National Wine Day
If only every day was Wine Day. Gather some friends together and splurge on some fancier wines, or visit a vineyard to try out your local selections.
Sweet or dry, red or white, fizzy or flat, let’s raise a glass to one of the most loved and historical alcoholic tipples there is – the sophisticated and often sassy glass of wine.
For centuries and centuries, wine has been a firm favorite of cultures across the world.
Whether it’s for helping creativity, religious ceremony, or simply livening up a gathering, there’s no doubt that this fruity fixture of the alcoholic drink repertoire well deserves its own day of observance.
On the 25th of May, it’s time to celebrate everything that makes a wine great. And everything that makes a wine great is, of course, everything about it.
How to Celebrate Wine Day
This seems an obvious one; celebrate National Wine Day by pouring yourself and your friends a glass or two!
Keep it simple with a few glasses in the pub, or push the boat out and invite family and friends over for a meal with perfectly paired wine for each course. The internet has a wealth of information regarding what wines go best with what dish, so you can really look the expert!
We’ve got a few tips to help you, though…
- Bitter wines are best balanced with fat.
- White wines are best paired with meats that have light-intensity, for example, chicken or fish.
- Red wines are best paired with bold-flavored meats, for example, red meat.
- The wine and the food should have the same flavor intensity.
- The wine that you choose ought to be sweeter than the food.
- The wine should be more acidic than the food.
- Usually, red wines will create congruent pairings.
- More often than not, rose, sparkling, and white wines will create contrasting pairings.
- Instead of matching the wine with the meat, is better to match the wine with the sauce.
If you want to get a bit more creative than just drinking it, you could look into producing wine. Winemaking kits are not hard to come by in larger department stores, and who knows – you could end up making something really tasty!
Whether you decide to use a wine kit or you make your own wine from scratch is completely up to you. There are pros and cones associated with both.
With a wine kit, you are not going to have to wait long in order to get some wine into the bottle. It is possible to have wine in a bottle around four to six weeks from the beginning of the process.
However, the catch is that there are a lot of benefits that are associated with aging your wine properly. A lot of people like to start off with a wine kit, and then they will move onto trying out their own recipes.
How long a wine needs to age depends on the sort of wine you are making. For example, if you want to make an amazing Cabernet Sauvignon, you would be the best aging it for at least seven years, or as long as ten years.
However, a Sauvignon Blanc only needs to be aged for 18 months to two years, and a Pinot Gris will only take a year or two for the wine to be aged to perfection. Do a little bit of digging online so that you can make sure you get your timings right.
So what’s yours – red, white, or rose? Whatever your choice, be sure to raise a glass today!
And as with all days celebrating alcoholic drinks, enjoy responsibly!
History of National Wine Day
You may think every day has the potential to be a National Wine Day depending on how hard the day at work has been, but for when your boss hasn’t been getting on your nerves there’s National Wine Day.
Unlike Drink National Wine Day, which is in February, National Wine Day is more about celebrating the beverage itself rather than the act of drinking it – although of course, that isn’t stopping you from enjoying a tipple or two!
Wine has been around for donkey’s years. The oldest evidence of wine that we have dates way back to 7000 BC China. Many ancient civilizations celebrated the effects of wine and often used it for religious observance.
Today, wine is one of the most widely produced and consumed drinks in the world. Chardonnay, Merlot, Riesling, Syrah – there are so many types to choose from. And it’s not just grapes which make up the bottles – you can also get hold of fruit, flower and even vegetable wines!
Fun and Fascinating Facts About Wine
- Back in the day, women could be killed for drinking wine! Yes, in the early Roman times, a husband was at liberty to kill his wife if he found her drinking wine. It was a forbidden drink for women.
- Speyer, Germany, is home to the oldest bottle of wine in the world. It is on display at the historical museum in the town, and it dates back to an impressive AD 325.
- Have you ever toasted to everyone’s health? This is something that comes from Ancient Greek tradition. The host of the dinner would have the first sip of wine to assure his guests that the drink was not poisoned.
- In order to get the exact quantity of antioxidants you get in wine, you would have to drink seven glass of orange juice or if you prefer apple juice, you would need 20 glasses!
- The oldest known wine cellar is actually on the famous ship, Titanic. We know what you’re thinking; the Titanic sunk! However, when divers when down to the wreckage, they were surprised to see that most of the wine bottles were still intact.
- Surprisingly, there are some people who are actually scared of wine! It is known as oenophobia.
National Wine Day FAQs
What is the significance of wine in Georgian culture?
Georgia, often called the cradle of wine, boasts a winemaking tradition spanning 8,000 years.
Wine is deeply embedded in Georgian identity, symbolizing hospitality and resilience.
Traditional methods, like fermenting grapes in clay vessels called qvevris, are still in use today. The annual rtveli harvest is a communal event filled with feasting and celebration.
Are there any common myths about wine that have been debunked?
Yes, several myths persist. For instance, many believe that red wine should always be served at room temperature, but lighter reds can benefit from slight chilling.
Another misconception is that screw cap wines are inferior; in reality, they can preserve wine just as well as corked bottles.
How do sommeliers feel about common wine-drinking habits?
Sommeliers have noted certain habits that detract from the wine experience.
These include sticking only to familiar wines, overpouring glasses, and using improper glassware like champagne flutes.
They encourage exploring new varieties and paying attention to proper serving techniques to enhance enjoyment.
What are some unique wine festivals celebrated around the world?
The World Wine Festival brings together enthusiasts globally to savor diverse wines and celebrate regional cultural heritage.
Events often include vineyard tours, tastings, and traditional feasts, offering immersive experiences into the world of wine.
Is there a fear associated with wine?
Yes, oenophobia is the term for an intense fear or dislike of wine. While uncommon, it can cause significant anxiety for those affected, especially in social situations where wine is present.
What is the oldest known bottle of wine?
The world’s oldest known bottle of wine dates back to 325 AD and was discovered in a Roman tomb near Speyer, Germany.
Remarkably, the bottle and its contents have survived for centuries and are now displayed at the Historical Museum of the Palatinate in Speyer.
How is rosé wine typically made, and are there misconceptions about it?
A common misconception is that rosé is made by mixing red and white wines.
In reality, most rosé is produced from red grapes with minimal skin contact, giving it its pink hue.
Blending red and white wines to make rosé is generally prohibited in the EU, except for certain champagnes.
What are some lesser-known wine-related health findings?
Recent research suggests that moderate wine consumption, such as a glass per night, may reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes, potentially being as effective as certain medications.
However, these findings are often part of broader studies involving healthy diets, making it difficult to attribute benefits solely to wine.
What is the world’s largest wine bottle?
The world’s largest wine bottle is called “Maximus,” holding an impressive volume of wine.
Such oversized bottles are often created for promotional purposes and can hold significantly more than standard wine bottles.
Are there any unusual wine-related world records?
Yes, for example, the Stod Fold Brewing Company in the UK set a record by filling a glass with 2,082 liters of beer, creating the world’s largest beer glass.
Such records highlight the creativity and enthusiasm within the beverage industry.
Need some inspiration?
Check out these videos for some extra inspiration in getting involved!
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