Get an all-access pass to SLO CAL Harvest Season—and enjoy the wine, too
Sure, you've heard a lot about SLO CAL's award-winning wine regions. But have you ever ventured behind the scenes to see what it takes to really make an award-winning bottle of Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon or Edna Valley Chardonnay? Lift the curtain this harvest season—which runs roughly from September through November—and enter a passionate and exhilarating world of flavor, texture and color. Here, vineyard workers race against time to preserve the perfect balance of acid and sugar; whole clusters of grapes are crushed and de-stemmed in the heart of the afternoon; and young barrels are opened early so that the winemaking professionals (and the rest of us) can get a fresh taste of what the next vintage will bring.
With hundreds of unique behind-the-scenes wine events kicking off throughout the energetic and exciting SLO CAL harvest season, you're never far from your next sip. Taste the whole picture along with us:
Can't Miss Events
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Harvest Wine Month in Paso Wine Country
October 1 - 31, 2024
The entire month of October is Harvest Wine Month in Paso Robles Wine Country. The month-long celebration will feature individual experiences at area wineries, including specialty tours, winemaker dinners, grape stomps, extended tasting room hours, music events and more.
Four Sisters Ranch: Harvest Celebration & Marketplace
October 5, 2024
11a.m. - 5p.m.
Celebrate Harvest 2024 with Four Sisters Ranch in beautiful Paso Robles Wine Country. Taste their wines while enjoying spectacular vineyard views from their hilltop property. Visit the Harvest Marketplace featuring local vendors and enjoy some fun pre-holiday shopping. From 12 to 3p.m., enjoy live music by Rumor SLO Band and cuisine from La Patrona Food Truck with savory latin food offerings available for purchase.
Barton Family Wines: Harvest Celebration
October 18-20, 2024
Join Barton Family Wines in weekend-long celebrations for harvest month. On Friday, they will have extended late night hours until 8p.m. with The Voice semi-finalist Will Breman (tickets sold separately)! More live music follows on Saturday and Sunday afternoon with local favorite bands Rumor and Taproots. Enjoy special library flights, featured craft cocktails from Grain + Vine, and lunch offered daily. You won't want to miss it!
Harvest on the Coast with SLO Coast Wine
November 2, 2024
1 - 4p.m.
Taste the best of the best SLO CAL coastal wines at the annual Harvest on the Coast. The celebration starts with a VIP Rare & Reserve Tasting and Winemaker Luncheon followed by the Grand Tasting at Thousand Hills Ranch in Pismo Beach.
Garagiste Wine Festival in Paso Robles
November 8 - 10, 2024
Try some of the best wines from hard-to-find, ultra-premium micro wineries from SLO CAL and all over California at the Garagiste Wine Festival. Here you will find the winemakers and owners pouring the wines themselves to get an intimate, educational experience trying SLO CAL wines and beyond.
Harvest Feasts & Winemaker Dinners
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Cass Winery: Grape Harvest Retreat
October 1-3, 15-17, 22-24, 2024
Experience life on the vineyard and all the excitement that surrounds wine harvest. Enjoy three days of elegant winemaker dinners and luxurious appointments at the Geneseo Inn with the fun of rising in the morning to pick heavy clusters of grapes. Join Cass Winery in the process that they love, as they move from picking to stomping to blending! This retreat will provide the knowledge and experience to become a home winemaker.
JUSTIN: Annual Harvest Dinner
October 6, 2024
6p.m.
$360 plus fees
JUSTIN Winery will be greeting guests with a welcome glass of wine and a selection of canapés, followed by an autumnal four-course wine-paired dinner prepared by Executive Chef Rachel Haggstrom. This special evening will showcase ingredients sourced from JUSTIN’s onsite chef’s garden, and artisanal ingredients from various local purveyors. Members from JUSTIN’s Vineyard and Viticulture team will host the evening and share stories and insights on this current harvest.
Cass Winery: Harvest Festival Grape Stomp & Tacos
October 12, 2024
11a.m. - 2p.m.
$62 plus tax & gratuity
Celebrate harvest festival at Cass Winery with tacos and a grape stomp. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat taco buffet with your first glass of wine on the house! While you’re there, kick off your shoes and stomp some grapes to get the full harvest experience.
Barton Family Estate: Harvest Winemaker's Dinner
October 17, 2024
7p.m.
$120-140 plus fees
Join Barton Family Estate for their annual Winemaker's Dinner – an evening of exquisite wines, delectable cuisine, and great company as they celebrate the bounty of the harvest season. This dinner is hosted by winemaker Brad Ely & Joe Barton, with a curated menu by Estate Chef Danelle and live music provided by Dave Tate.
Eberle Winery: Harvest Sunset Supper
October 19, 2024
6:30p.m.
$88-110 plus fees
Celebrate the 2024 wine harvest with Eberle Winery. Enjoy a buffet dinner artfully crafted by Paso Catering Co., while taking in the stunning sunset over their vineyard deck. The evening will feature live music by Five Parts Devil and includes their acclaimed Eberle wine. Secure your tickets now for an unforgettable experience.
Ancient Peaks: Harvest Winemaker Dinner at Margarita Vineyard
October 26, 2024
5:30 - 9:00p.m.
$170-190 plus fees
Experience harvest with Ancient Peaks Winery out at Margarita Vineyard. Enjoy an elegant five-course wine pairing dinner with founding winemaker, Mike Sinor. The exclusive menu will feature food pairings carefully crafted by Chef Jeffrey Scott to go with their select current release and library wines.
Tasting Opportunities & Deals
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Hope Family Wines: Brix Tasting Experience
September 2-30, 2024
$25
It’s harvest time—but how do winemakers know when to pick? A lot of it depends on “Brix”—the measurement of fruit sugar ripeness. In this exclusive tasting with Treana & Hope Family Wines, you will learn how to measure Brix yourself! You will be provided with fresh Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice straight from the field as well as a hydrometer to take your measurements. Get ready for a fun and illuminating experience, ending with a curated flight from Austin Hope.
Chamisal Vineyards: October Malene Club Release
October 3, 2024
5 - 7:30p.m.
$35
Join Chamisal Vineyards for a fun evening as they celebrate the last release of 2024 on their Estate Patio. This event is the perfect opportunity to taste the 2024 releases, while enjoying small bites that perfectly compliment their newly released wines.
Four Sisters Ranch: Harvest Barrel Tasting
October 19, 2024
11a.m. - 5p.m.
Complimentary with purchased tasting flight
Join Four Sisters Ranch all month to celebrate Harvest 2024! Taste their wines while enjoying spectacular vineyard views from their hilltop property. Enjoy a special Barrel Tasting experience and learn more about what the winemaker is hoping to accomplish and what he looks for while barrel aging a wine. Special LIVE MUSIC presented 12-3p.m. by Four Sisters Ranch favorite, Greg Howit, guitarist/singer playing the songs you love from classic rock to contemporary country.
Dubost Winery: Harvest Festival Weekend
October 17-20, 2024
11a.m. - 5p.m.
$20
Join Dubost Winery for a wonderful weekend in the hills of Adelaida celebrating harvest. Sip award-winning wines by the flight, glass, or bottle and taste the newly released club red wines. Flights start at $20 per person and include 3 vintages: 2019, 2020, and 2021 (Club Wine Release). On Saturday and Sunday, choose from delicious food offerings including wood-fired pizzas and cheese plates. Reservations are recommended;, but walk-ins are welcome!
Defiance Vineyard: Fall Release Party
November 9, 2024
12 - 4p.m.
$35
Defiance Vineyard welcomes you to their annual Fall Pick Up Party! They will be be sharing their newest releases from the 2020 vintage with attendees prior to releasing them online and in shipments. Besides their award-winning estate wines, they will be serving hearty appetizers paired with each vintage being poured.
Tolosa Winery: Barrel Tasting Experience
September - December
$55-65
Dive into the essence of California’s wine country with an exclusive barrel tasting of Tolosa Winery's 2023 Primera and Single Vineyard wines. Be among the first to explore their exquisite Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from celebrated appellations, including SLO CAL's very own Edna Valley. A Tolosa Estate Host will guide you through how each vineyard's unique terroir shapes the character of these sophisticated wines. This tasting experience is crafted for connoisseurs aiming to enhance their collections with top-tier California varietals.
Vineyard & Winery Tours
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ONX Estate Vineyard: Harvest Experience Weekend
October 4-5, 2024
October 4th 4 - 6p.m., October 5th 9 - 11p.m.
$125-140
Get ready for a wine-filled weekend with ONX Wines for their second annual Harvest Experience Weekend! Friday consists of an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Harvest from the production side – with a tour of their Production area, and concludes with a delightful spread of charcuterie paired with ONX Wines. Saturday morning head over to the vineyard for a hands-on harvest experience. You will earn how to harvest grapes like a pro, stomp grapes, and get a feel for the traditional winemaking process. Afterward, enjoy a continental brunch and some ONX wines. Whether you’re a seasoned wine aficionado or just starting to explore the world of wine, this weekend is sure to be a delight for all.
Robert Hall Winery: Fall Vineyard Management Workshop
October 12, 2024
11a.m. - 12p.m.
Join Managing Director of Robert Hall Winery, Caine Thompson for a Fall Workshop: Fall Vineyard Management in their regenerative organic vineyard, with complimentary tasting of Syrah. Learn about hand harvesting, how it's done, and its benefits, deciding when to harvest, and post harvest vineyard management.
J Dusi Wines: Dusi Historical Vineyard Tour & Tasting
October 26, 2024
10a.m. - 12p.m.
$65-85
For the very first time in J Dusi Wines History, they are opening up the old Vine Zinfandel Ranch for private tours. The tour will include wine tasting of 6 wines and light Italian bites. The guided walking tour will be led by a Dusi family member and will cover: the Vineyard (planted in 1925), Caterina’s cooking basement, the Dusi tasting room from 1947, and the library wine cellar of J Dusi Wines.
Vitner & Vines Tour & Tasting Experience
Every Saturday Morning
$85 plus fees
Deep in the willow creek district of Paso Robles, discover distinctive Italian wines unique to Pelletiere Estate by walking with their vintner, Janis Denner, as she explains the process involved in making limited production Italian-style wines. Learn about the heritage of Italian grape growing and origins of Pelletiere Estate's rare Italian varieties, compare old world and new world approaches to winemaking, and discuss Paso Robles' unique micro-climate. The tour is followed by a guided tasting of their exceptional wines.
Villa Creek: A Higher Place Tasting at the MAHA
Every Monday, Friday and Saturday
10a.m.
$150 plus fees
This unique opportunity is comprised of a tour of Villa Creek's Biodynamic, Organic and Regenerative Organic Certified® MAHA Estate, with a tasting of the current vintage at the top of the MAHA, followed by a library selection in the tasting room, and a barrel tasting in the cellar. This is an all encompassing experience that allows you to get the full feel of what they do at the MAHA.
