Fall in Aggieland means the hustle and bustle of students returning to town, the roar of the crowd at Kyle Field and merlot in the museum.

What's that you say ... merlot in the museum? Surely not.

OK, not exactly merlot, but certainly the much-anticipated exhibit The Culture of Wine, which opened Monday at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, will have your thoughts turning from tailgating to wine-tasting.

The moment you step into the exhibit's vineyard, you begin to learn about viticulture, including differences in soil types, vineyard management practices and harvest techniques. The exhibit's attention to detail and the realism achieved by blending vineyard and winery equipment with stunning photo murals set the exhibit apart and immerse you in the wine-making process.

Throughout the exhibit, every section is a learning experience emphasizing how a good winemaker combines techniques and processes he can control with what Mother Nature provides in a growing season to produce distinctive wines.

The tour begins with a historical overview of the importance and influence wine has had in Western civilization.

Research into the early days of American wine production would not be complete without a look at America's third president, Thomas Jefferson. Apart from his personal love of wine, Jefferson viewed wine-making as an important cultural element in his young nation's success.

The exhibit includes a partial reproduction of Jefferson's Monticello dining room, including his famous fireplace with special hidden dumbwaiters leading directly to the wine cellar. Visitors will enjoy artifacts, reproductions and historical documents that explore his role as the father of American wine. Jefferson's keen knowledge of European wines also made him the perfect personal wine adviser to Presidents Washington, Madison and Monroe.

Transitioning from 19th century Monticello to 20th century Napa Valley, visitors move into a typical small California winery setting during the period of the Paris Tasting of 1976. At this historic event, a selection of California wines were judged in a blind tasting to be better than their French counterparts.

In the words of Robert Mondavi, "the dramatic tasting sent shock waves all around the world." This judgment catapulted American wines onto the world stage, strengthened the confidence of winemakers the world over and caused the science of viticulture to flourish.

Virtual becomes vineyard as visitors follow trellised vines and move into the crush pad area. A vintage tractor and valley bin transport grapes to the winery bladder press, and museum visitors enter the cellar where French and American oak barrels, wine pumps and other tools of the trade add to the important aspects of fermentation, aging, racking and blending of wine.

From there, visitors pass into a small Champagne/sparkling wine cave, where they learn about the méthode champenoise/méthode traditionelle production process.

As with all of the exhibits at the Bush musuem, Issue Forum speakers will bring spectacular presentations to the community on a wide range of subjects, disciplines and the art of winemaking.

Each month, the museum Web site will feature a different Texas wine trail. For October, the focus in on the Bluebonnet Wine Trail right here in the Brazos Valley.

The museum will also be hosting four fabulous Winemaker Weekends, featuring a full day of presentations and tastings culminating with a sumptuous dinner in the Museum Rotunda. The first dinner, on Dec. 5, features wines from Spain.

The wine dinners get a great start with a dinner hosted by the Bush Presidential Library Foundation on Nov. 14 at the Houstonian Hotel in Houston. The dinner will also feature an auction of wines and other items. This promises to be an exciting evening. For information, contact the Bush Library Foundation at 979-862-2251.

In addition to the events centered around The Culture of Wine, the center's education department continues its tradition of informative, engaging and entertaining programs.

On Oct. 21-22, astronomer and scientific storyteller Ken VanLew will present an inspiring narrative about the historical role of the Big Dipper. In this interactive presentation, VanLew highlights the importance of knowledge of astronomy and how the Big Dipper influenced history, including the voyage of Christopher Columbus and the Underground Railroad.

On Oct. 30, the Bush museum will join with Atkinson Toyota, Candy 95 and The Eagle for the second annual Halloween Celebration, A Night at the Museum, from 5-7 p.m.

The best way to stay informed about these and all of the other programs available at the Bush center is to go online to http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu.

See you around the center.

* Warren Finch is library director for the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.