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Napa: Another Week of Peak

Napa Valley (11/9/19) Mike Caffey

This is probably the last week of peak fall color in the Napa Valley.

Mike Caffey was there on Saturday (Nov. 9) and captured vineyards carrying beautiful loads of orange, red and yellow leaves, as well as many others that were past peak.

Of course, vineyards turn by grape variety. My visits to Sierra Foothill vineyards this past weekend found vines similar to what Caffey discovered. Some were totally dry with russet-colored leaves, while nearby others were gloriously painted in burgundy, auburn, vermillion, gold and green.

Mike traveled the Silverado Trail and CA-29 through Napa Valley, commenting that there’s “about one more week of good color left then it will all be spent.” You can just see that in the above photograph. The valley floor is washed with deep orange, vermillion, iridescent yellow and a mix of lime and gold.

Caffey added what’s been reported so many times before this autumn, that “Everything seems delayed a bit this year compared to past years.  There are some vineyards that are nearly bare and others that are still mostly green.  So I think people can find something good up there for another week.”

Napa Valley (11/9/19) Mike Caffey

Up in the gorgeous Russian River wine country, the vineyards are now mostly bare, though those along US 101 “were still looking pretty good.” However, as soon as “you drove up into the mountain areas west of 101 all of the vines were brown,” Caffey reported.

This is it. Wherever you live, get to your local wine country this week, as it’s the last for peak. And, should you miss the show, then sit back and relax as you enjoy a glass of the product of those past peak vines.

  • Anderson Valley (269′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
  • Ukiah (633′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
  • Russian River (59′) – Past Peak, YOU MISSED IT.
  • Alexander Valley (105′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Windsor (118′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Santa Rosa (164′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Valley of the Moon (253′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Sonoma (85′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.
  • Napa Valley (253′) – Peak to Past Peak, YOU ALMOST MISSED IT.