National White Wine Day

The discovery of a wine is of greater moment than the discovery of a constellation. The universe is too full of stars.

Benjamin Franklin

There is a positive rainbow of wines in the world, but none so sweet and fair as those that are deemed white. Make no mistake, white wines are rarely if ever truly white in color, but instead are beautiful varieties of straw-yellow, gold, or yellow-green. National White Wine Day was created to help celebrate this wine that stands out from all others.

Learn about National White Wine Day

National White Wine Day has been created so that we can pay tribute to this amazing alcoholic beverage. For many years, white wine has been the choice of drink for so many people. From Pinot Grigio to Chardonnay; there are so many different varieties to choose from. Whether you enjoy a glass of wine on an evening in front of the tea or you enjoy pairing different types of wine with your meals; this is a day for you to indulge in white wine and not feel guilty about it!

History of National White Wine Day

The earliest evidence we have of wine indicates that it was being made as early as 7500 years ago in what is now Iran. We are fairly certain that the birth of wine dates a good long while before this, but no archaeological evidence has been able to determine precisely when. What we do know is that ever since its creation it has held a place of high esteem in society, being used in holy rituals and traded among the noble and wealthy. It has been deemed a gift worthy of Kings and Queens, and its vintages have been hoarded in dark cool places like ancient treasures.

White wine comprises the largest percentage of wines made in Germany and Switzerland, and the northern half of France is also known for its broad variety of white wines. They are considered to be some of the most delicious wines and are often paired with fish. In Catalonia, in fact, there is a special sort of white wine known as Cava, and champagne itself is truly a sparkling white wine that is only produced in the Champagne province of France. National White Wine Day celebrates the antiquity of this golden wine and encourages us all to appreciate it throughout the year.

Of course, Champagne is the most well-known form of white wine, and it has been around for many years now. There have been vineyards in the Champagne region since the beginning of our era and it was the Romans that actually introduced grape-growing here. They identified the uniqueness of the soil in the area, which comes from the sloping landscape, chalky subsoil and oceanic climate. Nevertheless, champagne as we know it did not appear until the 17th century, prior to this the vineyards were used to produce both rose and red wines.

During the 17th century people began to master the natural effervescence of the local wine. Champagne was the wine of the Kings during this period and it is still associated with luxury and extravagance today, although you don’t have to be a royal to drink it. In the 19th century champagne houses were booming and this drink spread to the aristocratic elite. It hasn’t even been one hundred years since individuals of all classes began to enjoy the drink, as Champagne mania reached a more diverse crowd from 1945 onwards.

How to celebrate National White Wine Day

The best way to celebrate National White Wine Day is to get together with your friends and gather together your favorite vintages of white wine. Once you’ve got all the ones you’re familiar with, why not get a few more so that you can broaden your palette. Have a friend who loves wine? Why not surprise them with a bottle to enjoy? While you’re at it, research the best pairings for white wine and prepare an entire meal centered around them, and don’t forget dessert! National White Wine Day is the kind of day we celebrate all year long!

You could even celebrate this date by making your own white wine, such as a luxe bottle of champagne. We won’t lie, though: the process of making champagne is complex. The vital steps are as follows…

Choosing the cuvee – This is the base wine that is chosen to make the champagne.

Assemblage – This involves creating a base wine by blending still white wines.

The second fermentation – Yeast nutrient, yeast and sugar is added to the base wine, which is then put inside a sealed glass bottle to ferment.

Aging – After the second fermentation, champagne will be aged for a number of years in order to enhance the flavour.

Riddling – Riddling is the process of removing the dead yeast cells.

Disgorging – This step ensures that you are left with clear champagne. The bottle is stored upside down and an ice-salt bath is used to freeze the neck so that a plug of wine that is frozen and has the dead yeast cells is created.

Adding Dosage – Sugar, brandy and white wine is added to top up the bottle and alter sweetness.

Corking – Last on the list; the bottle is corked.

If you do not want all of this hassle, you could simply purchase one of the make your own wine kits that are available from retailers today.