California grapes are in season from late spring into winter, with fresh table grapes filling stores from May through January. The crop starts in the southern desert and rolls north as summer builds.

Fresh California table grapes are in season from May through January. The Coachella Valley starts the harvest in May, then the San Joaquin Valley takes over from July into winter. Peak supply and the best prices run August through October.

When Are California Grapes in Season?

California grapes are in season from May through January, with table grapes leading the way. Nearly all of them come from two regions. The Coachella Valley in the southern desert kicks things off in spring. Then the San Joaquin Valley in the Central Valley carries the crop through fall and into winter.

That long window is no accident. Growers plant dozens of varieties that ripen at different times. So as one variety finishes, another comes on. A vine still needs a full season to go from bud break to ripe clusters. That is part of why the season runs so long. It helps to know how long grapes take to grow.

California also dominates supply. The state grows about 99% of the table grapes in the country. In 2024, growers shipped more than 93 million 19-pound boxes. So when you grab a bag between May and January, the fruit is almost certainly Californian. I keep a few vines here in Kansas, but the grapes I buy at the store come from out west like everyone else’s.

California Table Grape Season by Region

The season moves from south to north as the year warms up. Two valleys do almost all the work, and they hand the crop off in midsummer.

Coachella Valley (May to July)

Coachella Valley grapes are in season from May through mid-July. This desert region sits east of Los Angeles. It gets around 350 sunny days a year and summer heat well above 100°F. That heat ripens fruit early, so Coachella always opens the season. The valley grows only about 14% of the state’s table grapes, yet it owns that early window. In 2026, a record-warm winter pushed the first picks into early May, a couple weeks ahead of normal.

San Joaquin Valley (July to January)

San Joaquin Valley grapes are in season from July through winter. This is California’s Central Valley, covering counties like Fresno, Kern, Tulare, Madera, and Kings. It grows about 85% of the state’s table grapes. The climate runs a touch cooler, averaging near 70°F. Because the valley plants so many late varieties, harvest keeps going into November and December. Cold storage then stretches supply into January. In 2026, the early heat moved the first San Joaquin grapes up to mid-June.

Month by Month: When Each California Grape Variety Is in Season

Variety drives the timing. Early grapes taste sweet and crunchy. Late grapes store well and stretch the season out. Here is the rough order across the calendar.

Early Season (May to July)

Early California grapes are mostly reds, plus a few greens. Flame Seedless leads the pack, and it is the single biggest variety in the state at over 10,000 acres. Perlette and the green Sugraone also show up early. These come out of Coachella and the first San Joaquin blocks. Expect bright, crisp fruit with a firm snap.

Mid Season (July to September)

Midsummer brings the widest choice. Thompson Seedless, the classic green, hits its stride. Reds like Scarlet Royal and Crimson Seedless ramp up too. Black seedless types arrive as well. This is also when specialty grapes like Cotton Candy land, with their soft, vanilla-sweet flavor. So if you want the most options, August is your month.

Late Season (October to January)

Late-season California grapes are built to last. Autumn King, a large green, and Autumn Royal, a black seedless, both ripen in fall. Crimson Seedless runs late as well and holds up in storage. Autumn Crisp, a crisp green that is gaining acres fast, also lands in this stretch. If you want its exact timing, I broke down the Autumn Crisp grape season in its own guide. These late varieties carry the crop through the holidays.

When Are California Grapes at Their Peak and Cheapest?

California grapes hit their peak from August through October, and that is also when prices drop. Supply runs heaviest in late summer and early fall. The San Joaquin Valley is in full swing, so stores overflow with fruit. More supply means lower prices. That is the sweet spot for buying in bulk, freezing, or canning. Early May grapes taste fantastic, but you pay more for them. Late-December grapes cost more too, since supply is winding down.

How Do California Growers Decide Grapes Are Ready?

Growers call grapes in season once the fruit reaches full ripeness on the vine. Grapes do not keep ripening after harvest. Growers pick them fully ripe, so vine timing is everything.

Before they pick, crews track three things: sugar, color, and berry size. Sugar shows up as Brix. Many crews handle that by checking sugar with a refractometer right in the field. Color change begins at veraison, when green berries turn red, black, or translucent. The USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture both set ripeness standards the fruit must meet. This whole process decides when grapes reach harvest ripeness, and it is why early fruit still tastes great.

How Do You Know If Store Grapes Are In-Season California Fruit?

Check the label, then look at the stems, the color, and the bloom. The bag or box usually says where the fruit grew. From May through January, “Product of USA” or “Grown in California” is your green light. Outside those months, you are likely seeing imports.

Freshness signs tell the rest. Look for green, pliable stems instead of brown, dry ones. The berries should be plump and firmly attached. A dusty white coating, called bloom, is natural and a good sign. Wrinkled or sticky grapes are past their prime. Since grapes do not ripen off the vine, a sour bunch will stay sour on your counter. So pick the freshest bunch and skip anything soft.

When Are California Wine Grapes Harvested?

California wine grapes are harvested from August through October, later than table grapes. Wine grapes follow a different clock. Crush season opens in August with sparkling and white varieties. Reds like Cabernet Sauvignon come off the vine in September and October. Late-harvest grapes can hang into November or December. Most premium fruit grows in Napa, Sonoma, and the Central Coast, while the Central Valley grows the bulk wine grapes. These grapes head to the winery, not the produce aisle. So if you are shopping for fresh eating grapes, the table grape calendar above is the one that matters.

What About California Raisin Grapes?

California raisin grapes are harvested in late August and September. Most raisins come from Thompson Seedless grown in the San Joaquin Valley, especially around Fresno. Growers pick the grapes, then lay them on paper trays between the rows to dry in the sun. After a couple weeks, they turn into raisins. So those grapes never reach stores fresh. They go straight from vine to dried fruit.

What Months Are California Grapes Not in Season?

California grapes are mostly out of season from February through April. Late winter into spring is the gap. The state’s crop has finished, and cold-storage grapes run low. During those months, fresh grapes in U.S. stores usually come from the Southern Hemisphere. Chile and Peru ship grapes through winter, and Mexico starts up in spring before California returns in May. So you can buy grapes year-round, but the California ones own May through January.

Last Lines

Here is the short version I keep in my head. From May, I know the new California grapes are showing up, starting in the desert. By August through October, supply peaks and prices drop, so that is when I buy the most. After the holidays, I switch to imports until the next California crop returns in spring. Watch the label, check the stems, and you will eat well almost all year.