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With summer having come to a close and the onslaught of school already hanging heavily upon us, it seems as though the prospect of vacation time is nowhere on the horizon. But fortunately for us 8212; with the endless sunny weather of California 8212; weekend vacations have a way of giving us a friendly pat on the shoulder to remind us that summer is never really over.

And of course, what better way to bask in the impending autumn weather than to experience one of California’s most esteemed attributes?

Each year, the commencement of September also brings about the celebration of California Wine Month. From local boutique wineries within the county limit to well-known vintners scattered up the coast, there is something to indulge in everywhere. After all, “tis the season.

Opt for a stay-cay
If you don’t feel like shelling out the gas money, no need to fret; there is plenty in store right in your backyard.

While we might not be living in California’s designated “Wine Country,” San Diego is undoubtedly home to an exquisite array of hidden gems. From syrahs and cabernet to pinots and blancs, Temecula Valley is chock-full of award-winning wineries to tantalize your taste buds.

If you want to do San Diego wineries the right way, San Diego’s Cali Party Bus is the way to go. As a member of the Temecula Valley Winegrowers Association, all Cali Party Bus tours are guaranteed entry into every winery. Whether it is a birthday celebration or simply a day among friends, each tour is customizable so that guests can choose their preference of on-board music, movies and different wineries to explore.

Feeling the need to overindulge? Corporate Helicopters, available in San Diego, offer a scenic winery lunch tour where guests will fly along the coastline up to Solana Beach before heading inland to Temecula Valley. Guests will arrive at a reserved helipad at Thorton Winery for a tour and no-host lunch before boarding the helicopter to jet home.

One day road trip
If you’ve ever driven up Highway 101, you’re sure to have passed dozens of signs tempting you to slip off the road and sample savory sips of chardonnay.

Santa Barbara County’s Gainey Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley will celebrate its most popular event on Sept. 26: the “Crush Party.” Guests can partake in a day of grape picking, special tastings, cooking demonstrations and the infamous barefoot grape stomp.

Travel further up the coast and you will find the fabulous foray of wineries that San Luis Obispo County has to offer. In honor of California Wine Month, Sextant Wines will offer all California residents a complimentary tasting and 50 percent of their entire main deck menu.

Venture inland to Sonoma County and you will find yourself surrounded by an array of options to choose from. Wineries such as Clos de Bois, Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Kendall Jackson offer wine tours open to the public. Bottoms up.

Full weekend splurge
When most people think about wine, the first thing they think of is the town of Napa. While most of the wine is produced outside the city limits, Napa has been known as one of the nation’s premier winegrowing regions since the mid-1800s. To see a different side of wine making, Napa-based vineyards such as Beringer Winery and Stags’ Leap Winery host tours which include a stroll through their wine caves.

But with so many places to choose from in Napa, where do you start?

Fortunately, Wine Country Concierge provides visitors with just the answer to their plight. It creates customized itineraries, introducing you to the hidden gems that you wouldn’t be able to find otherwise. From private wine tastings at luxurious wineries to food and wine pairings at some of Napa’s first-class restaurants, how could you go wrong?

8212;Ryan Eisenacher is a journalism senior.

8212;This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.