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Time to give your palate a workout and head to California – September is California Wine Month! Grape stomps, wine tastings, bottle signings, eco vineyard hikes, concerts, festivals and even a bicycle tour brunch are just some of the special events planned for this month-long celebration of California’s most famous bounty, which kicks off September 1, 2008. 

 
For the fourth consecutive year, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared September 2008 California Wine Month, lauding the state's wine community for their fantastic products and wonderful adventures. California is the fourth largest wine producer in the world, and two out of every three bottles enjoyed in the U.S. are California wines. California's wineries and wine grape growers offer incredible experiences for visitors, as well as mouthwatering vintages; the industry also works to preserve natural resources by using innovative and environmentally friendly practices for winegrowing and winemaking.
 

Throughout the month, dozens of wineries and vineyards in California, along with restaurants, wine shops and supermarkets across the country, will offer wine lovers a multitude of ways to learn about and enjoy California’s vast array of diverse and high quality wines. Listings of these events can be found at the Wine Institute’s new Web site, www.discovercaliforniawine.com, where users can also plan trips using interactive regional wine maps, learn about making wine and growing wine grapes, meet vintners and growers, and much more.
 

In Mendocino, you can celebrate Winesong at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on September 5-6. With vintages from more than 100 highly acclaimed wine producers and a wonderful variety of culinary fare provided by more than 50 fine restaurants and food purveyors from Northern California, Windsong lets visitors stroll through the garden paths along the bluffs overlooking the majestic Mendocino Coast. You can also celebrate the Flavors of Fall at Korbel Champagne Cellars  in Guerneville on September 20. In addition to champagne, wine and food pairing, visitors will also enjoy special tours of the vineyards and crushing facilities.
 

In the Napa Valley, you can enjoy Wine in the Insectary all month at Groth Winery and Vineyards. Planted with over 44 different species to attract beneficial insects, the Insectary is part of Groth’s commitment to sustainable farming practices. Additionally, wine lovers can take flight at the Flights of Napa during September 26-28, a three-day celebration of the finest in aircraft, wine and luxury. Events include exclusive preview of over 30 new jets, night gala auction and over 30 Napa Valley wineries, plus all-day flights of olive oils, cheeses, ultra-premium cigars, blending tournament, biplane rides and more.
 

Celebrate chocolate with your wine at Riverbench Winery’s  Wine and Chocolate Pairings event in Healdsburg on September 6. Creating unique dessert pairings with its seductive Pinot Noir, this is the place to treat your palate. And, at the Ferrari-Carano Harvest Wine Country Weekend September 12-14, you can be a winemaker for a day with an exclusive getaway package, including a two-night stay and tasting adventures.
 

California Wine Month also celebrates the harvest season, that most magical of times for any winery. In the lovely Carmel Valley, you can watch as over ten tons of grapes are crushed, de-stemmed and prepared for aging, then join the Chateau Julien winemakers for an intimate dinner in the wine cellar. This fantastic event takes place September 26, starting at 7 p.m. You can also celebrate the harvest in El Dorado September 13-19, with special tastings, seminars and grape stomp contests.
 

At Eagle Castle Winery in San Luis Obispo, September 6 offers up the best of wine and blues under the stars with a courtyard concert. At Edna Valley Vineyard, you’ll celebrate Endless Summer all month long with bocce ball, wine tasting, appetizers and live music, all under the shadow of the cool coastal evenings. “Barrels R Art” at the nearby Tolosa Winery, where six artists have been commissioned to create one-of-a-kind artworks from 60-gallon wine barrels. At the gala event on September 6, they will be auctioned off to support local schools.
 

Wine also takes a starring role during several events in Paso Robles, including Westfest  on September 13. For this 6th annual wine and blues festival, 16 award-winning wineries will pair their fabulous assortment of wines with some great BBQ and live music. Chumeia Vineyards is offering an Ice Cream Social September 19-20, as well as a fabulous Wine and Appetizer Cruise around Morro Bay on September 27. At Pipestone Vineyards, you’ll have the chance to get your hands (and feet) purple with a hands-on wine making class on September 28.
 

Don’t miss Southern California’s wine country in Temecula, with the Biker Brunch on September 28 at Tesoro Winery. Enjoy a day of wine and motorcycle riding, with an amazing paired 5-course brunch and wine after riding through the beautiful Temecula Valley. The American Wine and Food Festival in Los Angeles, held September 26-28, brings together culinary elite for a great cause. Held on the back lot of Universal Studios, the festival is open to the public and features live bands, a silent auction, a few surprises and an unrivaled epicurean feast.

A great way to celebrate California Wine Month is to see the indie film "Bottle Shock," a film about how California wines trumped their French counterparts in an historic 1976 blind tasting in Paris.  For more information on how you can visit the set-- California wine country -- visit www.landofwineandfood.com/bottleshock.