September is California Wine Month — an annual recognition of the vineyards, winemakers, and varietals that have made California one of the world's most important wine regions. It's also a good prompt to do something intentional with wine, rather than just drinking what you already know you like.
Here are three ways to make the most of it.
At a Glance
- Occasion: California Wine Month — September
- Featured Winery: Beringer Vineyards, St. Helena, Napa Valley
- Three Activities: Expand your palate, host a blind tasting, visit Beringer during harvest
1. Expand Your Palate
Most wine drinkers have a comfort zone — a go-to varietal or style that rarely gets challenged. California Wine Month is a good reason to step outside it.
If you're partial to Chardonnay, try something with more structure — a Knights Valley Cabernet Franc or a Petit Verdot from Beringer's Knights Valley collection are both interesting departures. If you default to bold reds, a lighter, aromatic white might surprise you.
If you're in Napa Valley, visit the tasting room and ask a wine educator to recommend something outside the usual. That conversation alone is often worth the trip. If you're elsewhere, head to a local wine shop and ask the staff for a California recommendation you wouldn't normally reach for. Many shops also host workshops, tastings, and seminars throughout the month — a structured environment can make trying something unfamiliar feel less like a risk and more like an adventure.
2. Host a Blind Tasting
A blind tasting is one of the most effective ways to understand your own palate — and one of the most entertaining ways to spend an evening with people who care about wine.
When the label is hidden, you're forced to rely entirely on what's in the glass. You notice things you might otherwise attribute to a producer's reputation or a varietal's expectation. The exercise builds genuine sensory awareness and tends to generate strong opinions and lively conversation.
Beringer put together a full guide to hosting an expert blind tasting evening, which you can find here. If you'd rather build your own format, the essentials are simple: pick a theme (same varietal, different regions; same producer, multiple vintages; red vs. white Beringer expressions), use brown paper bags to hide the bottles, and give everyone a pen and paper to take notes before the reveal.
3. Visit Beringer During Harvest Season
September in Napa Valley is harvest season — one of the most active and atmospheric times of year at the wineries. The vineyards are busy, the cellar crews are working around the clock, and the air carries the scent of fresh crush.
Beringer Vineyards in St. Helena is particularly worth visiting during this period. The historic Rhine House and grounds take on a different energy when the season is at its most urgent, and the Taste of Beringer Tour shifts its seasonal food pairings to reflect the harvest menu.
September also often coincides with the release of Beringer's latest Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon vintage — one of Napa Valley's most consistently acclaimed wines, produced since 1977. Visiting during its debut is one of the best ways to experience it.
Tickets and tour reservations are available at beringer.com/pages/winery-events.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is California Wine Month?
California Wine Month is observed each September and celebrates the state's role as one of the world's most significant wine-producing regions. California is home to more than 100 designated American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), spanning climates and terroirs that produce everything from light sparkling wines to age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley, located in Napa County northeast of San Francisco, is California's most internationally recognized wine region.
What is a blind tasting?
A blind tasting is a wine tasting format in which the labels, varietals, or producers are concealed from participants. The goal is to evaluate wines based purely on what's in the glass — color, aroma, texture, flavor, and finish — without the influence of branding or expectation. Blind tastings are used by professional sommeliers, critics, and wine educators, but they are equally valuable for curious home drinkers. Beringer has published a guide to hosting a blind tasting that walks through the format step by step.
When does harvest happen in Napa Valley?
Napa Valley's harvest typically runs from late August through October, with the exact timing varying by varietal and vintage conditions. White varieties and lighter reds tend to come in first; Cabernet Sauvignon — Napa's signature grape — generally reaches peak ripeness in September and October. September is an especially active time to visit, with vineyard crews working and the winery in full production mode.
What wines does Beringer produce?
Beringer produces wines across three main tiers: the Private Reserve collection (Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, both flagship wines with decades of critical acclaim), the Single Vineyard collection (site-specific Cabernet Sauvignons from named estate vineyards in Napa Valley), and the Knights Valley collection (wines grown on volcanic mountain terrain in Sonoma County's Knights Valley AVA).
Heading to the winery for harvest? Learn what to expect during a fall visit to Beringer and St. Helena.
