To help celebrate September as California Wine Month, proclaimed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for the sixth consecutive year, many of the Golden State’s wineries, winegrape growers and regional associations are hosting special consumer events surrounding the state’s signature beverage.
“California has long been known for our production of superior, award-winning wines,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger in his proclamation. “The Judgment of Paris in 1976 brought California wine to the world stage and established our wine producers as respected masters of their craft. This month is dedicated to celebrating our rich history of winemaking and the bright future of this important industry.”
For a copy of the proclamation, go to: www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/governors-proclamation
From special tastings and harvest tours to wine education classes and major wine festivals, consumers can participate in many celebration events in all regions of the state. To find the latest events this September, go to: www.discovercaliforniawine.com/learn/september-wine-events
California Wine Month kicks off with Sonoma Wine Country Weekend over the Labor Day weekend. This event features more than 200 award-winning wineries and chefs showcasing their talents, as well as wine seminars, cooking demonstrations and vineyard tours.
Also that weekend is the 29th annual Harvest Festival in Livermore, featuring more than 40 Livermore Valley wineries sharing their finest wines, as well as local music, art and food.
Check out the Discover California Wine Web site for a complete list of special events taking place throughout the month.
California now is home to more than 4,600 grape growers and 3,000 bonded wineries, its fertile land accounting for approximately 90 percent of wine production in the United States. For the month of September, Gov. Schwarzenegger encourages consumers to take advantage of California Wine Month events to become more familiar with this rich and unique part of the California’s wine-and-food lifestyle.
An important part of this culture, Gov. Schwarzenegger mentions, is the California wine community’s long-term commitment to promoting socially and environmentally responsible farming practices, something that is of interest to more and more consumers.
California has a widely adopted sustainable winegrowing and winemaking program, and all of the regions hosting California Wine Month events participate in it.
The state’s vintners and growers, along with California’s 80,000 restaurants, have helped make the Golden State a top destination for culinary travelers from around the world, attracting nearly 21 million visitors each year to its wine regions. The wine industry supports 820,000 jobs across the nation, including 330,000 in California.
