Because I live where the winters are cold, all of my past visits to the Napa/Sonoma valleys have been in the winter, when I really want to escape the snow. Well, I’d like to actually see grapevines some time when they have leaves.
Does anyone know what when northern California grapevines start getting leaves? When do they bloom? When can you see the fruit growing?
IIRC the harvest is in October, so any time around there should be good. I don’t know when they first start getting leaves.
They’re starting to leaf out right now over here in the Sierra foothills. I expect Napa & Sonoma are probable a bit ahead of us.
Leaves start late February - mid-March depending on the weather. They have leaves until about October, when they all turn pretty colors and then drop. You don’t see the blooms - they’re hidden and don’t look at all like flowers. You may start to see some tiny grapes developing around May and by June/July they should be visible.
I think the prettiest time of the year in terms of grapevines in NorCal is September, when the grapes are still on the vines and the leaves have just started to turn. At least, that’s what the grapevines did where I grew up in Geyeserville/Cloverdale.
Most of the varietals around this area achieved bud break a couple of weeks ago, though some of the older vines are still breaking. And we’ve got baby leaves going.
If you just want to see leafy vineyards, anytime from mid May to mid October is good, but if you really want to be in wine country during all the action, come during Crush - mid August to mid/late September. Just don’t expect to have a one on one chat with any winemakers as they’ll be busy, busy, busy.
Everything in the life of the vine depends on the varietal and the age, but in general bloom takes place mid to late May, followed by the fruit set.
By mid July the grapes will begin to ripen and change color (called veraison) and will continue to do so until harvest.
I personally love every season of the vineyard, but crush is really an exciting time.