This September California is celebrating as the Wine Month, a month long celebration of festivals, events and demonstrations showcasing California’s wine bounty. From personalized wine making and bottling experiences to weekend-long wine-and-dine festivals and events, destinations up and down the Golden State are joining forces to offer visitors the “best of” wine experiences. So raise a glass – of California wine, of course – and plan your next wine-inspired getaway.
California is wine country. With 138 American Viticultural Areas scattered over more than 800 miles from tiny Seiad Valley just south of the Oregon border to the sprawling South Coast AVA that reaches all the way to Mexico, California produces 85 percent of the wine made in the United States.
So it takes a big event to capture the sheer scale and diversity of the California wine scene. And whether you’re a serious oenophile or a newbie looking to learn more about different varietals, September’s California Wine Month lets you savor the very best of Golden State wine-making during more than 55 events, including regional festivals, special dinners, and vineyard tours. September is an exciting time to visit California wine countries-
Northern California-Just over an hour north of San Francisco, Sonoma County is a major center for Wine Month, with activities at individual wineries and two region-wide happenings: Sonoma Wine Country Weekend (Sept. 2-4) and the 2016 Sonoma Valley Crush (Sept. 16-18). But the Geographic range and variety of events during wine month mean that you’ll need to plan ahead.
During Winesong (Sept. 9-10) based in Fort Bragg, vintners from Mendocino, Sonoma, and Napa will hold tastings at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, giving visitors the chance to sip premium wines while strolling the luxuriant grounds. Or get an inside look at a Hollywood landmark during The Taste (Sept. 2-4), a weekend-long event on the historic Paramount Studios backlot. Acclaimed Los Angeles chefs will conduct cooking demonstrations, and you can also attend special presentations on wine history and individual varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Along the Central Coast, Joel Cox, a film editor who won an Academy Award for 1992’s Unforgiven, has only been involved in the business since the 2000s. That’s when he planted his first vines on nine acres near the San Luis Obispo–Monterey County line north of the booming Paso Robles wine country. Since then, boutique Mystic Hills Vineyard, which Cox operates with his wife Judy, has won honors as Monterey Winery of the Year and earned numerous other accolades.
Southern California-Fly into Southern California, for example, and you can enjoy new-release tastings at San Diego County’s Ramona Ranch Vineyard and Winery (Sept. 1-30), and also go to CRUSH (Sept. 17), a culinary showcase with more than 30 Temecula Valley wineries and live music. Or head to Santa Barbara and the lush, Mediterranean-style Riviera Park Gardens for Taste of the Town Santa Barbara (Sept. 11), a gathering featuring top restaurants and prominent wineries from around the county. Then spend the next day at the source, as you explore the Santa Ynez Valley, the heart of Santa Barbara wine country.
About Visit California
Visit California is a non-profit organization with a mission to develop and maintain marketing programs – in partnership with the state’s travel industry – that keep California top-of-mind as a premier travel destination. According to Visit California, travel and tourism expenditures totalled $117.5 billion in 2014 in California, supporting jobs for 1,013,000 Californians and generating $9.3 billion in state and local tax revenues. For more information on Visit California, go to www.visitcalifornia.in, like Visit California on Facebook and follow @VisitCA.