Harvest Activities in Sonoma County: Your Harvest Checklist

Autumn is a magical time in Sonoma County Wine Country – the culmination of the year-long growing process. The vineyards turn from green to gold to red, providing fall foliage that rivals New England. Fall means the days are mild to hot, but cool nights prevail. Winegrapes are harvested, crushed (more of a gentle press), and loaded into tanks to start the fermentation process.

If you’ve ever visited Sonoma County while harvest season is in full swing, you know that the air is alive with the electric pulse of myriad hands picking grapes, crushpads wet with the sticky juice of newly pressed varieties, and the heady scent of new barrels and pomace permeating the air. 

To experience a bit of this harvest buzz for yourself, consider joining a Sonoma County wine club or two. Club membership often includes  special harvest tours of a winery’s production facility and/or its estate vineyards, and you might even get the opportunity to handpick grapes on a perfect autumn morning, sun glowing overhead, with the sweet fragrance of ripening grapes lingering in the air.

For fun, here’s a special harvest season checklist:

Harvest Tours & Tastings

To truly immerse yourself in the beauty and complexity of Sonoma County Wine Country in autumn, consider the Sonoma County Vineyard Adventures program, offering free, self-guided vineyard tours at Sonoma County wineries. Learn about sustainable grape-growing practices, what goes on in a vineyard during the year, and other interesting tidbits of information.

The vineyard tours are short in length — not more than a mile — and are created for all ages to enjoy. After the walks, you can taste wines from the vineyards. There is no charge for the vineyard tour, but each winery will charge tasting fees.

For a little bit more adventure, take a vineyard hike with a winemaker. Pick grape samples, field test sugar and pH, and schedule a guided tasting to find your favorite wine.

Harvest Dining

Fall in Sonoma County is not just about the vineyards and grapes. With the countywide emphasis on farm-to-table eating, restaurants revise their menus to reflect the harvest of autumn vegetables.

Indulge in Wine Country like a local, surrounded by vineyards, barrels, and harvest at Alexander Valley Vineyards for their pizza pairing on Saturdays in September, or the the farm-to-table interactive cooking luncheons at Jordan Vineyard & Winery.

Participate in a winemaker or farmer dinner series like the open-air feast under the amphitheater of the Sonoma County night at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens or the outdoor dinner series at Bricoleur Vineyards.

Grape Stomps and Other Traditions

Harvest brings with it a bevy of traditions, from the annual bell-ringing celebration held on the Sonoma Plaza every year to officially kick-off the season, to the Sonoma County Harvest Fair, complete with the World Championship Grape Stomp. Take part in these fun activities and experience the season from start to finish. Click here for more details.

Harvest Celebrations

Sonoma County is home to more than 425 wineries and 19 AVAs, and harvest season brings opportunities to experience this exciting time of year through seasonal tastings, special events, food and wine pairings, and hands-on activities.

At Capo Creek Winery, guests can get a closer look at harvest during the winery’s annual harvest celebration. The experience begins with an early morning grape pick followed by grape stomping and a Champagne breakfast. The celebration continues into the evening with a themed costume dinner, complete with creative costumes, prizes, food and wine. It’s a festive, hands-on way to experience some of the traditions and excitement surrounding Sonoma County’s wine harvest.

For more seasonal happenings, explore our In the Tap and Tasting Rooms calendar, and check back throughout harvest as additional events and experiences are added.

Catching the Colors

No harvest experience is complete without seeing the incredible fall colors that take over the vineyards this time of year. Wander through golden vine rows. Savor hikes in nearby parks. Even the windswept Sonoma Coast shows off fall color, its bluff sides carpeted in flowers and grasses.

For even more autumn options, check our Sonoma County Calendar of Events for current dates and information.

Get a free visitors guide and map to help you plan your fall harvest activities, and check our listings of travel and lodging deals.