V. Sattui Winery Harvest: Grape Crushing Begins!

One of the best times of year to visit the Napa Valley is during 'crush,' when grapes are being harvested and the smell of ripe Cabernet is in the air.

One of the most popular destinations is V. Sattui Winery, right in the center of the Valley, where you can walk in without an appointment and taste wine or just put together a wonderful picnic and enjoy it on the spot, plus during this time of year guests are allowed to observe the various crushing and pressing activities in very close proximity.

“We had a crew at Henry Ranch in Carneros starting at 7 a.m. and brought in 15 tons of Pinot Noir this morning,” stated V. Sattui Vineyard Manager David Bejar.

He predicts that the winery will begin crushing Cabernet Sauvignon at the beginning of October. He also estimated that this year’s harvest should be bigger than in the last few years as grape cluster weight is much heavier even though cluster counts in the vineyards are roughly the same as last year.

Sattui hangs a CRUSHING TODAY sign at its entrance, so visitors know they can expect to see a lot of activity and possibly taste some freshly squeezed wine-grape juice when they arrive.

Upon your arrival to at V. Sattui, you can expect 45 different wines that are offered for tasting, an enormous choice of picnic items, from foods prepared on the premises---ranging from daily-fresh/hand-pulled mozzarella to pizzas and barbeque and many pasta dishes, to as many as 200 types of cheeses, and also an inviting and attractive expanse of lawns and gardens as a picnic setting with a European-inspired village and towers, as well as flowers and fountains. Families and children are welcome, and pets are welcome in its picnic areas. Tours through the winery are self-guided.

Please visit the V. Sattui Winery Website for more information and special event listings.

Source and Images Courtesy: V. Sattui Winery