The Napa Valley is blessed with six very distinct seasons, each with its own unique beauty.

mid-August to mid-October: The most popular season is the Harvest Season. This runs from mid-August to mid-October. The valley is absolutely humming with activity. Large gondolas (grape trailers) rumble through town and down the highways, literally turning the roads black with dripping juice. The wineries are in full swing and the weather is hot and clear. If you live in an area where summer is waning at this time, Napa Valley is the perfect place to come to extend your sun worshipping. Low humidity makes the 90 degree days a true pleasure. Book ahead for this time of year. Weekends fill up at least 6 months in advance. Some weekends book one year out!

Harvest season melds gently into our Fall Color Season when the vines are naked of fruit and turn red and gold and yellow before retiring to their Winter sleep. Depending on the year, this colorful display can last from November through December when the winter grasses meld with the turned leaves, creating wonderful visual contrasts.

November - December: After the rush of harvest this season is a welcome slowing of the pace. But there is another season looming! The Napa Valley has become the perfect spot to find that perfect gift for Christmas.

January - early February are the months to come if you want the Napa Valley to yourself. The vines are dormant, the wine is resting and maturing and the highways are empty. Come and enjoy this quiet time when the tasting room staff are standing, waiting for you instead of the other way around.

The Wine Country Inn usually closes for a few weeks this time of year to play and rejuvenate. Though we are all naturally friendly folk, everybody needs to get away and cut loose sometimes.

mid-February through March: Before we know it, the Mustard Season has arrived. Photographically this is my (Innkeeper Jim's) favorite time of the year. Again, depending on the year, from mid-February through March the valley and surrounding hills are covered with a blanket of vivid yellow and green mustard with the black gnarly naked vines sticking out in geometric perfection. Though part of me wants to keep this season a secret, to enjoy by myself, the other part of me wants to share it with the world... evangelistically proclaiming its beauty from the mountain tops... (OK, OK... so I just want you to come up and stay so I have more money for skiing and trips to Bora Bora and stuff).Anyway, it is a great and beautiful time of the year with many things to do or not do. The Mustard Festival is a wonderful chain of events that lasts through this whole season.

late March through April: As soon as the mustard starts fading, the Wild Flower Season takes over. Late March and April is the time for these roadside displays. Over the last few years the "Adopt a Highway" program has really taken hold in the Napa Valley. Though these wonderful patches of brilliant colors are seeded by local wineries and individuals, it makes them no less spectacular. You can just drive the county’s road and soak in the approaching SPRING.

Spring is filled with anticipation and hope like any farming community. And regardless of all the hoopla that can surround the Napa Valley, we are mostly farmers. In April and May the fresh, bright green buds of Spring start to fill out the vineyards with a promise of things to come. The rains of Winter are gone and the days jump up into the 80s as if by magic. This is the best weather of the year with long warm days (80s and 90s) and cool crisp nights (down to the 30s).

June and July June and July are the dog days of Summer. The days are hot (90s and 100s) and the pace is slow. Sun worshipers will enjoy hitting the tasting rooms and winery tours early so that they can scurry back to the Inn for a cool dip and some afternoon sun. I can't think of a better way to spend a day in the Valley.