Aug. 20, 2019 California Wine Month Kicks Off in September with Celebrations Across the State Winesong features wine tasting while strolling the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, one of nearly 100 events held during California Wine Month in September. Photo: John Birchard. SAN FRANCISCO —September is California Wine Month, Wine Institute’s annual celebration of the harvest season. Throughout California, wineries, regional wine associations and other organizations will host special tastings, concerts, food and wine festivals, immersive harvest experiences, grape stomps and more. The 15th annual California Wine Month highlights the state’s storied winemaking history, dating back more than 250 years, and recognizes the innovative spirit of California vintners and growers. As the world’s fourth-largest wine producer and the source of 81 percent of wine made in the U.S., California is home to 3,900 wineries and 5,900 grapegrowers. It is also the nation’s most-visited state for wine and food experiences, attracting 24 million visits annually to its wine regions. Wine lovers can enjoy activities and special offers from California Wine Month partner retailers and restaurants. See partner listing below. Visit https://discovercaliforniawines.com/california-wine-month to view maps and descriptions of nearly 100 California Wine Month events, searchable by wine region, or download the complete list of winery events here. Some highlights of regional events with multiple wineries include: NORTH COAST Aug. 31: Taste of Sonoma, 100 wineries. Green Music Center, Sonoma State University Sept. 6-7: Winesong, Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens, Fort Bragg Sept. 7: Calistoga Wine Experience, wine and food tasting, Pioneer Park, Calistoga Sept: 19-21: Sonoma County Wine Auction, La Crema Estate, Windsor Sept. 21: Lake County Wine Auction, Chacewater Winery, Kelseyville Guests enjoy picking grapes at the Harvest Boot Camp at Trefethen Family Vineyards in Napa Valley, to be held this year on Sept. 28, 2019. Photo: Trefethen Family Vineyards. SAN FRANCISCO BAY & SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS Sept. 1: Barrels of Corralitos, tastings at wineries in Corralitos and Aptos Sept. 1: Livermore Valley Harvest Wine Celebration, wineries throughout the region Sept. 1-30: California Wine Month Educational Experiences, San Francisco Wine School, South San Francisco Sept. 6-30: Santa Clara Valley Fall Passport Month, special tastings at wineries throughout the region Sept. 7-29: Organic Wine Trail of Santa Cruz Mountains, eight wineries on Saturdays and Sundays in September. Sept. 8: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay Harvest Dinner, Aptos, SCMWA Sept: 14-15: Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Capitola Village Sept. 21: Livermore Valley Wine Auction, Wente Vineyards, Livermore MONTEREY TO SANTA BARBARA Sept. 7: Magical Mystery Monterey Wine Tours, visit surprise winery locations in Carmel Valley Sept. 8: 38th Annual Taste of the Town, local wines and food at Riviera Park, Santa Barbara Sept. 14: Second Saturdays in Haley Corridor, multiple Santa Barbara wineries Sept. 27: Downtown SLO Sip ‘n Saunter, food and wine tasting, San Luis Obispo INLAND VALLEYS Sept: 12-15: Lodi Grape Festival, Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, Lodi Sept. 20: Madera Wine Trail’s California Wine Month Celebration, local wines and food, Toca Madera Winery, Madera SIERRA FOOTHILLS Sept. 7: WINEderlust Renegade Wine, Art & Music Festival, Placerville, El Dorado County Sept. 14: Barbera Festival in Amador County, Terra D'Oro Winery, Plymouth Sept. 14: Sample the Sierra, local wines and food, South Lake Tahoe Sept. 20-22: Lake Tahoe Autumn Food & Wine Festival, Northstar Resort, Truckee SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Aug. 31-Sept. 1: The Taste, wine, food and seminars, Paramount Pictures Studio, Hollywood Sept. 28: Temecula Valley CRUSH, taste with multiple winemakers at Monte De Oro Winery, Temecula Visitors get down at the Ramona Grape Stomp in San Diego County, to be held Sept. 14. Photo: Ramona Grape Stomp. Wine lovers can learn more about California wine and celebrate California Wine Month wherever they are, using 100 recipes and wine pairings at: DiscoverCaliforniaWines.com. They can also tour the state with a new cookbook, “Wine Country Table, With Recipes that Celebrate California’s Sustainable Harvest.” California Wine Month Partners California Wine Month is celebrated by restaurant, retail, media and association partners in California and throughout the U.S. including: U.S. National/Regional: GuildSomm, Not Your Average Joe’s, Safeway, Tavistock Group California: Albertsons, Charlie Palmer Steak, Compline, The Culinary Institute of America, Dry Creek Kitchen, Epic Steak, Napa Valley Wine Train, Oakville Grocery, Pavilions, Raley’s, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Restaurant at Kellogg Ranch, San Francisco Wine School, Taj Campton Place, Vons, Women for Winesense About Wine Institute Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the association of nearly 1,000 California wineries and wine-related businesses. Its mission is to initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. See: wineinstitute.org. # # # Editors: Photos can be downloaded here. Contact: Gladys Horiuchi of Wine Institute 415/356-7525, [email protected] or Jeanne Sullivan (PR Agency) [email protected] .