When is the best time of the year to visit Wine country in California?

Question

I'm in the early stages of planning a honeymoon for June of 2008 and was wondering if June was a good time to visit Napa and Sonoma Counties in California.

Answer 1

Any time is a good time. Harvesting grapes usually takes place around Aug. and Sept. That means that the popular wines will almost be sold out from last years harvest, and the new ones are still being bottled.

June will be a good time. There will still be bottles left from last years harvest.

Congratulations, and have fun.

Answer 2

Now is a great time, weather-wise. It's been very temperate in Napa. Cool at night, overcast in the morning, and sunny in the afternoons, but not scorching hot. June is an ideal time!

However, the only downside I can think of is that the traffic will be kind of crazy since it's tourist season. Hwy 29 and Silverado Trail both get clogged with cars trying to find wineries and making left turns. So have some patience with slow traffic.

My advice: Plan your day trips so you never have to make a left turn onto 29. And have fun!

Answer 3

any time is fine in napa and sonoma, except maybe January - March when it is raining cats and dogs. We flooded very badly in 2006.

Fall from August to October is best if you want to see the crush happening. That is when the wineries have the most activity.

But weather pretty much all year is nice. And there's always stuff to do in June.

Answer 4

Any time is good, unless you want to go during the harvest in September there really isn't a "best time". June will be crowded as it's the start of the tourist season, but otherwise it is just fine.