Wine Institute

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.