When To Go
High season runs roughly from April through October, with harvest, aka "crush season," (early September to mid-October) luring the other kind of crush. Hotels are priciest and reservations are often made a year in advance and top restaurants are booked for weeks ahead. May ushers in Taste3 (www.taste3.com), a gathering of some of the world's most dynamic professionals in wine, food, and the arts for lectures, panels, mini-seminars and of course, sumptuous meals devised by famed chefs and sommeliers. The season really gets going with early June's Napa Valley Auction (www.napavintners.com), the world's largest wine charity event with proceeds benefiting area charities. Early July ushers in the Napa County Fair (www.napacountyfairgrounds.com) and the Home Winemakers Classic (www.homewine.com). The Robert Mondavi Summer Festival (www.robertmondavi.com) is a series of open-air concerts in July and August luring the likes of New Orleans' Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Cesaria Evora, Buena Vista Social Club, and Dan Fogelberg. The Napa Sonoma Wine Country Film Festival (www.winecountryfilmfest.com) stretches over four weekends in July and August. Many of the nearly 200 entries are screened al fresco at wineries. The Napa Valley Chamber Music Festival/Music in the Vineyards (www.napavalleymusic.org) resounds through August at various locations. Harvest season sees dozens of smaller festivals and daily events.
Low season runs from November through March. Room rates (with the exception of Valentine's Day and Presidents' Weekend) are usually drastically reduced. The popular Carols in the Caves (www.carolsinthecaves.com) is an inspiring performance of Christmas and seasonal music in the Valley's wine caves on November and December weekends. Best bang for your buck is late October through Thanksgiving and late February through March, when temperatures are usually in the 50s and 60s. Fewer people visit and winemakers often have time to explain their process and philosophy personally. Autumn sees the brilliant contrast of vineyards against the changing leaves. The Mustard Festival (www.mustardfestival.org) enlivens February and March celebrating the vibrant yellow cover crop (helping prevent soil erosion) with a full menu of tastings, cookoffs, concerts, and other cultural activities staged at several wineries and restaurants.
When To Go
The height of high season is during the crush/harvest, roughly mid-September to late October. Low season runs November through March, with late October through Turkey Day and March providing the best bang for your buck.
