Wine Study Trips & Harvest Programs
3 products
How it works
What a study trip actually is
These are working programs built around harvest, not tasting-room itineraries.
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Small by design
Twelve to fourteen travelers per trip. You are inside the cellar during harvest, not behind a rope.
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You do the work
Picking, sorting, checking brix, punch-downs and blending — alongside private masterclasses and winemaker-led tastings.
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Led by NVWA faculty
Hosted by academy educators, including Co-Founder and CEO Christian Oggenfuss, dipWSET, and local experts in each region.
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You leave with more than photos
Napa's Winemaker Bootcamp ships you bottles of the wine your crew made and labeled, plus a completion certificate.
Included
What the trip fee covers
- Accommodation for the nights on the itinerary, quoted per person on double or twin occupancy
- Most meals, with fixed menus and wines chosen by the academy
- Every tasting, winery visit and masterclass named in the itinerary
- Ground transportation and a private driver for group movements
- Your NVWA faculty host for the full length of the trip
- Inclusions vary by destination — each trip's itinerary is the governing list, and it is linked from that trip's page
Before you book
Deposits, payment and what to expect
Booking and payment
How much is the deposit?
A US$1,500 deposit per traveler reserves your place, along with a completed reservation form. The deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. A trip's itinerary may state a different amount in writing, in which case that amount applies.
When is the balance due?
Sixty days before the trip start date. Some itineraries split the balance earlier — the Argentina 2027 itinerary, for example, takes a payment at 90 days and another at 60 days before departure. If you book within sixty days of departure, the full amount is due with your reservation form.
What is not included in the price?
Airfare and transfers to and from the destination, travel insurance, telephone calls, laundry and personal items, anything ordered outside the group menu, gratuities to trip guides and drivers, and any cost not named in your final itinerary.
I am traveling on my own. What do I pay?
Trip fees are quoted per person on double or twin occupancy, each with an en-suite bathroom. A single room carries a single supplement; the amount for each trip is on that trip's itinerary.
What happens if I have to cancel?
Cancellations must be sent in writing to support@napavalleywineacademy.com. With 91 or more days' notice we withhold the US$1,500 deposit. Between 61 and 90 days, the deposit plus 25% of the remaining balance. Between 31 and 60 days, the deposit plus 50% of the remaining balance. With fewer than 30 days' notice, or no notice, the full trip fee is retained.
Do I need travel insurance?
We strongly recommend a private “cancel for any reason” cancellation and interruption policy plus additional health cover. Some trips require it — the Argentina 2027 itinerary does.
On the trip
Who are these trips for?
Travelers aged 21 and over who are serious about wine. Most are WSET students working through Levels 2 to 4, sommeliers and trade professionals — but a committed enthusiast gets just as much from them. No prior certification is required.
How physical are they?
Expect periods of extended standing and walks of ten to fifteen minutes, sometimes in heat. Harvest days involve real work in the vineyard and on the crush pad — picking, sorting and punch-downs. You should be in sound physical condition to take part.
Can the itinerary change?
Yes. Wine is agricultural and harvest moves. We keep the published itinerary wherever we can, and where a producer's schedule makes that impossible we substitute a visit or tasting of similar or greater quality.
Where do I read the full terms?
All study trips are operated by Turicum LLC dba Napa Valley Wine Academy. The full terms and conditions for wine study trips cover reservations, payment, cancellation, accommodation, liability and insurance.
Thinking about a future season?
More destinations are in planning for 2027 and 2028. Tell our team where you would like to go and we will let you know before seats go on sale.