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Cheers to California Wine Month

While Napa and Sonoma are synonymous with world-class wine, the Golden State produces stellar wine from north to south. The 20th anniversary of California Wine Month is the perfect excuse to spend September drinking Sangiovese in Temecula, enjoying Pinot Noir on the Central Coast or exploring the burgeoning wine region of Gold Country. No matter where you raise a glass, California has much to offer today's wine lovers. Here are twenty ways to celebrate across the state!

Alpen Cellars
If you want to enjoy a view while drinking award-winning wines, family-owned Alpen Cellars is your spot. Tastings are outdoors, nestled in the beautiful East Fork of the Trinity Lake Mountain Valley. Grab a glass of the unique Blaufrankisch or toast with a refreshing Chardonnay. The winery also offers camping and glamping accomodations. 

Eureka Moments
Wine connoisseurs will love a private tasting with the winemaker at Sepentrio Winery in its new Barrel Room in Humboldt County, while GenZers and Millennials will appreciate learning about the natural winemaking processes at family-run Miles Garrett Wines. For a fun night in Eureka, head to Old Growth Cellars for its paint-and-sip nights.

Iron Hub Winery
In the heart of Gold County, Iron Hub Winery is making liquid gold. Visitors can enjoy the estate-grown wines as part of the Vineyard Tour and Tasting. During the 90-minute guided visit, you'll learn about sustainable wine production at the boutique winery and try several of its wines paired with small bites. 

Sips and Suds Winemaker and Brewers BBQ
Held Sept. 20, 2024, at the beautiful 38-acre Gold Hill Gardens in Newcastle, wine lovers will have a chance to sample local wines, meet the winemakers, belly up to the bubbles bar and enjoy live music and BBQ at the Winemaker and Brewers BBQ. 

Downtown Napa Celebrations
Wine lovers don't need to leave the city to celebrate California Wine Month in Downtown Napa. Robert Mondavi's new tasting room, Arch & Tower, offers stunning views of the city from its upstairs lounge where guests can join a wine class or enjoy food and wine-paired tastings. Vin en Noir Wine Lounge opened in early 2024 and is the first Black and Asian woman-owned tasting room in the city brought to life by renowned winemaker Julien Fayard. Bubble lovers won't want to miss Be Bubbly sparkling wine lounge and its new Champagne and Caviar flights. The Azur Tasting Lounge pairs wine and trivia every Monday. 

Lillie & Lobster at Larkmead
Indulge in style as Larkmead Vineyards shows off how to pair its refreshing Lillie Estate Sauvignon Blanc and other wines from its private library with a traditional New England-style lobster boil. The al fresco feast on Aug. 23, 2024, is the perfect kick-off to California Wine Month. 

Wine Down in Pacifica
Wine doesn't need to be pretentious and Pacifica's Table Wine is out to prove it. This laid-back shop curates a selection of organic and sustainable bottles that rarely cost more than $25. The snob-less vibe continues at A Grape in the Fog near Rockaway Beach, where you can enjoy global wines and food without any attitude. 

Urban Wine Time
Wine your way through Oakland on a guided urban wine tour with East Bay Wine Tours, or take a DIY approach and visit Rosenblum Cellars to taste its acclaimed Zinfandels, Minimo wine bar to sip its small batch natural wines, family-run Cote West to sample Old-world style California wines and Coco Noir or The Wine Mine for a casual spot to relax and raise a glass of local vino. 

Three Wine Regions Converge
Healdsburg is the epicenter of the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek Valley wine regions. The charming town offers the ideal place to celebrate California Wine Month. Comstock Wines is serving up a wine and wood-fired pairing, while Trattore Farms & Winery is launching a new wine and food pairing experience. Alexander Valley Vineyards offers a two-for-one tasting special during September and Mills Creek will offer vineyard tours each Saturday. For something unique, BACA Wines Sensory Tasting Experience offers prizes for guests who can best guess the flavors in each wine. 

Mariposa Triangle Tasting
Drive through the stunning High Sierras on the 30-mile Mariposa Triangle Tasting Tour to experience the region's zesty Zinfandels, Campfire Champagne (cider) and down-home cuisine. Along the road, you'll want to stop at The Local Grape, Casto Oaks Fine Wine & Art and Sierra Cider. 

Get MoWine
Want to celebrate California Wine Month but can't make it to the Golden State? Modesto has you covered. With its Get MoWines Program, you can join sommelier Pat Dodd online as he takes you across Modesto on the hunt for all things wine. 

Alterna-Tea Tasting
When you're in Paso Robles, teatime turns into wine time at ONX Estate Wines. Surrounded by the vineyards, guests will enjoy five estate wines paired with homemade tea sandwiches and pastries. 

Celebrate Sustainability
On the Central Coast, explore the SLO CAL Sustainable Wine Trail. With nearly 50 wineries that have sustainable certifications, this trail lets you sip responsibly. Don't miss Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, the world's first Regenerative Organic Certified Winery. Other standouts include the guided cave tour at Eberle Winery and the Sinor-LaVallee tasting room in Avila Beach. 

Wine Adventures in Santa Maria Valley
The Santa Maria Valley was the first AVA on the Central Coast. To celebrate California Wine Month, guests can experience a private electric ATV tour at The Gatehouse at Bien Nacido, owned by Miller Family Wine Company. The tour includes a guided tasting. The Fess Parker Winery & Vineyard is celebrating its 35th anniversary and invites guests to explore some of its 714-acre ranch on a vineyard horseback adventure, which includes a guided ride and seated tasting. 

Seaside Sips
Carmel-by-the-Sea invites wine lovers to kick off the harvest season at its 31st Annual Winemakers' Celebration on Aug. 24, 2024. The event features over 100 wines from 42 varietals. Guests can enjoy sampling the local wines and engaging with the winemakers. Throughout the year oenophiles can enjoy the Carmel-by-the-Sea Wine Walk, featuring the best Monterey County wine all within a one-square-mile area. 

Desert Drinking
If you're looking for a mirage in the desert, you found it at Bouschet in Palm Springs. The wine bar features unique wines on tap, a bistro menu and weekly tastings. Owned by partners with an extensive background in the wine and food industry, the shop's selection is highly curated to bring the best of the wine world to the desert. 

Crushin' It
Temecula vintners celebrate California Wine Month with the annual CRUSH event. Hosted by Monte De Oro Winery on Sept. 7, 2024, over 30 wineries will be sampling their sips. Wine lovers can meet winery owners and winemakers and enjoy the award-winning wines paired with good eats from local restaurants. 

Oceanside Oenophile
Celebrate California Wine Month with a tour of the wine bars in Santa Monica, from the upscale but relaxed Wally's Santa Monica to the cozy neighborhood vibe at Esters Wine Shop & Bar. To see more of the wineries in the area, join Malibu Discovery Tours on a VIP tour that pairs California food and wine.

The Witching Hour
Happy hour becomes the witching hour at Buena Park's The Cauldron. The witch-themed bar features a rotating selection of California wine from artisanal producers. If you're looking for a bottle to bring home, Corked, a new wine shop, offers a wide selection of local sips that make great souvenirs. 

Cheers to Carlsbad
Enjoy urban wineries like Carruth Cellars, Witch Creek Winery and the new Costa Azul in the heart of Carlsbad. Grab a glass at Napatini Wine Bar, Oak + Elixir or La Costa Wine Shop, or enjoy local wine dining at restaurant hotspots like the Polo Steakhouse, Ponto Lago and Bob's Chophouse. 

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