Harvest is rockin’ and rollin’ at Nickel & Nickel! Director of Winemaking Joe Harden takes us behind the scenes as Cabernet Sauvignon arrives from the winery’s C.C. Ranch vineyard in Rutherford and moves through the optical sorter. Joe shares an early look at the 2026 fruit, with great color and extraction and a lighter crop Read the full article…
2026 Vintage Field Notes
How Smaller Yields Can Impact Wine Quality
We caught up with Schweiger Vineyards Winemaker Andy Schweiger at the estate on Spring Mountain to talk about Harvest 2026 and a vineyard phenomenon known as “shatter.” Andy explains how shatter during flowering led to smaller yields this vintage, and why less fruit doesn’t mean lower quality. In fact, it can mean just the opposite. Read the full article…
Napa Valley harvest report: ‘Reds begin as early harvest continues’
The overall crop may be lighter than previous vintages, but the quality is high. “I am loving the color and flavor intensity and great acidity of the first fermentations,” said Celia Welch, who reported that for the first time in her career, she had harvested her first blocks of red grapes in August. Read the Read the full article…
Inside the busiest time of year at Larkmead Vineyards
Harvest 2026 is underway in Napa Valley, but at Larkmead Vineyards, this year’s grapes are just one of three vintages currently keeping the cellar team busy. We catch up with winemaker Avery Heelan as Larkmead ferments 2026 Sauvignon Blanc picked last week while simultaneously bottling wines from the 2024 and 2025 vintages. It’s a unique Read the full article…
Welcoming Harvest Interns from Around the World to Napa Valley!
We welcomed more than 125 Napa Valley #HarvestInterns to our annual kickoff party! Representing cities and countries from around the world, with a strong showing from California and France, this next generation of wine professionals came together to connect, celebrate and toast the start of the 2026 vintage. Over the coming weeks, they’ll Read the full article…




