Harvest is almost here. Across Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake County, 2026 is shaping up to be a very good season. A year defined by balance and steadiness. For growers who have weathered more than their share of unpredictability, that steadiness is welcome.
The sentiment in Sonoma County is especially clear. Karissa Kruse, CEO of Sonoma County Winegrowers, describes the season with a tone of grounded optimism, noting that “the 2026 harvest is off to an encouraging start, but the real story is the people behind it.” She points to the resilience of growers who continue to invest deeply in their vineyards and teams, even in a challenging marketplace. Her perspective echoes across the county, where healthy vines, smaller berries, and excellent potential are the common refrain. Kruse adds that “this smaller harvest will help bring supply and demand into better balance… This is a good year for less is more.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with growers like Bret Munselle in Alexander Valley, who describes the season as early and healthy, and Dry Creek’s Tyler Klick, who says simply, “the quality should be excellent in 2026.” In Sonoma Valley, Taylor Serres notes that smaller berry size, a hallmark of this year, often signals greater concentration and quality.
Mendocino County’s growers haven’t issued formal statements, but regional brokers covering the area describe a season that is early, lighter, and cautiously optimistic. Turrentine Brokerage’s Christian Klier, who works across the North Coast including Mendocino, reports that vineyards are running “two to three weeks ahead of the normal average year,” and while market uncertainty remains, an uptick in buyer activity suggests the worst of the supply imbalance may be behind the region. For Mendocino growers, 2026 is shaping up as a quality-first year with cooperative weather and manageable yields, a welcome shift after several seasons defined by stress.
Lake County enters harvest with a similarly positive tone. The Lake County Winegrape Commission shared a pre-harvest update featuring UCCE viticulture advisor Chris Chen, describing his outlook as encouraging and reflective of healthy vineyards and strong grower engagement. While his remarks weren’t published verbatim, the association’s communication signals confidence heading into harvest, supported by steady conditions and active community collaboration. It’s the kind of environment that often precedes a standout vintage.
Across the North Coast, the mood of 2026 is, after years of volatility, balanced fruit with smaller berries and concentrated flavors, moderate yields that may help correct the market, and a deep sense of gratitude for a season that feels like a return to normal. Growers are clear that if September holds steady, 2026 could become one of the most quietly beautiful vintages in recent memory. A year where the weather cooperated, and the people who tend the land were able to look forward with something they haven’t felt in a while, uncomplicated hope.
