October brings a chance to reflect on the growing season here at Sierra Vista Winery in Placerville, California. Our 2026 grape harvest was one of the earliest we’ve experienced, bringing excellent fruit quality and another distinctive vintage from our El Dorado County estate vineyards.

An Early Harvest, Starting with Sauvignon Blanc

Unusually warm spring temperatures gave our vines an early start to the growing season. By the second week of August, the first grapes were ripe, and we picked our Sauvignon Blanc earlier than ever before.

That early timing continued throughout harvest. Across our vineyard blocks, grapes were ready to pick one to three weeks ahead of our usual schedule.

Lower Yields, Excellent Fruit Quality

Our 2025 harvest brought nearly record-breaking yields. In 2026, yields were slightly below average, but we were pleased with the quality of the fruit coming into the winery.

We saw excellent acidity across the harvest and great color in our red grapes. For our winemaking team, that quality made this an exciting season, even with fewer grapes to work with.

Every Vintage Tells Its Own Story

No two growing seasons are exactly alike. Spring temperatures, the pace of ripening, and the timing of harvest all help shape the character of a vintage.

At Sierra Vista, we embrace those differences. Our philosophy is to let each wine reflect the vineyard and the season that produced it. The 2026 harvest has given us plenty to look forward to as these wines develop.

Visit Sierra Vista Winery This Fall

Come enjoy our estate wines, vineyard surroundings, and views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. A fall visit is a wonderful opportunity to discover Sierra Vista and experience wine tasting in El Dorado County.

We’d love to welcome you, share what’s happening in the winery, and help you find a new favorite.

Explore Sierra Vista Winery and plan your visit, or browse our upcoming winery events.