National Red Wine Day

Pour a lovely glass of Bordeaux, take a sip of a Cabernet Sauvignon or open a bottle of Shiraz because it’s time for National Red Wine Day!

History of National Red Wine Day

National Red Wine Day is an ideal time to take a look at the past of the red wine industry and see how it developed into modern times.

Wine’s history goes back several thousand years. It is estimated that Chinese people in the Henana province may have been the first ones to create something like red wine, perhaps around 7000 BC. This would have been a drink that was made of wild grapes as well as honey and rice as well as hawthorn fruit. The concoction was stored in clay jars with yeast on the skins causing it to be fermented.

The history of wine continues through the centuries. A recent discovery in 2007 in Armenia dates the first winery in the world at around 6100 BC. This earliest, prehistoric form of wine production took place in a cave was discovered by archaeologists from Armenia as well as Ireland.

Since ancient times, red wine has been part of many cultures throughout the world. As civilization has developed, so has the technology for growing the right grapes and turning it into this delicious beverage. Through the old world and the new world, red wine has come to be more than simply a drink, but it also symbolizes transformation, happiness and friendship, as well as sustenance and life.

National Red Wine Day symbolizes all of these and more. It was founded in 2014 by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway with the idea of celebrating the beauty of magnificence that is red wine. As the grapes begin to ripen and autumn begins to loom large, National Red Wine Day offers a time to enjoy and celebrate.

How to Celebrate National Red Wine Day

Enjoying and celebrating National Red Wine Day is really no trouble at all! Don’t forget to share the experience with family and friends. Try out some of these ideas to make the most of National Red Wine Day:

Drink a Glass of Red Wine

If this isn’t the perfect day to enjoy a glass of red wine, then what is?! Whether opening up a bottle of Merlot to enjoy at home with dinner, or going out to order a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, National Red Wine Day offers a special opportunity to pay honor to this alcoholic beverage that is both ancient and modern.

Head Out to a Wine Tasting or Vineyard (or Both!)

National Red Wine Day is the ideal time to schedule a trip to wine country to enjoy a tour or a wine tasting. A visit to a vineyard would be amazing, whether it is Texas Hill Country, Arizona’s Valle Verde or Northern & Central Virginia where grapes for America’s first red wines were originally grown. Of course, California produces about 80% of the wine in the United States, so Sonoma County, Napa Valley, Santa Barbara County and Edna Valley might make the visit to a vineyard even more accessible.

Make a Playlist of “Red Wine” Songs

Try out some of these red wine themed songs to create a playlist in honor of National Red Wine Day:

• Red, Red Wine by UB40 (1983). This classic eighties classic song is typically remembered for its funky sound, but it’s actually a cover from a Neil Diamond Song from 1967.
• Melva’s Wine by Johnny Cash (1972) A country music song by musical legend Johnny Cash, Melva’s Wine is a song remembering the batch of wine made by a woman from the singer’s past.
• Old Red Wine by The Who (2004). Written by Pete Townsend in memory of John Entwistle who had been a bass player for the band. Entwistle, who died in 2002 just before this song was written, was a lover of red wine.
• Cherry Red Wine by Luther Allison (1995). A blues bass guitarist, Luther Allison plays and sing this song that is mostly a blend of his super fantastic guitar riffs and some minimal lyrics.