a guided tasting through Cabernet Sauvignon barrel samples, instructions on blending techniques and strategies, and a bottle of your custom blend to take home. Appointments available Thursday – Monday. $150 per person.
 

Judd’s Hill Winery

The Bottle Blending Day Camp leads guests through a personal tasting, education, and blending session as you perfect your Bordeaux-style blend using samples from four barrels of four red varietals. It’s a fun and informative wine country outing for singles, couples, and groups.  Reservations for this experience can be made with at least 24-hour notice, and can even be done remotely over Zoom.
 

Raymond Vineyards

Live the dream of being a Winemaker For a Day. Learn the winemaker’s art while blending your own Napa Valley Bordeaux-style red blend. Craft wine, fill, cork, and dress bottles with your custom label, then take it home with you that day. Available Wednesday – Monday. $150 per person.