Whether you're in the mood for a wine-filled girlfriend getaway or a romantic winery outing with a loved one, Napa Valley has plenty to offer visitors of every style, taste, and budget. From practicing yoga under the stars and hiking in the Mayacamas to bathing in the famously healing Calistoga mud and savoring fried chicken in Yountville, there are so many things to love about this part of Northern California.
While there really is no "bad" time to plan a trip here, especially if you're someone who doesn't mind wearing layers, it all depends on what you want to do and how many people you're willing to do it with. Historically, the most popular time to visit Napa Valley has been from spring through summer, coinciding with school breaks and summer vacation. This period from Memorial Day through August is known for long, warm days and cool nights, and an incredibly stacked calendar of concerts and family-friendly festivals happening throughout the region.
Visiting in autumn offers an inside look at the wine-making process at harvest time, while a spring trip lets you view the vineyards during the colorful bud break and mustard seasons.
Best Times to Visit Napa Valley for Smaller Crowds
While January, February, and March, in particular, are slow due in part to it being the area's rainy season, it's still a fun time to be in Napa Valley, with enough sunshine and warm weather during the daytime to warrant a trip to the nearest winery. It's an attractive time to visit as well since these months tend to be quiet and relaxed, with good rates at Napa Valley's best hotels.
Since March to mid-May is considered to be Napa Valley's shoulder season, you'll see fewer crowds than in busier times of the year — especially in summer and during the fall harvest season — and experience a comfortable combination of warm days and cooler nights.
Best Times to Visit Napa Valley for Good Weather
When it comes to good weather in Napa Valley, spring is ideal. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and the vines are waking up after winter. This glorious moment is known as bud break, when the vines glow in a neon green hue and unfurl new leaves.
Crush season, which lasts from mid-August through October, is also a lovely time to visit the valley. This early fall annual grape harvest period is marked by vines heavy with juicy fruit — about as photogenic as it gets — and is an exciting time to be in the middle of all the action when vintners kick off the fermentation process. The weather is near perfect, and while it can still get quite hot during the day, the temperatures tend to drop a bit after the sun sets. That's why the best rule of thumb when packing for a Napa trip during any month of the year is to bring layers.
Best Times to Visit Napa Valley for Lower Prices
One of the area's sleepier times happens from mid-fall to spring, also known as Cabernet season, which follows the Napa Valley harvest and occurs when the wineries release their new cabernets. For those in the know, it's a favorite time to be in the valley. During this stretch, hotel rates are at their lowest — more specifically, the best prices are usually found from November to mid-February, and midweek. There's also more access to winemakers this time of year, while reservations at sought-after Michelin-starred restaurants like Kenzo and The French Laundry are easier to get.
The Winter in the Wineries Passport is a great deal, spanning from early December to early February, with free tastings at 19 wineries, complimentary corkage at certain restaurants, and discounts at select Calistoga hotels, spas, and shops. Napa Valley Restaurant Week is another wintertime draw, featuring discounts at coveted restaurants for 10 days in late January.
If you're staying in St. Helena, the Little Book of Big Experiences wine passport offers private tastings, food and wine pairings, and samplings of rare-batch wines all for one price. It's only available for purchase for a limited time each year and valid from November through March, so make sure you book as early as possible.
Best Times to Visit Napa Valley for Wine Tours
Even with so much happening in Napa Valley, let's be honest, the wine is the main event. For the best experience, plan ahead. Although some tasting rooms take walk-ins, most wineries only accept visitors by appointment. Having a reservation helps to make your experience more personalized and enriching.
If you’re interested in the wine-making process, plan your visit during the harvest season, which typically occurs from mid-August through October. At this time of year, you can expect to see winemakers picking grapes from the vines, and some places offer behind-the-scenes tours, so check with your preferred winery before you go.
During mustard season in February and March, the vibrant yellow cover crop explodes into tiny blooms that carpet vineyards throughout the valley. Spring is a great time to see the bud break, when the vines emerge from their winter slumber and new shoots that will soon produce grapes can be seen breaking through in a sea of green dots throughout the vineyard. The region is also rife with wildflowers from late March through June.
Worst Times to Visit Napa Valley
If you're hoping to avoid the crowds, don't come to Napa Valley during the summer when the kids are off from school or at the height of the harvest season in the fall. There are also some other weather-related risks to be aware of year-round, though they're not necessarily deal breakers if you plan ahead and stay on top of things if and when they happen.
According to Napa Valley’s tourism website, the area accumulates roughly 27 inches of rain each year, most of which falls in the wintertime from December to March. The region may also experience mudslides if rainfall hits the three to four inches per day mark, which causes the soil to become dangerously oversaturated. Unfortunately, this can be a real risk in the rainy season following a major wildfire, as there’s more debris on the ground than usual, just waiting to be swept up in the flow.
While wildfires are possible any time of year, they can be particularly prominent in this part of Northern California from July through October, depending on the temperature, dryness of the land, and how strong the winds are, among other factors. The Frontline Wildfire Defense website has a nifty map that tracks California wildfires so you can stay on top of things throughout your trip, just in case.
