Experience the magic of wine country’s most exciting season with harvest activities, winery events, and insider tips for your perfect fall getaway
Welcome to Paso Robles during harvest season—wine country’s most electrifying time of year. From late September through October, this beloved Central Coast destination transforms into a bustling celebration of agricultural excellence, offering visitors front-row seats to the winemaking magic that puts Paso Robles on the global wine map.
Join grape stomps, attend intimate winemaker dinners, witness round-the-clock harvest activities, and discover why Los Angeles Times has featured Paso Robles as the ultimate fall destination.
When to Visit: Timing Your Harvest Experience
Peak Harvest Season
Harvest season in Paso Robles typically runs from late September through November, with the heart of the action happening in October. While actual grape picking often begins in late September, the entire month of October is officially designated as Harvest Wine Month, when wineries host individual events throughout the month including specialty tours, winemaker dinners, grape stomps, and music events.
The timing varies by grape variety and location within Paso’s diverse microclimates. Zinfandel, with its jammy, berry-like flavor, tends to ripen earlier in the season, while Cabernet Sauvignon is the fashionably late guest to the harvest party. This staggered harvest creates extended opportunities for visitors to witness different aspects of the winemaking process.
Weather & Climate
October traditionally has exceptional weather in Paso Robles, when days are warm and nights are cool—a staple for Paso Robles Wine Country and a perfect time to take in the incredible colors, sights, and aromas of harvest. Expect daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s°F with comfortable evenings perfect for outdoor dining and sunset vineyard strolls.
With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, there’s no need to bundle up during harvest season. This exceptional weather creates ideal conditions for both grape ripening and visitor comfort.
2025 Harvest Season Events
Paso Robles’ harvest season delivers unforgettable moments. Join grape stomps, attend intimate winemaker dinners, witness round-the-clock harvest activities,
What to Expect During Harvest Season
The Harvest Atmosphere
Harvest in Paso Robles is like Christmas and Fourth of July wrapped into one, and is by far one of the best times to visit. The days and nights are long with round-the-clock grape picking, pressing and barreling, but despite the workload, it remains an electric and fun-filled event for the entire community and visitors alike.
Visitors can expect to see vineyards buzzing with activity around the clock. Many California wineries harvest between midnight and early morning because the cooler nighttime temperatures help concentrate and preserve the fresh fruit aromas and flavors and stabilize sugar levels. This creates a unique energy throughout wine country, where the magic of winemaking unfolds 24/7.
Vineyard Transformations
Tour the vines as they transform from green to gold, visit a festive pumpkin patch or savor fall flavors at local farm-to-table restaurants. The visual transformation of Paso’s vineyards during harvest creates some of wine country’s most stunning photo opportunities, with golden vine rows stretching across rolling hills dotted with century-old oak trees.
Behind-the-Scenes Access
Harvest season offers rare opportunities to witness winemaking in action. As winemakers harvest the grapes in the field, many wineries host events specific to this time of year and offer wine enthusiasts unique experiences not available throughout the rest of the year, including grape crush, VIP dinners and behind-the-scenes tours of the vineyard and winery.
Essential Harvest Experiences in Paso Robles
Harvest Hands-On Experiences
ONX Wines Harvest Experience Weekend
Join ONX Wines for their second annual two-day harvest immersion. Friday evening offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes production tour, while Saturday features hands-on grape harvesting, stomping, and traditional winemaking experiences, concluding with continental brunch and ONX wines.
October 3-4, 2025 | $140 per person
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Pelletiere Estate Hands-On Harvest Experience
Learn harvest techniques from winemakers Janis and Morgan in their estate vineyard. Check sugar levels, examine seed color, and harvest grapes yourself using professional techniques. Experience concludes with Italian-style lunch and wine tasting.
October 11, 2025 | 9:00-11:00 AM
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CASS Winery Grape Harvest Retreat
Experience life on the vineyard with this three-day retreat featuring elegant winemaker dinners and luxurious appointments at the Geneseo Inn. Rise early to pick heavy grape clusters and participate in the complete process from picking to stomping to blending.
October 7-9, 2025
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Grape Stomping & Traditional Events
CASS Winery Paella & Grape Stomp
Celebrate Paso’s Harvest Wine Month with live music, traditional grape stomping, and Chef Charlie’s famous live-fire paella. Roll up your pants for memory-making fun with incredible photo opportunities under the vineyard’s oak trees.
October 18, 2025 | 11:00 AM-1:00 PM | $75 Buy Tickets
Exclusive Winemaker Dinners
Dresser Winery Under the Harvest Moon Dinner
Intimate and magical winemaker’s dinner in the Dresser Winery Barrel Room. Surrounded by vines and oak trees, enjoy expertly paired courses by Chef Ryan Swarthout with Dresser Wines as you watch the amazing sunset.
October 17, 2025 | 6:00-7:00 PM | $150
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CASS Winery Estate Beef Dinner Series
Experience CASS Winery’s 145-acre vineyard beyond grape vines. Owner Ted Plemons hosts an evening highlighting incredible estate beef quality with Executive Chef Charlie preparing tender beef filet in a multi-course experience designed to showcase both beef and wines.
October 3, 2025 | 6:30-9:30 PM | $155
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Brecon Estate “A Flame Inspired Feast” Harvest Dinner
One-night-only celebration featuring Antiguo Live Fire cooking entirely over open flames. Experience Brecon Estates bold wines, primal cooking, and smoky, soulful dishes meant to be shared vineyard-side as the sun sets and fire crackles.
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Copia Vineyards Harvest Winemaker Dinner – A Diwali Celebration
Celebrate the Indian festival of lights with owners Anita and Varinder Sahi in a unique fusion experience. Chef Justin Monson of Oak & Vine creates modern twists on classic Indian flavors paired with limited Copia wine releases under the olive trees.
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Eberle Winery Harvest Sunset Supper
Celebrate the 2025 harvest with a buffet dinner by Cahoots Catering while enjoying live music by The Neighborhood Katz. Experience the harvest sunset with award-winning Eberle wines in this beautiful vineyard setting.
October 18, 2025 | 6:30 PM | $110
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Pelletiere Estate Limited Dinner Series
Intimate dining experience with chef-prepared prix fixe menu, thoughtfully paired with estate-grown Italian varietals. Hosted by owners Janis and Morgan, designed to foster genuine connection around the table with expertly paced courses.
October 10, 2025 | 6:30 PM
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Oso Libre Por Vida Premier Dinner
Luxurious evening at Oso Libre highlighting the release of the 2021 Estate blend, Por Vida. Library selections of this flagship blend accompany a perfectly paired five-course meal showcasing the winery’s sustainable Black Angus cattle ranch.
October 18, 2025 | 6:00-9:00 PM | $200 ($175 Wine Club) Buy Tickets
Epoch Estate Harvest Chef’s Table Dinner
Exclusive culinary experience inside Epoch’s Historic Barrel Room featuring passed appetizers on the outdoor patio followed by a curated four-course dinner by renowned Chef Jeffery Scott, each course thoughtfully paired with Epoch’s finest wines.
October 2, 2025 | 6:30 PM
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Hope Family Wines Harvest Dinner at Sensorio
One-of-a-kind evening combining wine, food, and immersive art at Sensorio. Enjoy a three-course gourmet meal perfectly paired with Hope Family wines, plus exclusive private access to Sensorio’s stunning light exhibits without crowds.
October 8, 2025 | $175 per person | Limited to 60 guests
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Halter Ranch Estate Annual Ancestor Dinner
Celebrate with winemaker Kevin Sass as the winery honors their flagship wine, Ancestor, in this prestigious annual harvest celebration at the 2,700-acre historic Halter Ranch estate.
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Music & Entertainment Events
Venteux Vineyards Friday Concert Series
Make Venteux part of your summertime routine with live music every Friday night through October. Enjoy the backyard vineyard setting with great music, views, wine, sangria, cold beer, and food trucks in a dog-friendly environment. June 20 – October 24, 2025 | 5:00-8:00 PM | $15 GA, $10 Industry, $5 Wine Club, Kids FREE
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Pear Valley Concert Series
Pear Valley Estate hosts multiple harvest season concerts featuring talented performers in an intimate hilltop vineyard setting with panoramic views:
- Dulcie Taylor: Award-winning multi-faceted singer/songwriter performing on guitar and dulcimer October 19, 2025 | 1:00-4:00 PM | FREE
- The Belmores: Award-winning duo with “angelic” voices performing original material October 11, 2025 | 1:00-4:00 PM | FREE
- Forever Green: Contemporary acoustic duo blending guitar, keyboard, and vocals with evocative lyrics October 18, 2025 | 1:00-4:00 PM | FREE
Community Celebrations
Nicora Winery Harvest Bash
Celebrate harvest season with this lively open-air party hosted by Nicora Winery. Features full dinner experience by Antiguo Live Fire, live music from Rumor Band, special Nicora wine selections, and relaxed atmosphere with various seating options.
October 18, 2025 | 4:00-7:00 PM | $130 Club Member, $175 Public
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Where to Stay During Harvest Season
Luxury Options
Allegretto Vineyard Resort
European-inspired elegance with spa services, yoga sessions, and an onsite wine tasting room. The resort offers a complete wine country experience without leaving the property, including rejuvenating yoga sessions every weekend morning at 9 AM and Spa Allegretto for various spa services.
Hotel Cheval
Located in Paso Robles’ historic town square, this intimate 16-room hotel features unique amenities like their famous s’mores butler service and is walking distance to downtown tasting rooms and restaurants.
Vineyard Accommodations
Geneseo Inn
Experience winery life at CASS Winery’s onsite accommodations, where guests wake up surrounded by vineyards and can participate in Camp CASS activities.
ONX Estate Lodging
ONX Wines offers the luxurious five-bedroom Clark House and charming English-inspired Briarwood Cottage nestled among the vines.
Budget-Friendly Options
Adelaide Inn
Family-owned and operated, this local favorite offers cozy atmosphere with amenities like an outdoor pool and hot tub.
The Farmhouse Hotel
A charming renovated downtown motel encouraging guests to slow down with crackling fire pits and complimentary Linus bicycles.
Make It A Long Weekend
With so much world-class wine to sample in Paso Robles, we’d suggest extending your wine tasting adventures into a long weekend. From cozy inns to plush resorts, we’ve rounded up the best places to stay in Paso Robles.
Dining During Harvest: Farm-to-Table Excellence
Michelin-Starred Experiences
The Restaurant at JUSTIN
Offers a one-of-a-kind culinary experience with award-winning wines paired with exquisite farm-to-table cuisine. This Michelin-starred restaurant epitomizes the harvest season celebration from field to fork to glass.
Six Test Kitchen
Located in Tin City, this intimate 12-seat restaurant offers multi-course experiences with Chef Ricky Odbert’s Michelin-starred creativity.
The Hatch
Michelin-recommended restaurant in downtown Paso Robles, known for elevated comfort food from its wood-fired rotisserie.
Winery Restaurants
CASS Winery Café
Onsite café serving scratch-made burgers, fresh salads, and thoughtfully curated cheese and charcuterie boards at shady patio tables overlooking sustainably farmed vines. Features tableside wine tastings making it a one-stop wine country picnic experience.
Villa San-Juliette
Tuscan-inspired estate offering a seasonal menu that epitomizes wine country sophistication, from delicate crab cakes to their signature wine country cheeseburger and rich duck fettuccine.
Niner Wine Estates
Features a seasonal lunch menu sourced directly from their onsite chef’s garden, offering farm-to-table cuisine on their spacious Westside patio with views of iconic Heart Hill.
Local Favorites
Finca
Casual Baja and Sonora style Mexican menu featuring wood-grilled seafood and carne asada, located in the historic farmhouse of the Old Hometown Nursery.
In Bloom
Shared plates and ever-changing seasonal menu with harvest-inspired cocktails, each paying tribute to great songs.
Entertainment & Cultural Activities
Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Features big-name acts as well as singer-songwriters, perfect for a personal concert experience set in the heart of wine country.
Sensorio
Provides a destination to explore the intersection of art, technology and nature in a magical field of light perfect for the whole family.
Want to know all the finest winery restaurants in Paso Robles?
This guide tells you everything you need to know about all 24 winery restaurants in Paso Robles, categorized to suit every taste and budget. We dig into the must-try dishes and wines specialities for perfect pairings at each venue.
Planning Your Harvest Visit: Essential Tips
Reservations & Bookings
Make reservations early: Harvest season is peak travel time for Paso Robles. Book accommodations, winery experiences, and restaurant reservations well in advance, especially for weekends.
Check individual winery calendars: Harvest Wine Month features individual experiences at area wineries rather than one marquee event, so research specific winery events that interest you most.
Plan for flexibility: Harvest timing can vary based on weather conditions, so maintain some flexibility in your itinerary.
What to Pack
Closed-toe shoes: If you’re going to a winery, wear closed-toed shoes with grip because a working winery floor gets slippery.
Layers: Bring a jacket to cellar tours—proper cellars range between 55–64°F, which is quite cold if you’re in summer attire.
Sun protection: Hat and sunscreen for outdoor vineyard experiences.
Comfortable clothing: You may participate in grape stomping or harvest activities.
Transportation
Designated driver: Consider booking guided wine tours or hiring private transportation to safely enjoy multiple tastings.
Stay hydrated: Bring a water bottle while tasting and stay hydrated. Wineries are happy to refill them.
Pet-Friendly Options
More than 70 tasting rooms allow pets in Paso Robles! Many wineries also have shaded outdoor areas with water for leashed pets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Paso Robles harvest season special?
Harvest month is a great time to visit Paso Robles with all of the events going on and activities. The whole month of October is packed full of entertainment, and Paso really comes alive during harvest month. The combination of perfect weather, round-the-clock harvest activity, and hundreds of special events creates an unmatched wine country experience.
When do different grape varieties get harvested?
Zinfandel tends to ripen earlier in the season, while Cabernet Sauvignon is the fashionably late guest to the harvest party. Generally, white wine grapes and sparkling wine grapes are harvested first (late August-early September), followed by Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, with Cabernet Sauvignon and other late-ripening varieties harvested last.
Can visitors participate in actual harvest activities?
Yes! Many wineries offer hands-on harvest experiences including grape picking, stomping, and behind-the-scenes winery tours. These experiences are typically available by reservation and provide authentic insights into winemaking processes.
How crowded is Paso Robles during harvest season?
Harvest season is peak visitation time, but Paso Robles’ dispersed layout across 11 sub-AVAs means crowds are spread across the region. Making reservations and visiting on weekdays can help avoid the busiest times.
What’s the weather like during harvest season?
October traditionally has exceptional weather, when days are warm and nights are cool. Expect comfortable daytime temperatures in the 70s-80s°F with pleasant evenings perfect for outdoor dining and events.
Are harvest events family-friendly?
Many harvest events welcome families, though some winemaker dinners and evening events may be more adult-oriented. Check with individual wineries about their policies and age-appropriate activities.
Embrace Harvest Magic in Paso Robles
Paso Robles during harvest season offers wine country at its most authentic and exciting. There’s something magical about harvest month that you have to experience for yourself. From sunrise vineyard walks to midnight harvest observations, intimate winemaker dinners to festive grape stomps, every moment connects you deeper to the agricultural rhythms that define this remarkable region.
The combination of perfect weather, passionate winemakers, innovative dining, and genuine hospitality creates harvest experiences you’ll treasure long after returning home. Whether you’re drawn by the sensory spectacle of winemaking in action, the exclusive access to limited-release wines, or simply the joy of celebrating another successful vintage with the community that created it, Paso Robles’ harvest season delivers memories worth savoring.
Book your harvest adventure early, pack comfortable shoes and layers, and prepare to discover why this special season has wine lovers returning year after year. In Paso Robles, harvest isn’t just about making wine—it’s about celebrating the timeless partnership between land, climate, and human craftsmanship that creates liquid poetry in every bottle.
Ready to plan your harvest getaway?
Download our Paso Robles Wine Tasting Map and Dining Guide to make the most of your visit to California’s most exciting wine country destination.
Cover Photo by Roxana Zerni on Unsplash
