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Anyone who’s ever fantasized about making wine can participate in a grape harvest at one of these California programs.

Cliff Lede/Poetry Inn

Guests who stay in the Robert Louis Stevenson suite (with fireplace and outdoor shower) at Poetry Inn in Napa’s Stags Leap District this September and October will have the chance to work on the sorting line at Cliff Lede winery just after the grapes are harvested. It’s a great opportunity to witness the winery’s meticulous three-part sorting process. Robert Louis Stevenson suite from $1,285, includes winery experience; poetryinn.com.

Diageo Crush Camp

This intense two-day crush camp hosted by Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, which owns wineries around the world, highlights five of their producers in the Napa Valley and Sonoma: Acacia, Beaulieu, Moon Mountain, Provenance and Sterling. Participants stay at the Yountville Inn and help sort clusters of grapes as well as rake them for the crush. They also get a look at the job of a cellar rat, learning to punch down grapes and haul pumps. Tech geeks will like trying out instruments like refractometers, which determine the sugar concentration of grapes. Plus, everyone gets to blend their own bottles of wine. $1,250 per person for doubles, includes meals and lodging; 707-967-5288.

Ladera

Known for its intensely concentrated Cabernets, this Howell Mountain winery offers four-hour harvest tours in October. Guests help pick and sort grapes, watch how they’re crushed and sample wine at different stages of fermentation directly from barrels. The tour includes lunch in the garden, accompanied by Ladera wines. By appointment only, $1,200 for groups of four to six; laderavineyards.com.

Camp Schramsberg

Schramsberg (pictured, above) founded its three-day camp in 1997, becoming one of the first Napa Valley wineries to allow nonprofessionals to participate in its harvest. Under the guidance of winemakers Hugh Davies and Craig Roemer, guests pick Pinot Noir or Chardonnay grapes, depending on which are ripe, and see the grapes through the crush process. Since Schramsberg is a producer of top-notch sparkling wines—its Blanc de Blancs is an F&W American Wine Awards 2008 winner—participants learn about the particulars of making sparkling wine. The camp also includes pairing courses on the Culinary Institute of America’s Greystone campus. In the spring session, guests watch the winemakers blend wines to create the final products. $995 per person, lodging not included; schramsberg.com.

Sonoma County Grape Camp

This three-day program roams all over Sonoma: Participants can pick and sort grapes in the Alexander Valley and get an insider’s look at winemaking at Frei Brothers, Jordan, Francis Ford Coppola Presents Rosso & Bianco and Kunde wineries. Not only will they see how the process differs at various wineries, but they’ll also have the chance to sit down with renowned vineyard managers like Ulises Valdez (Paul Hobbs) and Steve Dutton (Dutton Ranch), and top winemakers such as Greg La Follette (Tandem Winery). At the end, guests blend their own wine. Participants stay at the Vintners Inn in Santa Rosa. $1,500 per person for doubles, includes meals and lodging; sonomagrapecamp.com.