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Wine Institute
California Wine
September is the perfect month
to highlight California wine. In fact, Governor Schwarzenegger
officially proclaimed September 2006 “California Wine Month.” As
our annual harvest season gets underway, wineries throughout
the state are hosting fun events and offering special discounts
to help you enjoy our California wines, fresh and delicious cuisine,
unique attractions and spectacular scenery. With a history dating
back to the late 1700’s, California wines are world renowned
for their quality, diversity and variety. The state is home to
about 2,000 wineries, mostly family businesses, whose wines reflect
their passion and dedication to winegrowing and the unique personality
of the winery and region.
 The combination of nearly 250 years
of winemaking tradition and experience, a reputation for innovation
and improvement, and an ideal climate to grow grapes, makes California
one of the best places on earth to make wine. Almost 100 winegrape
varieties grow in 107 distinct American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s).
California’s long Pacific Ocean coastline and coastal mountain
range stretch more than 3,100 miles from Mexico to the Oregon
border and allow cooling ocean fog and breezes to moderate the
state’s steady sunshine. An ideal temperate climate and
dozens of different microclimates and soil types, as well as
the individualistic winemakers, add to and deepen the diversity.
California
is the fourth largest wine producer in the world and Golden State
wineries produce 90 percent of all U.S. wine. In the U.S., two
of every three bottles enjoyed by Americans is a California wine.
California wines are also exported to 164 countries throughout
the world.
Check out what exciting events are happening in California’s
wine regions and learn more about California wine at www.californiawinemonth.com
Wine Institute
Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the association
of California wineries dedicated to initiating and advocating state,
federal and international public policy to enhance the environment
for the responsible consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization
brings together the resources of more than 900 wineries and affiliated
businesses to support legislative and regulatory advocacy, sustainable
winegrowing practices, international market development, media
relations and research and education.
* Economic Impact of California
Wine 2004, MFK Research.
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