No matter what kind of trip you want—a wine-filled break with friends or a romantic farm tour with your sweetheart—Napa Valley has something for everyone. There are lots of great things about this part of Northern California. You can do yoga under the stars, hike in the Mayacamas, soak in the famously healing Calistoga mud and eat delicious fried chicken in Yountville. You can see the vines in the spring during the colorful bud break and mustard seasons.
The Least crowded Times to Visit Napa Valley
Also, it’s a good time to go because the best hotels in Napa Valley have good deals, and the months are usually quiet and calm.
From March to mid-May, known as Napa Valley’s “shoulder season,” fewer people will be there than during busy times, especially during the summer and fall farming seasons. The weather will also be nice, with warm days and cool nights.
Winter
Though Napa considers winter, also known as “low season,” as the wet season, do not let that discourage you. Thanks in great part to many bright, sunny days, daytime highs in the 50s, and less traffic than other times of the year, the months of January, February, and March nevertheless have much to appreciate. Using off-season hotel prices is also a smart way to save money and sometimes simplify a Napa vacation. Naturally, when nightly temperatures fall into the 30s in certain areas of Napa Valley, you will want to pack warm clothing and, ideally, locate a spot to curl up next to a fire.
Season for Spring
Spring is a refreshing season in Napa Valley after the winter rains when wildflowers cover the vivid green hillsides, vineyards come alive with the beginning of bud break, and the general atmosphere is laid back and happy as the days lengthen. Although the forecast calls for occasional rain, most of the time, the weather is moderate and welcoming. Hence, wine tasting outside seems more interesting. Examining Napa’s outdoor side—biking or trekking about before the summer heat settles over the Valley—is also a fantastic time. Though nightly lows are often somewhat cold, usually in the mid-to-high 40s, average highs usually range in the mid-to-high 60s and start to roll into the mid-70s by May.
Summer
People swarm Napa Valley in the summer months; it makes sense given dry, bright days and almost no rain—there is seldom a cloud in the sky from dawn to sunset.
Fall Season
In Wine Country, autumn is often hectic when the active harvest season excites the Valley. Winery staff may be observed gathering grapes in the vineyards for crush throughout August, September, and October; some even provide unique harvest tours so you may view the winery production buildings humming with activity. Fall in Napa is appealing even if you’re not here for the wine; the area glows in brilliant autumnal colours of orange, crimson, gold and yellow. Add moderate temperatures day and night; it makes sense why harvest is a popular season for travellers (we advise making well-informed bookings much in advance). Usually, in the mid-70s to low 80s, average day highs dip into the 50s at night and never show significant precipitation.
Bad Times to Travel Napa Valley
If you want to escape the crowds, steer clear of Napa Valley in the summer when the children are out of school or at the height of the autumn harvest season. Year-round, there are also certain weather-related hazards to be mindful of; they’re not always deal breakers if you prepare ahead and keep on top of things if and when they arise.
The tourist website for Napa Valley states that the region gets around 27 inches of rain annually, most of which falls in the winter from December to March. If rainfall falls between three to four inches daily, the area can suffer mudslides when the soil becomes severely oversaturated. Sadly, in the rainy season after a significant wildfire, this may be a genuine problem as more debris than normal is on the ground, ready to be carried along in the flow.
Although wildfires may strike any time of year, depending on the temperature, dryness of the ground, and strength of the winds, among other variables, they are more common in this section of Northern California from July through October. A great map on the Frontline Wildfire Defence website monitors California wildfires so that you may keep on top of things all around your trip, just in case.
The Best Times To Go On A Wine Tour In Napa Valley
Let’s be honest: the wine is the big event, even though Napa Valley has a lot going on. Plan to have the best time. When mustard is in season in February and March, the bright yellow cover crop bursts into tiny blooms covering the valley’s vines. When the vines wake up from their winter sleep in the spring, you can see the bud break. New shoots that will soon bear grapes can be seen breaking through in a sea of green dots all over the farm. From late March to June, the area is also full of wildflowers.
Conclusion
More information would enable you to design a perfect Wine Country escape. Visit our Napa Valley weather website for the most recent projection and further monthly temperature information.
