Cabernet Season is Napa Valley’s Best-Kept Secret

From mid-fall to spring, Napa Valley undergoes a visible transformation as the bustle of the harvest season comes to a close and the vineyards lay bare. A new season begins, one where the latest Cabernet Sauvignons have completed their long aging process and first become available for tasting. The large crowds may be gone, but Cabernet Season is truly the best time to take advantage of what wine country has to offer.

As the new vintages now age comfortably in their cellars, the conclusion of harvest season gives the winemakers a bit of a reprieve. You may even see them in tasting rooms, mingling with visitors. Winter coincides with Napa Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignon season, so you may be among the first to try the latest releases from your favorite wineries.

With Cabernet Sauvignons featured throughout the wineries of Napa Valley, restaurants follow suit and create seasonal menus to complement the iconic, rich-bodied varietal. The common Cabernet Sauvignon characteristics of black cherry, black pepper, vanilla, and licorice pair well with foods high in fat and umami flavors. Heartier wintry dishes like a rack of lamb or braised short ribs are excellent with this savory red wine. The wetter climate of the valley’s winter season encourages local mushroom growth, and you’ll find varieties of porcini, chanterelles, black trumpets, and more used in the seasonal cuisine. These robust umami flavors overcome the savory quality of Cabernet Sauvignon, allowing the berry flavors to shine. The slower, more intimate atmosphere of Cabernet Season makes it easier to snag a reservation at one of Napa Valley’s many Michelin-starred restaurants.

Cabernet Season is indeed an optimal time for wine connoisseurs and foodies to visit Napa Valley, but the valley has much more to offer. A blanket of picturesque mustard flowers covers the valley during the winter months, a site so mesmerizing that it attracts its own flock of visitors. And the mild temperatures may make otherwise strenuous outdoor excursions more enjoyable. Hiking the foothills of the valley on a crisp winter day is a lovely place to start. You may even come across cascading waterfalls brought upon by recent rainfall.

Planning a cozy getaway to Napa Valley to experience Cabernet Season? Check out the Cabernet Season Package and other special offers from the Napa Winery Inn.