Murphys, CA…Wine is more than just drinking. It’s art. It’s history. It’s love. It’s connection. Celebrate California Wine Month in Calaveras with our award wining wines in a low-key, relaxed atmosphere that will make you fall in love with wine all over again.

Read California Wine Institute’s article below about 6 Ways to Celebrate California Wine Month this September and find out why wine can be important to our culture and our community.

1. Sharing Wine Creates Connection – Gathering around a table with friends to share a bottle of California wine cultivates a sense of togetherness and community. Play board games while you sip or simply hang out and connect. Need some great music to enhance the vibe? Check out California Grown’s “California Wine Nights” playlist on Spotify.

2. It’s Sustainable – California is a world leader in sustainable farming practices. The vast majority of the state’s wine — 80% — is made by wineries certified under the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance’s Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) program. Likewise, more than 60% of statewide winegrape acreage is certified under CCSW or to other California sustainability programs such as Fish Friendly Farming, LODI RULES, Napa Green and Sustainability in Practice (SIP) Certified.

Sustainable vineyards since 1996 at Aloria Vineyards – Sourcing their grapes 100% from their 52-acre vineyard, Aloria Vineyards controls the winemaking process from beginning to end to provide the best possible grapes for their wines.

3. It’s Fun to Buy at the Source – California hosts more than 4,800 wineries across the state, and with many tasting rooms open to the public, it’s easy to try before you buy. Bonus: Wineries often sell tasting-room-only wines that can’t be purchased anywhere else, and during California Wine Month, visitors can join in an array of fun, harvest-themed events and activities.

4. There’s a Wine for Everyone – Home to diverse soils, microclimates and topography, California grows more than 100 different grape varieties. That means there’s a California wine for every palate, whether you lean toward crisp and refreshing styles or prefer rich and robust wines.

Hovey Wine– From a delightful sparkling Chardonnay to a luscious and gorgeous Barbera, Hovey has a nice selection of wines. Also check, Milliare Winery for a wonderful Reisling and Gossamer Cellars for unique and adventurous winegrape varietals.

5. It’s Made for Food – Just as California leads the nation in wine production, it is also the source of much of the country’s fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, California wines pair with everything from Sonoma Coast oysters to Santa Maria tri-tip. For recipes, grab a free copy of the “Iconic California Dishes to Celebrate California Wine Month” e-book. Sign up for Visit California’s weekly travel inspiration e-newsletter starting on Aug. 20 to get yours.

Val du Vino – Nestled at the edge of Main Street in downtown Murphys, Val du Vino is the only working winery on Main Street. Every so often you can see the magic happening while you enjoy Rhone, Italian, and Spanish estate varietals grown right here in Calaveras.

6. It Supports Local Farmers – Most of the wine produced in the United States comes from California, which is home to more than 620,000 acres of vineyards. When you choose California wine, your purchase supports thousands of farmers across the state.

Tanner Vineyards – Their roots in winemaking date back to the 1800s making them the oldest winemaking family to come to Calaveras. Great-grandfather, Angelo Sciaccaluga, emigrated from Italy and became the first licensed winemaker in Calaveras County, California. Believe us when we say, these folks know how to grow and make wine.

Do you love lavender and family-run wineries? Be sure to stop into Locke Vineyards for an all-around beautiful wine experience in their vineyard and lavender garden.

Can you stay a few days? We’d love to have you! Find local lodging here or give us a call at the Calaveras Visitors Bureau at 209-736-0049. We’d love to hear from you!