Harvest Retreat

The HALL Harvest Retreat is an immersive three-day winemaking experience led by Vintners Craig and Kathryn Hall and winery President Mike Reynolds created exclusively for our club members. Over the course of the retreat, you will participate in an authentic ‘hands-on’ harvest experience at our Estate Vineyard in St. Helena at the peak of harvest - from the vineyard through fermentation. You’ll also meet other HALL, WALT, and BACA enthusiasts from all over the country as we share spectacular harvest meals, educational and vertical tastings of many of our most precious wines, and fun and engaging wine-related activities.

Stay tuned for details around our 2023 Harvest Retreat! 

Highlights from our 2022 Harvest Retreat:

Night #1

• Our Hosts Craig and Kathryn Hall welcomed everyone at our beautiful HALL St. Helena winery for an introduction to some of our wine varieties from the key wine growing regions in California.  
• A harvest dinner under the stars will follow, featuring large format verticals of Kathryn Hall and Clos Pepe.

Day #2

• The day started early in the morning at one of our vineyards, led by the Director of Vineyards Don Munk. We learned about the vineyards and experienced the art of harvesting grapes by hand.  
• Afterwards, we returned to the winery where we joined Winemaker Megan Gunderson to discuss and experience grape sorting, fermentation, and pump-overs. A Vertical Tasting of wines from our Sacrashe, Diamond Mountain, and Mt. Veeder vineyards followed with lunch.    
• Enjoyed an evening with a casual vineyard barbeque paired with current and library offerings of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon from our different mountain appellations.

Day #3

• Visited one of our Napa Valley Zinfandel vineyards where we learned about the history of Zinfandel in California and tasted BACA Zinfandels from throughout the state. Participants returned to the winery where they broke into teams and competed to create the winning blend of Cabernet Sauvignon.  
• Lunch & tasting of the different expressions of WALT Pinot Noir from some of the best terroir along the Pacific Coast.
• For the final evening, we enjoyed an elegant dinner and dancing under the stars amongst the vines with some of our most precious library wines selected from our cellar. 

The HALL Harvest Retreat is an immersive three-day winemaking experience led by Vintners Craig and Kathryn Hall and winery President Mike Reynolds created exclusively for our club members. Over the course of the retreat, you will participate in an authentic ‘hands-on’ harvest experience at our Estate Vineyard in St. Helena at the peak of harvest - from the vineyard through fermentation. You’ll also meet other HALL, WALT, and BACA enthusiasts from all over the country as we share spectacular harvest meals, educational and vertical tastings of many of our most precious wines, and fun and engaging wine-related activities.

On the first night, Craig and Kathryn Hall will host you at our beautiful HALL St. Helena winery for an introduction to some of our wine varieties from the key wine growing regions in California. A harvest dinner under the stars will follow, featuring large format verticals of Kathryn Hall and Clos Pepe.

Day 2 begins early in the morning as we meet Director of Vineyards Don Munk in one of our picturesque Napa Valley vineyards. Here you will learn about the vineyards and experience the art of harvesting grapes by hand. Afterwards, you’ll return to the winery where we’ll join Winemaker Megan Gunderson to discuss and experience grape sorting, fermentation, and pump-overs. We’ll also taste wines at different stages of the fermentation process. From there we’ll share an authentic harvest lunch followed by a vertical tasting of wines from our Sacrashe, Diamond Mountain, and Mt. Veeder vineyards. The day will conclude with a casual vineyard barbeque paired with current and library offerings of  Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon from our different mountain appellations..

The third day begins with a visit to a Napa Valley Zinfandel vineyard where we’ll learn about the history of Zinfandel in California and taste BACA Zinfandels from throughout the state. Participants will return to the winery where you’ll break into teams and compete to create the winning blend of our 2021 vintage of Cabernet Sauvignon. After lunch, we’ll taste and explore the different expressions of WALT Pinot Noir from some of the best terroir along the Pacific Coast. For the final evening, we’ll enjoy an elegant dinner and dancing under the stars amongst the vines and some of our most precious library wines selected from our cellar for this event.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime harvest experience at HALL. Enrollment is very limited for this retreat, be sure to secure your spot early. Members may enroll up to 3 additional guests each. We recommend contacting these hotels for accommodation: Senza, Hotel Villaggio, Vintage House, and Southbridge. Call (707) 967-2631 or email club@hallwines.com to enroll.

Price: $2,500 per guest (Transportation and lodging not included in price). This Retreat is fully refundable through August 25th.

Click for itinerary

HALL Harvest Retreat 2022 

Agenda (Subject to change) 

Sunday, September 25th, 2022 

Mid-day: Participants Arrive in the Napa Valley 

4:00-6:00pm: Welcome Reception |Hall St. Helena 

Introduction to our Wine Varieties and Growing Regions 

Hosts Craig and Kathryn Hall and Mike Reynolds will welcome you to the Harvest Immersion and lead a tasting of the core grape varieties and growing regions from which we produce HALL, WALT, BACA wines.

Wines Tasted:

2019 WALT 'Sangiacomo Vineyard' Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2019 WALT 'The Corner's' Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
2019 WALT 'Brown Ranch' Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
2019 BACA 'Somersault' Zinfandel, Pachini Ranch, Mendocino County
2019 BACA 'Double Dutch' Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles
2019 HALL 'Exzellenz' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2019 HALL 'Stag's Leap District' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

6 pm: Dinner 

• We’ll welcome you with a spectacular Harvest Dinner at Hall St. Helena Winery including vertical of Clos Pepe and Kathryn Hall in large format bottles.  

Wines Tasted:

2021 BACA 'Stargazing' White Wine (Marsanne/Rousanne)
2021 HALL 'Knight's Valley' Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
2013 WALT 'Clos Pepe' Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, 3L
2016 WALT 'Clos Pepe' Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills, 3L
2019 HALL 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon - 1.5L
2013 HALL 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon - 1.5L
2016 HALL 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon - 1.5L
2019 HALL 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon - 1.5L

Monday, September 26th, 2022 

6:00 am:  Coffee and Muffins at Hall St. Helena. 

6:30 am:  Buses depart for Vineyard. 

7:00 am: HARVEST!  

• We will harvest grapes from the 2022 vintage.  Your experience will be led by Don Munk, Director of Vineyards, HALL.
• Attire:  Work Clothes.  Harvesting grapes is physical, dirty and dusty work, so dress appropriately.  Napa Valley is known for its cool mornings so please layer clothing and wear tennis shoes or boots.  

9 am: Depart to HALL St. Helena 

9:30 am: Sort grapes and participate in fermentation, pump-overs, and tasting of fermenting 2022 wines. 

Noon: Harvest Lunch | HALL St. Helena 

Wines tasted:

2021 WALT Rose of Pinot Noir, California
2019 BACA Homebase Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
2020 WALT Bluejay Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley - 1.5L
2019 HALL 'Jack's Masterpiece' Cabernet Sauvignon

1 – 3 pm: Hall Wines Mountain Vineyard Verticals |HALL St. Helena 

• Vertical Tasting of Diamond Mountain, Mount Veeder, and Sacrashe wines. Experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to taste a curated, library flight of our most coveted mountain vineyards led by our winemaking team.

Wines tasted:

2010 HALL 'Diamond Mountain District' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2013 HALL 'Diamond Mountain District' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2015 HALL 'Rainin Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District
2019 HALL 'Rainin Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Diamond Mountain District
2008 HALL 'Segassia Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder -1.5L
2013 HALL 'Segassia Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder -1.5L
2015 HALL 'Mt. Veeder' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2019 HALL 'Beller Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley
2008 HALL 'Exzellenz' Cabernet Sauvignon, Sacrashe Vineyard
2010 HALL 'Exzellenz' Cabernet Sauvignon, Sacrashe Vineyard - 100 pts
2016 HALL 'Sacrashe Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford
2019 HALL 'Sacrashe Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

6:00pm: Festive Barbeque and music |HALL St. Helena 

Wines Tasted:

2019 WALT Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2021 HALL Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc
2019 BACA Cat's Cradle Zinfandel, Rockpile
2019 BACA 'I Spy' Zinfandel, Howell Mountain
2016 WALT 'Rita's Crown' Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
2017 WALT 'Sierra Mar' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
2016 HALL 'Howell Mountain' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2016 HALL 'The Bishop' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Tuesday, September 27th, 2022 

7:00 am: Coffee and Breakfast. 

7:30 am: Buses leave for Zinfandel Vineyard 

8:00 am: Vineyard tour, tasting, and discussion of Zinfandel History and diversity

Wines Tasted:

2018 BACA 'Marbles' Zinfandel, Pocai Vineyard, Calistoga
2018 BACA 'Tug o' War' Zinfandel, Maffei Vineyard, Russian River
2018 BACA 'I Spy' Zinfandel, Black Sears Vineyards, Howell Mountain
2018 BACA 'Cat's Cradle' Zinfandel, Rockpile

9:00 am: Board Bus for HALL Winery 

9:30 am: Blending Exercise 

• Participants will be broken into teams and each team will blend Cabernet Sauvignon from some of the best sub-appellations of the Napa Valley. Led by the winemaking team.  The winning blend will be bottled and distributed to all participants.  

Noon: Lunch 

Wines tasted:

2021 WALT Rose of Pinot Noir, California
2018 BACA 'Bleachers' Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
2015 WALT 'Rita's Crown' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Barbara
2019 HALL 'Beller Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley

1pm: Pinot Noir Immersion Tasting

• Guests will explore the differences between terroir, clone, and production techniques as we taste some of the best vineyards from the Santa Lucia Highlands and Sonoma Coast.

Wines Tasted: 

2016 WALT 'Gaps Crown' Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2019 WALT 'Gaps Crown' Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2016 WALT 'Bob's Ranch' Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2019 WALT 'Bob's Ranch' Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2016 WALT 'Rosella's' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
2019 WALT 'Rosella's' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
2016 WALT 'Sierra Mar' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands
2019 WALT 'Sierra Mar' Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands

3pm: Free Time 

6 pm:  Finale Dinner and Awards – St. Helena Winery

• We’ll send you off with a spectacular meal under the Stars with your friends – old and new. There will be an award ceremony for our ‘Winemakers' in training, and we’ll feature a flight of library and large format bottles from our cellar.

Wines served:

2018 WALT 'Bob's Ranch' Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
2018 HALL Knights Valley' Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
2015 WALT 'Bob's Ranch' Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
2010 WALT 'Rita's Crown' Pinot Noir, Santa Rita Hills
2017 BACA 'Marbles' Zinfandel, Pocai Vineyard, Napa Valley
2017 BACA 'Double Dutch' Zinfandel, Dusi Vineyard, Paso Robles
2013 HALL 'Kathryn Hall' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - 9L
2007 HALL 'Exzellenz' Cabernet Sauvignon, Sacrashe, Napa Valley - 1.5L
2015 HALL 'Jack's Masterpiece' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley