Sonoma County’s 2025 Winegrape Harvest Yields Largest, Most Uniform Crop in Recent Years

Sonoma County’s 2025 winegrape harvest is being recognized as one of the region’s most successful in recent years, thanks to a combination of steady winter rains and a mild, balanced summer. The season began with a wet winter that brought few nights of frost, setting the stage for healthy vines. As spring arrived, temperatures remained moderate, and the area avoided the heatwaves that have challenged growers in previous years.

Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, described the harvest as a testament to the hard work and collaboration among vineyard workers, growers, and vintners. She emphasized the sense of urgency that comes with harvest season, as teams work together to bring in grapes before autumn rains arrive. Kruse also noted the pride felt across the county for the quality of this year’s crop.

Harvest began on schedule in mid-August with grapes destined for sparkling wines. The mild summer continued into late August and September, with cooler evenings helping grapes retain their acidity and structure. This led to uniform ripening across vineyard blocks and strong flavor development in both red and white varieties.

As October approached, forecasts predicted a series of rainstorms that prompted growers to accelerate picking. Despite the pressure from incoming weather, most vineyards reported yields ranging from good to excellent, with some blocks producing slightly larger crops than average.

Growers from across Sonoma County’s 19 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) shared their experiences from the 2025 season. In Sonoma Valley, Steve Sangiacomo of Sangiacomo Family Wines said an early bloom and long growing season contributed to high-quality fruit with extended hang time on the vines. Steve Dutton of Dutton Ranch in Russian River Valley echoed these sentiments, noting that cooler conditions led to excellent grape quality.

Guillermo Valasquez, a supervisor at Dutton Ranch and graduate of Fundación de la Voz de los Viñedos Leadership Academy, described the year as cool and temperate overall. Tyler Klick of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management in Dry Creek Valley highlighted July’s unusually cool weather and lack of heat spikes as factors that benefited grape quality during ripening.

In Alexander Valley, Bret Munselle of Munselle Vineyards reported starting harvest in late August and finishing after about ten weeks. He observed that cabernet sauvignon ripened earlier than expected at lower sugar levels due to the cool summer, which he believes will result in distinctive wines from this vintage.

Joy Sterling at Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley called 2025 the coolest and foggiest growing season on record for her area but credited her team’s dedication for a successful harvest. Monica Lopez at Aldina Vineyards in Fountaingrove AVA looked forward to tasting thin-skinned varietals like pinot noir and chardonnay from this cool year.

Rickey Trombetta of Trombetta Family Wines in Petaluma Gap described 2025 as both spectacular and challenging. The long, cool season required careful canopy management to ensure proper airflow around grape clusters. Jake Terrell at St. Francis Winery in Sonoma Valley said diligent yield reduction was necessary to ensure full ripening given the large crop size. He predicted that 2025 would be known for lower-alcohol cabernets—what he called a “Somm Vintage”—reflecting current trends toward fresher styles.

To document this notable season, Sonoma County Winegrowers has launched a series on social media featuring firsthand accounts from local growers and vineyard workers about their experiences during the 2025 harvest. The series aims to provide insight into the teamwork and expertise behind one of Sonoma County’s standout vintages.