September is California Wine Month

TGR Staff

September is California Wine Month, and there's no better time to experience the excitement of the state's annual harvest season.  Across California, wineries, regional associations and other organizations are hosting exclusive tastings, festivals, live music, food pairings, grape stomps, vineyard hikes and much more.  
Now in its 14th year, California Wine Month celebrates the Golden State's 250-year winegrowing history and recognizes the achievements of California vintners and growers in preserving tradition and driving innovation.  With 4,800 vintners and 5,900 growers within its borders, California is the world's fourth-largest wine producer and the source of 81 percent of the wine made in the United States.  It is also the most visited state in the U.S. for food- and wine-related activities, attracting 24 million people each year, and the producer of more than 400 specialty crops.  Wine lovers can also celebrate with activities and special offers from California Wine Month partner retailers and restaurants during the month of September.
Visit discovercaliforniawines.com/californiawinemonth to view the full list of regularly updated events and partners and to order a copy of the 2018 California Wine Month California Wine Month poster.  Regionwide events showcasing multiple wineries include:
NORTH COAST
Sept. 1Taste of SonomaSonoma State University's Green Music Center.
Sept. 7-8Winesong Weekend, various locations throughout Mendocino County.
Sept. 8Calistoga Wine Experience, Pioneer Park, CalistogaNapa Valley.
Sept. 15Lake County Wine Auction, Boatique Winery, Kelseyville.
Sept. 22Zinfandel: Stories from Napa ValleyCulinary Institute of America at Copia, Napa
SAN FRANCISCO BAY & SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS
Sept. 2Livermore Valley Harvest Wine Celebration, Wineries throughout the region.
Sept. 8-9:  Annual Capitola Art & Wine FestivalCapitola Village in Santa Cruz County.
Sept. 8-30:  Fall Passport Month, Wineries of Santa Clara Valley.
Sept. 22Eat Drink Los Gatos, Downtown district, North Santa Cruz Ave.
Sept. 29Livermore Valley Wine Auction, Wente Vineyards.
CENTRAL COAST: MONTEREY TO SANTA BARBARA
Sept. 1Highway 46 West Wineries Harvest Block Party, Dark Star Cellars in Paso Robles.  
Sept. 9Taste of the Town Santa Barbara, Riviera Park Gardens.
Sept. 28Sip & SaunterSan Luis Obispo.
INLAND VALLEYS
Sept. 13-16Lodi Grape Festival, Lodi Event Center.
Sept. 21Madera Wine Trail's California Wine Month Celebration, Papagni Winery, Madera.
SIERRA FOOTHILLS
Sept. 1-30Find the Gold in Calaveras Wine CountryTreasure Hunt, Participating wineries.
Sept. 7-9Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival, Northstar Resort, Truckee.
Sept. 8WINEderlust River Wine Festival, Henningsen Lotus Park on the American River, El Dorado County.
Sept. 15Sample the Sierra Farm-to-Fork Festival, Bijou Community Park, So. Lake Tahoe.
Sept. 15Barbera Festival, Terra d'Oro Wines, Amador County.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Aug. 31-Sept. 2The Taste, Paramount Pictures Studios, Hollywood.  
Sept. 8VINO-Palooza Wine & Music Festival, Marina Del Rey Hotel, Los Angeles.
Sept. 29Temecula Valley CRUSH, Monte De Oro Winery, Temecula.


For more information about exploring California's diverse wine regions, see the Navigate the State map and directory.  Wine lovers can also celebrate California Wine Month at home using the delicious recipes and wine-pairing tips here.