The best time of year to visit Napa is approaching. Fall is my favorite time for several reasons.

1. The grapes are hanging low on the vines. Cabernet is typically picked in September or early October (this year may be earlier), but that means if you come during this time, you will be able to see and may even be able to touch the grapes yourself... They are everywhere in this valley! Go on almost any tasting in the Valley, and most likely, the winery team will take you into the vineyards to show you where they are at in their picking and show you the grapes ready to pick.
2. Tastings are just more exciting and more involved. Like I mentioned, the team will most likely share exactly where they are at in their harvest. They will most likely let you get involved in the vineyard or show you their equipment they are using to crush the wines or where they are in the process. They’ll share what this harvest is looking like and what that means for them and the Valley. It’s a great time to come if you are learning more about wine and want to get the most hands-on experience.
3. Events, events, events. This is the busiest time in Napa, so if you are wanting a slow, quiet Napa getaway, this may not be the best time. There are events every weekend. Wineries are hosting grape stomps, harvest dinners, vineyard experiences and more, and there are just so many fun things to see and experience during this time. Definitely the most lively time in the Valley!
4. Orange and red leaves everywhere! The Valley completely changes color. I’m originally from Southern California, where we do not get much of a fall. Well, here in Napa... the vineyards change colors. They turn from bright green to orange to deep red... and they are EVERYWHERE in this Valley, so you’ll definitely see them around. Aside from the vineyards, the trees are changing everywhere as well, especially at the Cottages. If you’re wanting that cozy, fall, autumn stay, this is the perfect time to visit the Valley and the Cottages.

Aside from the reasons why you should visit Napa Valley in the fall, I also thought I’d share some fun and unique events that are happening the Valley! We hope you can make it to at least one!

September 12 : Monticello Harvest Party

One of the best ways to experience harvest is to be right in the middle of it. Monticello’s annual Harvest Party is a great way to spend an afternoon enjoying wine, food and all the excitement that comes with harvest season.

September 12 : Hands-On Harvest by Elkhorn Peak Cellars

Ever wondered what harvest is actually like?

This is your chance to get a little closer to the process and see what’s happening behind the scenes in the vineyard. It’s a fun way to experience Napa beyond the tasting room.

September 13 : Harvest Table | Calistoga

A beautiful open-air harvest dinner along Lincoln Avenue beneath the Palisades, featuring a 1,000-foot communal table, a multi-course meal prepared by Calistoga restaurants and local Napa Valley wines.

Bring your appetite!

September 19 : Trefethen Family Vineyards Annual Harvest Party

Harvest is a special time at Trefethen, and their annual celebration is a wonderful way to experience the season at a family-owned Napa winery.

September 19 & October 3 : Grape Stomp in the Vineyard by Elkhorn Peak Cellars

Get your feet in the grapes!

A good old-fashioned grape stomp is one of those classic Napa experiences that is pretty hard not to have fun with.

September 19 : Festa d’Autunno by Robert Biale Vineyards

Fall, Italian food and great wine. That's a pretty good combination if you ask me.

Robert Biale’s Festa d’Autunno celebrates the Italian roots and family history that are such an important part of Napa Valley.

October 10 : Reynolds Family Winery Harvest Party

Head out to Silverado Trail for a lively harvest celebration with wood-fired pizza, library wines and a friendly grape-stomping competition.

A little wine, a little food and a little competition. Sounds like a good afternoon to me.

October 10 : Pomegranate & Paella Harvest Party by Tres Sabores

Tres Sabores brings together wine, food and the farm for a harvest celebration centered around paella and pomegranates.

It’s a wonderful reminder that there is a whole lot more being harvested around Napa than just grapes.

October 17 : Robert Biale Harvest Dinner

Enjoy a beautiful evening of Biale wines, great food and plenty of stories about the vintage and what is happening in the vineyards.

November 7: Howell Mountain Harvest Celebration

Spend an afternoon enjoying more than 30 Howell Mountain wineries, local food and special wines all in one festive harvest celebration.

November 14: Make Your Own Bottle of Wine by Elkhorn Peak Cellars

For anyone who wants to do a little more than simply taste wine, this is a fun hands-on experience and a chance to take a little piece of Napa home with you.

November 14: Olive Harvest Celebration at Round Pond Estate

Grapes aren't the only thing being harvested in Napa.

Round Pond’s olive harvest is another beautiful way to experience the agricultural side of the Valley and see what makes Napa so special beyond the vineyards.

 

And even if you’re not coming for one of these events, like I mentioned, fall is a beautiful time to visit Napa Valley. At the Cottages, we have your outdoor fire pit ready to light, coffee ready to be made, fresh pastries delivered to your door and a cozy fireplace to curl up next to inside. The perfect place to stay in fall.

We hope you get the opportunity to experience Napa in the fall!

Cheers!