When is the Best Time of Year to Visit a Winery?

best time to visit winery

Now that the United States is beginning to open back up, and COVID vaccines are being administered every day to those that want them, tourism is also beginning to rebound.

People are getting more comfortable being on airplanes, at resorts, and attractions are beginning to loosen their capacity restrictions, as life slowly gets back to “normal”.

The wineries in California, especially in Paso Robles, are ready to welcome back wine enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking to get out of the house and have a great time. Wineries have begun opening back up, allowing patrons to visit their tasting rooms and enjoy tours of the wineries and vineyards, but is it too late to book that trip to wine country?

Best Times to Visit Wine Country

If you’re thinking about booking a trip to wine country but are unsure when the best times to visit are, the truth is there is no wrong time to go, but you may find certain seasons more enjoyable than others depending on what it is you’re looking to get out of your visit.

When it comes to California wine country, Paso Robles in particular, there are different things happening during the different seasons. Different events, tours, harvest season, and holidays can all play a part in determining what is the best time of year to visit a winery, for you.

Not everyone is going to have the same desires when it comes to wine tasting, so it’s important to understand what you may experience during the different seasons in Paso Robles so you can make the decision that is best for you and what you want to get out of your trip.

Winter

If you’re looking for a little more peace and quiet on your wine tasting adventure, winter is a great time to visit. Since it is a bit cooler and wetter, you’ll often find less people visiting the wineries and vineyards in Paso Robles. This lends to a more intimate experience that those still not wanting to deal with crowds may enjoy better.

Since the winter is less busy, in terms of visitors, the winemakers and staff at the winery may have more time to answer questions and discuss their wines with you. This will allow you to learn more about the wine and the inner workings of the winery/vineyard than you might if you were to visit during the busy months.

The downside of winter, as we stated, is that it is cooler and significantly wetter this time of year, so you may not be able to sit outside and enjoy a class of wine on the patio, or get a grand tour of the vineyards themselves. It also means that there are fewer events in the region. But if those things don’t turn you off, and you’re looking for a nice intimate getaway, winter is an excellent time to visit.

Spring/Fall

If you’re looking for milder, yet enjoyable, temperatures, then the spring and fall are your best options. Temperatures calm down a bit when compared to the summer and there is more going on than during the winter.

Springtime is when the crowds start to come back and things begin to get a little more lively. There are more events happening and this is a much better time to sit outside and enjoy a glass of wine. So if you’re looking to beat the summer heat, but still want to enjoy the outdoors and check out some events in Paso Robles, then springtime is a great time to visit.

If you’re looking to see some of the true workings of a winery/vineyard, then fall harvest is a great time to visit. The weather is cooling down from the summer heat and the winemakers are starting to harvest and prepare their grapes for processing. Fall offers a lot of different events throughout Paso Robles and is a great time to visit.

Summer

As you probably already know, summers in the Paso Robles wine region can be pretty hot. If the heat is a factor for you, then summer is probably not the best time to visit, however, it is the busiest time of year. This means more events, more tours, more wineries open, and just more things going on in Paso Robles in general.

You can enjoy a glass of wine outside on one of the many winery patios or you can enjoy the air conditioning in any number of beautiful tasting rooms. The summer months generally bring in more guests so you’ll want to be sure to plan ahead and make your reservations so you’re sure you’ll be able to enjoy all of the delicious wine at the wineries.

Paso Robles has a lot to offer throughout the entire year, so there truly is no bad time to visit a winery in the area. Just make sure you look into what is going on in the region during certain seasons to ensure that there are things that would interest you and make your trip enjoyable.