Experience wine harvest season in Europe
Vineyards in the Sil Valley, Galicia
There's something magical about being in wine country during harvest season. The vineyards are buzzing with energy, temperatures are mellow, and winemakers are at their most passionate.
Spanish harvest festivals can be high-energy celebrations: I plan trips for clients that include hitting up lively festivals, like Binissalem in Mallorca to watch competitive grape crushing and get messy at a grape-throwing party.
On a quieter note, some clients have opted for a private tour through Montsant and Penedès (home of cava) in Catalonia with a sommelier-guide, to meet winemakers, tour vineyards and sleep in country hotels.
Dipping into a local wine harvest season can be one element of a larger trip in September/early October. And it doesn’t have to be Spain.. Check out these wine destinations below.
If you’re inspired to go, now’s the time to lock in some bookings — let’s talk!
Six Senses Hotel & Spa, Douro Valley Portugal. Credit: Six Senses
Douro Valley
The terraced vineyards of this UNESCO World Heritage Site are in their full glory during harvest season. Many country manors (quintas) open their doors for hands-on experiences: grape picking, traditional foot treading in stone lagares, harvest feasts with local specialties. For a stylish stay, I’m loving Six Senses Douro Valley (Six Senses’ own picture above).
Tuscany
The Chianti Classico Expo (September 10–13, 2026) brings tastings, music, and local crafts. For golden light and fewer crowds, aim for an October trip. Regardless of timing, Castello di Spaltenna, a restored castle surrounded by vineyards and olive groves is the place to stay.
Bordeaux
The vintners in this corner of southwestern France have perfected the art of winemaking over centuries. Private tastings at legendary estates from Pauillac to Saint-Émilion allow you to have deeper conversations with estate experts and curated flights tailored to your palate, while château stays like Cordeillan-Bages elevate the experience beyond the cellar.
The United Kingdom
If you like discovering regions before they fully hit their stride, keep an eye on the UK. More than 1,000 vineyards now produce cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay, and the 2025 harvest was a standout. The momentum is real, even if the crowds haven’t quite caught up.
Mellow days…
Traveling during harvest season means you're not just tasting wine, you're seeing the start of the beautiful process of making it.
So whether you want to taste your way through a flight of reds at a classic French château, explore an emerging region, or get in there and crush some grapes, I’d love to design the right trip for you.