Arguably the best time to visit Napa Valley is during harvest. Harvest, or Crush Season, is a magical time of year when the grapes are ready for picking.
Typically beginning with white varietals in August and ending with red varietals in September / October, the winemaker will determine when to begin harvesting based on grape and season. Weather conditions each year will of course guide this process and timing for each winery.
The (high level) Process:
- Pick
- Sort
- Crush
- Ferment
- Press
- Barrell
- Age
- Bottle
- Age some more
- Distribute
If you're thirsty for more details, Wine Folly has a great visual guide:
How Red Wine is Made Step by Step | Wine Folly
How is red wine made? Follow along and see how red wine is made in a step-by-step illustrated guide from grapes to glass.
Madeline Puckette