There’s something special about experiencing grape harvest season firsthand. This fall, you can go beyond simply watching the harvest and pick grapes right from the vine at Johnson Estate Winery in Westfield, New York. Our Grape Picking & Vineyard Walk gives visitors a hands-on way to experience harvest season in the heart of Lake Erie Wine Country.
Instead of simply watching grapes being harvested, imagine walking through the vineyard, finding ripe clusters, cutting them right from the vine, and taking them home with you.
Every fall, our vineyard becomes a busy and exciting place as we harvest grapes that will eventually become wine. As an estate winery, we grow the grapes right here on our farm that are used in our estate wines. With over 100 acres of grapes growing across the property, harvest season brings something new to discover throughout the vineyard.
Our Grape Picking & Vineyard Walk gives you the opportunity to explore the vineyard at your own pace, pick ripe grapes directly from the vines, and take them home to enjoy.
You’ll receive a grape-picking basket, vineyard trail map, and pruners to borrow so you have everything you need to explore the vineyard and carefully cut grape bunches from the vines.
One of the fun parts of visiting during harvest season is that the vineyard changes from week to week.
With 13 different grape varieties growing at Johnson Estate, there is always something new to discover. You may find American classics like Concord and Niagara, along with other varieties grown on our estate such as Seyval Blanc and Ives. Different grapes ripen at different times, so the varieties available for picking will depend on the date of your visit and what is ripe and ready that day.
You may discover a familiar favorite or find yourself tasting a grape you’ve never experienced before. Ever wonder which grape is behind your favorite Johnson Estate wine? This is your chance to taste some of the grapes that go into the wines you enjoy and experience them in a whole new way, right from the vine. Each variety has its own color, flavor, and character, making your walk through the vineyard a chance to explore the diversity of grapes we grow right here on our farm.
If you’ve never picked grapes before, it’s a surprisingly simple and enjoyable experience.
You’ll receive your picking basket, vineyard map, and a pair of pruners to borrow for cutting the grape bunches from the vine. Follow the map through the vineyard, look for the grapes that are ready, and pick them directly from the vines. On the back of the map is a chart that recommends which varieties are likely to be ready based on the date of your visit.
Not sure if a grape is ready? Look for grapes that have developed their characteristic color, taste one, and see if it has the sweetness and flavor you enjoy. Since our 13 varieties ripen at different times, you may find some grapes ready to pick while others are still developing.
There’s no need to rush. This is a self-guided vineyard experience, so you can take your time, enjoy the scenery, and experience the vineyard at your own pace.
And unlike a traditional vineyard tour, you get to leave with a little piece of the harvest.
Grape picking is a fun way to get outside and experience something a little different this fall.
Kids are welcome to join the experience and explore the vineyard with you. They can see the grapes growing on the vines, learn about the different varieties, and experience what harvest season is like on a working farm and estate winery.
Kids are free to participate, and we’ll provide a cup of cider for them to enjoy. It’s a simple way to spend part of a fall afternoon together while enjoying the vineyard and the changing season.
Fall vineyard walks are better with your four-legged companion.
Well-mannered dogs are welcome to join you as you explore the vineyard. Dogs must remain on a leash and under their owner’s control throughout the experience.
After exploring the vineyard and picking your grapes, come back and warm up with a glass of warmed Red Ipocras blended with local apple cider, included with your Grape Picking & Vineyard Walk experience.
It’s the perfect way to finish a fall afternoon at the winery.
Looking for a unique fall activity near Buffalo? Johnson Estate Winery is located in Westfield, New York, in the heart of Lake Erie Wine Country.
If you’re looking for fall things to do in Western New York, a visit to Johnson Estate during harvest season is a chance to combine a vineyard experience, outdoor walk, grape picking, and a taste of Lake Erie Wine Country.
Our location makes the winery an easy destination for a fall day trip from Buffalo, Erie, and communities throughout Western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.
A visit during harvest season gives you the opportunity to experience the vineyard when it is at its busiest, with grapes ripening throughout the property and the landscape beginning to take on the colors of fall.
Our Grape Picking & Vineyard Walk is available Saturdays and Sundays from 11 AM to 4 PM during the fall season.
$25 per person | Wine Club Members $20
Your experience includes:
Simply arrive anytime between 11 AM and 4 PM on the date of your ticket, check in, receive your basket, pruners, and vineyard map, and head out to explore.
Because grape ripeness changes throughout the harvest season, the varieties available for picking will vary by date.
Come pick, stroll, sip, and experience harvest season at Johnson Estate Winery.
8419 West Main Rd. (Route 20)
Westfield, NY 14787
Map & Directions
March – October
10am-6pm Daily
November – February
10am-5pm Sunday-Thursday
10am-6pm Friday & Saturday
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter
