Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who proclaimed September as California Wine Month, “pumps up” California wine. Photo by John Decker.
Celebrate California’s Signature Beverage with Dozens of Consumer Events Across the State
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — To help celebrate September 2010 as California Wine Month, proclaimed by Governor 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 Governor 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 wine-making 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 and visit the site regularly to check the latest in a growing list of events.
California Wine Month kicks off Labor Day weekend with Sonoma Wine Country Weekend. Named one of the 10 Best Wine & Food Events in the U.S. (Celebrated Living), 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.
Other highlights during the month include the Santa Cruz Wine Trail to the Sea (Sept. 7-10), featuring exclusive tastings, a Roaring Camp Railroads tour of the redwood forests with picnic lunch accompanied by local wines, guided tours and winemaker dinners. The Capitola Art & Wine Festival (Sept. 11-12) will feature more than 150 artists, 20 wineries, music and food at the charming seaside community of Capitola Village. Free Napa Valley Vintners TweetUp tastings will be at Nectar Wine Lounge in San Francisco (Sept. 15) and at BottleRock in Los Angeles (Sept. 21) with hosted wine and appetizers. At the first-ever Temecula Valley Wine & Culinary Showcase (Sept. 17), wine lovers can enjoy the delicious products of local winery owners and mingle with winemakers, growers and chefs. On the 18th, the Ultimate Sierra Foothills Wine Tasting Experience in Danville presents several regions at once with more than 40 participating wineries from Amador, El Dorado and Calaveras counties. The 7th Annual Taste of the Central Coast (Sept. 19) in Arroyo Grande near Pismo Beach offers the wares of more than 40 leading restaurants and wineries, as well as live jazz music. Towards month’s end, check out the Taste of Lodi Wine Camp (Sept. 25) and the 9th Annual Taste of Lodi festival (Sept. 26) just south of Sacramento. The wine camp is a rare opportunity for consumers to immerse in the winemaking process from vineyard to bottle to wine glass.
California is now 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, Governor Schwarzenegger encourages consumers to take advantage of California Wine Month events -- such as taking a tour or enrolling in a class -- and become more familiar with this rich and unique part of the California’s wine and food lifestyle.
An important part of this culture, Governor 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.
California Wine Month, established and coordinated by Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers, is also supported by several trade and association partners including the California Travel and Tourism Commission, California Restaurant Association, Safeway, Von's and Pavilions, Kimpton Hotels, Lark Creek Restaurant Group, Joie de Vivre Hotels, Ritz Carlton/J.W. Marriott (LA), California Wine Merchants (NYC), Patina Restaurant Group, Revival Cafe & Bar, 1300 on Fillmore, Amtrak, Vino Volo and Tony’s Fine Foods.
Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the association of more than 1,000 California wineries and wine-related businesses that initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. Wine Institute members represent 85 percent of U.S. wine production and 90 percent of U.S. wine exports. For more information, see www.wineinstitute.org.
The California Association of Winegrape Growers CAWG) represents the growers of more than 60 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. The statewide association provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, sustainable farming practices and trade positions to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. For more information, see www.cawg.org.
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Journalists requiring further information can contact communications@wineinstitute.org.
