2018 Harvest
Fieldnotes
07/24/2018 — We are on the cusp for Napa Valley’s 2018 harvest. With our warm, sunny days and crisp cool nights, it looks like harvest will not be underway for a couple more weeks. Winemakers are walking their vineyards, keeping a keen eye on what’s happening. Workers are strategically managing vine canopies to ensure optimal sun exposure while grapes are beginning veraison, the process of slowly changing color and transitioning to ripeness and softness.
Harvest represents the culmination of 12 months of rigorous work and concentrated effort. It’s also the time when we come together with the common goal of producing the best possible wines. We hope you’ll join us for updates, photos, videos, music and the stories of just what’s behind every bottle of Napa Valley wine.
View photos & previous updates
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.