Join Adam Franscioni and a panel of Santa Lucia Highlands winegrowers and winemakers for an update on the 2026 growing season and the start of harvest.
The season began unusually early, with budbreak and flowering well ahead of normal. For a time, it appeared harvest could begin as early as July, but cooler temperatures late in the summer slowed ripening and extended the growing season toward more typical hang times. That early start may ultimately prove beneficial, giving growers additional flexibility ahead of the strong El Niño conditions expected later this year.
Featured Growers & Winemakers:
Adam Franscioni, ROAR
Steve McIntyre, McIntyre Vineyard
Adam Lee, Clarice Wine Company
Morét Brealynn, Morét Brealynn Wines
Watch the 2026 Santa Lucia Highlands Harvest Update
