2018 Harvest
Fieldnotes
09/11/2018 — What a difference a year can make. A year ago, many winemakers were busy bringing in fruit and keeping up with Mother Nature’s curveballs, while this year’s harvest is quiet. Many producers throughout the valley are steadily bringing in Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and the first few bins of red wine. We are still weeks away from harvesting Cabernet Sauvignon as growers are waiting for temperatures and sugar levels to rise. If the weather continues this way, we’re in for a beautiful harvest with an abundance of elegant and complex flavors developed through a balanced and even growing season.
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All About Harvest
What does it take to bring home a perfect wine grape? View photos, videos and stories about the traditions, heroes and stages behind Napa Valley’s annual harvest.
Stages of Harvest
There are many factors that determine when grapes are harvested. Find out when grape varieties are generally picked in the Napa Valley and why.
From Vine to Wine
From bud break to bottling, learn what it takes for a grape to become wine that lives up to Napa Valley’s reputation for quality.
How Cabernet Sauvignon is Made
Go from vineyard to glass and learn how Napa Valley’s most widely grown grape variety becomes wine.
How Chardonnay is Made
Chardonnay is probably the most well-known white wine grape. It originated in the Burgundy region of France, but it is grown all over the world.