WHEREAS, In September 2023, California’s wine community will celebrate its annual California Wine Month, honoring more than 250 years of being a rich and valuable part of the Golden State’s economy and culture; and

WHEREAS, California is long-known for producing top-quality wines, with more than 81 percent of the United States’ wine production and about 95 percent of the country’s wine exports; and

WHEREAS, The state’s vast wine industry includes more than 4,200 wineries and 5,900 winegrape growers in 49 of the state’s 58 counties, preserving open space and dramatically adding to the Golden State’s beautiful landscape; and

WHEREAS, More than 100 wine varieties can be found across the state, thanks to the state’s diverse terroir, which provides a perfect place to grow nearly every kind of grape; and

WHEREAS, With this variety, California’s winemakers have the latitude to create complex, single-varietal wines, as well as unique, expressive blends; and

WHEREAS, California vintners and growers are primarily multigenerational family-owned businesses whose environmental stewardship and social responsibility reflect their commitment to operate in the state for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, With the most comprehensive and widely adopted sustainability programs in the world, about 80 percent of California wine is made in more than 175 certified sustainable wineries and over one-half of the state’s vineyard acreage is certified sustainable; and

WHEREAS, The wine community broadly embraces practices to improve resource efficiency and wine quality, while also reducing risks and costs; and

WHEREAS, California wine makes a significant financial contribution to both the state and the country by providing hundreds of thousands of quality jobs, bolstering economies through tourism and taxes, and enhancing communities through environmental stewardship and charitable giving; and

WHEREAS, The state’s wines play an important role in California’s iconic lifestyles, inspired by endless miles of natural beauty and boundless optimism; and

WHEREAS, Pairing perfectly with the Golden State’s bounty of fresh, California-grown produce and inventive cuisine, as well as with food from around the world, California wines are made for unwinding and connecting with family and friends over conversations, shared meals, and celebrations; now, therefore, be it