The 2026 Harvest: An Early Start, a Promising Vintage
On October 5th, the final cabernet sauvignon of the season was picked, bringing the 2026 harvest to a close for John Anthony Vineyards.
The 2026 growing season began early, shaped by conditions that took hold months before harvest. A period of warmth in early spring brought the vines out of dormancy ahead of schedule, setting the season in motion earlier than in recent years and laying the foundation for a vintage already showing exceptional promise.
By late summer, conditions remained relatively cool overall, punctuated by only a handful of warmer days. Periods of rain arrived during the middle and later stages of the growing season, while preserving the integrity of the Napa Valley fruit. When harvest arrived, each vineyard was approached individually, with picking decisions guided by the development of the fruit and the character of each site.
Harvest began on August 31 with chardonnay from Carneros Gap Vineyard, marking one of the earliest starts to the season in recent years. Across our Napa Valley vineyard sites, harvest unfolded at a measured pace over more than five weeks, as our team brought in five varietals from twelve distinct vineyards.
Harvest concluded on October 5 with cabernet sauvignon from R&D Vineyard. With the final fruit brought into the winery, our winemaking team now turns its focus to the cellar as the 2026 vintage begins to take shape.
Early Impressions of the 2026 Vintage
Yields were low across the 2026 vintage, resulting in concentrated, fresh fruit with beautiful color already evident at this early stage.
Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon and Carneros Gap Syrah are showing particular promise, alongside Church Sauvignon Blanc. Across the vintage, the fruit is showing freshness, concentration, and depth, offering an exciting early look at what is to come.
For John Anthony Vineyards, harvest is the culmination of a year of precision winegrowing and decisions made vineyard by vineyard, block by block. The early start and measured progression of the 2026 harvest allowed each site and variety to develop at its own pace.
The 2026 harvest marks another promising chapter for John Anthony Vineyards, and we look forward to sharing the wines that emerge from this exceptional growing season.