Festive Healdsburg Winery Harvest Events to Celebrate Grape Crush Season
Sonoma County Wineries Harvest Parties Guide
The rumble of tractors pulling gondolas can be heard throughout California wine country this month. It’s like Christmas, but Santa’s sleigh is a lot bigger—and filled with beautiful clusters of grapes. Harvest is here, and there are more ways than ever for food and wine lovers to experience grape harvest in Sonoma County at Healdsburg wineries. Here are nine fabulous Healdsburg winery harvest events featuring lunch or dinner meals, hosted in September and October in the nearby wine regions of Alexander Valley, Dry Creek Valley and Russian River Valley. The best winery harvest events in Sonoma County are usually reserved to wine club members, and are noted as such, so make sure to join the mailing lists. Due to COVID-19, many of these celebrations have been canceled or modified as noted, and all featured photos were taken at previous events before social distancing mandates.
Nine Fabulous Healdsburg Winery Harvest Events (updated July 11, 2020)
Jordan Winery Harvest Lunches
Alexander Valley
A communal feast that’s been a tradition at Jordan Winery since the 1980s, Harvest Lunches bring together the winery staff, grape growers and Jordan Estate Rewards members to celebrate the harvest season with delicious, garden-driven dishes, an entrée and dessert by winery chef Todd Knoll and his staff. To ensure socially distancing, Jordan Harvest Lunch has been reimagined in 2020. Gone are the lavish buffets and communal tables; guests will be seated at their own private tables on the winery lawns and will receive a family-style-service meal for their party only. Hosted Thursday through Monday in September and October, this Sonoma winery lunch is paired with Jordan wines and olive oil and is only available to Silver, Gold and Platinum members of the winery’s loyalty program. $30-$60, plus points
Lambert Bridge Harvest Dinner
Dry Creek Valley
Lambert Bridge’s annual harvest celebration brings together wine club members, locals and tourists for a family-style, seated dinner in the winery gardens, hosted by winemaker Jennifer Higgins. A guest chef to be announced will create the food-and-wine-pairing menu. Hosted annually on a Saturday in late September or early October. $175-$195
Dry Creek Vineyard Harvest Dinner & Harvest Experience
Dry Creek Valley
A Sonoma County wine pioneer, Dry Creek Vineyard offers two harvest celebrations at its Dry Creek Valley winery—a food-and-wine-pairing dinner and a reception-style wine tasting event. In 2020, the harvest dinner has been revamped and is dubbed the Wild Boat Pigout. Available exclusively to club members, the family-style, farm-to-table dinner is hosted by the winemaker at the Endeavor Vineyard on the winery property and costs $150 per person. The afternoon Harvest Experience is complimentary to members and features wine tasting and mingling in the cellar and gardens while winemakers flurry about. Events are usually hosted on two Saturdays in September.
Seghesio Centennial Club Harvest Party
Dry Creek Valley
This members-only event usually takes place at the end of September, but it’s been moved to November in 2020. Guests will get to tour the crush pad where all of the harvest action happens, try a barrel sample of an upcoming release and then toast the harvest season with a family-style wine dinner prepared by executive chef Peter Janiak on the Tuscan Terrace. $75
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Harvest Dinner in the Vineyard – TBD
Dry Creek Valley
A pioneering winery of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Ridge Vineyards hosts a Harvest dinner at their Healdsburg property, Lytton Springs, in September. The event takes place among beautiful, 115-year-old vines at their Lytton Springs vineyard. After a quick tour of the site, guests will sit down to an intimate meal paired with old and new vintages of Ridge Vineyards zinfandel. The evening features two courses and dessert. $155-175
Alexander Valley Vineyards Harvest Party – CANCELLED FOR 2020
Alexander Valley
Experience the harvest season first-hand with Alexander Valley Vineyards’ biggest party of the year. Hosted annually on a Saturday in September, the wine and food event lasts all day and includes grape picking, grape stomping, bocce ball, lunch, live music and more—all hosted by the Wetzels at their historic family estate on Highway 128. $95-$110
Medlock Ames Harvest Party & Harvest Dinner – LIKELY CANCELLED
Alexander Valley
Longtime Alexander Valley producer Medlock Ames hosts two harvest events at their stunning and organically-farmed Bell Mountain Ranch in Chalk Hill. The first is a Wine Club Harvest Party (members only) in September, featuring live music, small bites, and wine club releases. But the main event of crush happens in October. Open to the public, guests get up close and personal with the harvest action in the vineyard and cellar and then sit down to an al fresco, three-course, family-style meal prepared by Sonoma County fine dining staple, John Ash & Co. (utilizing produce from Medlock Ames’ gardens). Both current and older vintages of wine will be poured. $25 Wine Club Harvest Party, $225 Harvest Dinner
Sbragia Family Vineyards Harvest Dinner – LIKELY CANCELLED
Dry Creek Valley
Hosted annually in mid-September, the Sbragia Family Harvest Dinner features a sit-down, family-style feast by winery chef Heidi Finney, served on the winery’s terrace overlooking Dry Creek Valley. Each course is paired with a current vintage or library wine from the Sbragia family, and the food theme changes each year. Live music is included at this harvest event. (This Sonoma County winery is located on the Healdsburg/Geyserville border.) $125-$175
MacRostie Harvest Wine Club Party – LIKELY CANCELLED
Russian River Valley
Hosted annually over two days in October, MacRostie Winery’s harvest party serves as a finale celebration to the crush season in Sonoma County. This club-member-only event features paella from Gerard’s Paella in Santa Rosa, along with new release chardonnays and pinot noirs. Complimentary entry for a member plus one guest.
