Harvest Under the Stars: A Night with the Strombotne Family at Highland Vineyard

In the golden light of late September, the Strombotne family prepared for a night that has become a cherished tradition—harvest time at Highland Vineyard in Sebastopol. For us, it’s more than just picking grapes; it’s about coming together with family and friends, savoring the process of winemaking in its earliest stages. 

The evening began the way it always does, with laughter, clinking glasses of wine, and the aroma of a delicious meal shared overlooking the vineyard. As the sun slowly set over the Sebastopol hills, the vineyard took on a magical glow. We chatted with our guests—family, friends, and neighbors who have been part of this tradition for 3 years now—sharing stories of past harvests and the excitement of what this year’s grapes might bring. 

But as the sky shifted from pink to indigo, it was time to get to work. Before we set out into the vineyard, we gathered everyone for a quick but essential how-to session. Mark demonstrated how to identifythe perfect clusters for picking—ripe, full, and waist-height on the vines. Pruning shears in hand, we headed into the vineyard rows,carefully selecting the ripe clusters of grapes. The shears are sharp, a fact we’re always keenly aware of. This year, a couple of us learned the hard way with minor nicks, a reminder to slow down and be deliberate with every cut. 

As the last traces of daylight disappeared, the vineyard transformed into a sea of headlamps, casting beams of light across the grapevines. The cool evening air surrounded us, and there was something peaceful about the steady rhythm of picking grapes in the dark. Before we knew it, the buckets were full, and we trudged back to the larger bins at the top of the hill, dumping in our haul. The bins filled up quickly, evidence of the evening’s hard work. 

By 9:00PM, our family’s part of the harvest was done. But for the real vineyard crew, the night was just beginning. We handed off the rows to them, knowing they would work through the night to gather the rest of the vineyard’s bounty. The grapes, so carefully picked, would be taken to Elevation Custom Crush in Healdsburg before dawn, where the winemaking process would begin in earnest. 

Harvesting at night has its challenges, but it’s also what makes this tradition so special. There’s something surreal about working under the stars, headlamps glowing as we move through the vines, guided only by the light we carry. And there’s an undeniable satisfaction that comes from knowing that these grapes—grown, nurtured, and picked by our own hands—are part of something bigger. 

The next time we gather, it will be to raise a glass of wine made from this very night’s work. Until then, we hold onto the memory of this harvest, and the joy of knowing that we’re not just making wine—we’re making memories.