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2 clusters · 4 sources · 9 days · First seen · Last updated

California 2026 early grape harvest

Overview

In late July 2026, growers in Monterey County's Santa Lucia Highlands reported one of the earliest winegrape harvests on record, with vineyards such as Caraccioli Cellars and Scheid Vineyards beginning to pick weeks ahead of schedule. Winemakers attributed the acceleration to a mild winter and an unusually warm spring that advanced budbreak and ripening.

A week later, the trend spread to California's Livermore Valley, where wineries like Las Positas Vineyards also started harvesting before sunrise. Winemakers noted that early bud break, warm daytime temperatures and milder nights were shortening the overall harvest timeline without compromising grape quality. The early harvests across both regions are expected to produce strong vintages for sparkling and still wines.

These reports illustrate how an anomalously warm spring in 2026 prompted multiple California wine regions to commence grape picking earlier than usual, reshaping the typical harvest calendar for the year.

Entities

Caraccioli Cellars · I Brand Wines · Napa Valley · Brent Amos · Livermore Valley

Timeline

  1. 12 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    California vineyards begin early grape harvest as warm weather accelerates

    Warm weather spurs an early grape harvest in Livermore Valley, with Las Positas Vineyards starting before sunrise; California wine regions open wider to visitors during the season.

  2. 21 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Monterey County winegrape harvest kicks off early in 2026

    Monterey County's 2026 winegrape harvest began weeks early, with Caraccioli Cellars, Scheid Vineyards and I Brand Wines reporting record‑early picks of Pinot Noir and Melon de Bourgogne.

Sources

abc7news.com · californiawineryadvisor.com · letsexpresso.com · smartairaustin.com