September declared California Wine Month

For the fourth consecutive year, the month of September in California will be dedicated to wine, with Sonoma Valley front and center, celebrating the grape harvest with the 2008 Vintage Festival, which takes place Sept. 27 through 29.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared September 2008 California Wine Month. In his proclamation, the governor lauds the state’s wine community as one of the largest and most successful wine-producing regions in the world.
California’s wineries and wine-grape growers produce $19 billion in retail sales in the U.S. They attract national and international tourists and preserve natural resources by using innovative and environmentally friendly practices for wine-grape growing and winemaking.
“Every bottle of California wine served across the globe reflects our excellence and serves as an ambassador for our fantastic lifestyle, cuisine and culture,” declared the governor in the proclamation.
California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world. In the U.S., two out of every three bottles enjoyed are California wines. Each year, nearly 20 million tourists visit wine regions throughout the state to explore and enjoy the wines, the cuisine and cultural offerings of California’s signature industry.