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2020 Wine Holidays – A Reason to Drink -Like we didn’t need a reason already this year.

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February

1st February – International Furmint Day is always the first day in February. What is a Furmint, you ask? It is one of the most important grape varieties in Hungary.  Mostly dry wines are cultivated form the Furmint, but it is also the main ingredient of highly prized sweet dessert wines. https://www.furmintday.com/

18th February – National Drink Wine Day – always the 18th day of February http://nationaldrinkwineday.org/

29th February – Open “That Bottle” Night was invented by “Tastings” columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher. It is a worldwide celebration of family and friends. The best excuse for opening that special bottle after 5 PM.   It is always the last Saturday of February.

March

3rd March – Mulled Wine Day

18th March – World Riesling Day – Interestingly, this is observed on the 18th of March, when Wines of Germany has declared March 13 to be the official birthday of the Riesling Wine. The Riesling grape variety was first documented in 1435. Germany is home to the Riesling grapes and accounts for forty-five percent of all world Riesling.

April

17th April – World Malbec Day – Celebrate the Diverse Argentine Malbec wines. https://www.malbecworldday.com/

May

1st May – International Sauvignon Blanc Day Celebrated on the first Friday of May.  One of our favorite wines with most having notes of green apple, lime, white peach, and passion fruit. Most are very dry wines.

9th May – Moscato Day  – This drinking day is brought to you buy the Gallo Family Vineyards. Moscato wine is one of the most popular white wines in the United States.

17th May – Pinot Grigio Day – a versatile crisp white wine. Pinot Grigio is the perfect wine for May BBQs and lazy days at the beach. 

21st May – International Chardonnay Day – The Thursday before Memorial Day.

June

20th June – Lambrusco Day celebrates the unique lightly sparkling wine with a tart berry flavor profile. 

13th of June – National Rose` Day is the second Saturday in June.

26th of June – International Rose Day  ( Fourth Friday in June) – yeah, they had to have more than one day for a grape dating back to 600BC.

August

4th August- National White Wine Day! -You can find some steals and deals on this day! It is an annual day to celebrate White Wine! First, always chill those fabulous bottles. A Fruit theme is your build around for any get together or a nice dinner. The variety of cheese alone, Brie, Gouda, Baby Swiss, Monterey Jack, Parmesan, Provolone, and Asiago are just a chosen few. No matter what you choose, you cannot lose when adding White Wine. Here is just a few of the variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, White Zinfandel, Riesling to Sauvignon Blanc. Any of the selection pairs well with a chicken or fish dish. 

18th August – International Pinot Noir Day– This would be a magnificent day to make sure you chill that Pinot Noir and pick out some white fresh fish for dinner (Mai-Mai comes to mind, Chilean Sea Bass or Halibut!) Do not forget the cheeses!  A sharp cheddar or a smokey cheese will complement the fruity flavor of the Wine. 

30th August – International Cabernet Sauvignon Day
This is truly a day to enjoy the favorite in the red wine family. An elegant blend, one that can be noticeably light to a refined rich, and powerful flavor. Interesting fact: the blend of grapes is used to make some of the most expensive wines down to the most inexpensive wines.  Created in all parts of the World from France to Napa Valley, California! The soils make the difference to bring out the flavors. No matter where it comes from, it is delicious!  Pairing the wine with food is amazingly easy for a Cabernet.

Anything from red meat to ahi tuna, they will blend beautifully with a Cabernet! It is also great for sauces and reductions to go over red meats.  Some suggestions of red meats; Prime Rib, New York, or a nice Filet Mignon. If you are doing appetizers, the cherry and black flavors of the wine will bring out flavors of prosciutto and almost any Italian cooking. A robust Italian salad with Prosciutto and Salome is a bonus! Spaghetti or Lasagna with Parmesan and Mozzarella. 

September

3rd September – International Cabernet Day – This includes all varieties at once, so nothing gets left out in the Cabernet Family of Grapes!

18th September – International Grenache Day – Did you know, “Grenache and Garnacha” mean the same thing? They do! One is French “Grenache”, the other is Spain “Garnacha”. It’s always a blend of red grapes and never disappoints. As an added fact, the grapes are very resilient and can be grown all over the world! So if ya get it from Spain or California, you’re sure to enjoy the flavor of the grape!

October

10th October – International Pinotage Day – A proudly celebrated South African blend filled with fruits from plums and cherries. If aged in Oak, the vanilla and coffee aromas come to life. As a bonus, the aging in Oak adds a bit of spicy. The wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Hermitage (Cinsaut) grapes. This merging of the grapes created quite a gathering in 1995 of the Pinotage Association.  Many social events around the world celebrate this day.  

23rd October – World Champagne Day  – And you thought it was just for special occasions or New Years’ Eve! NOPE! Champagne has many healthy values. Memory is the main one that comes to mind. Yes, Champagne helps with Memory retention! No, not when drinking it (at least not any of my experiences), but, YES! It always goes well with a fruit that has a sweetness but can be not too sweet such a strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry.  Know that it does tend to make one a bit tipsy in a hurry, why it is meant to sipped. Please make sure it is very chilled, and simply enjoy.  Oh, I almost forgot, dip the berries in some whip cream, bite the berry, sip the champagne. Thank me later.

31st October – International Carignan Day

November

1st November- International Xinomavro Day– Let us celebrate the Greeks! Specifically, Northern Greece.  The main purpose of this day, anything Greek. Olives, feta cheese, lamb, and WINE! But we cannot forget the OUZA! Back to the Wine.

7th November – International Merlot Day – One of my favorites! History- One of the most grapes planted in South Western France, the beautiful land of Bordeaux. They say, out of all the grapes, this is the one that holds the most hectares (flavor). Did you know, an average of 62% of Bordeaux grapes planted are Merlot, then followed by a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s not just France that holds beautiful grapes, Switzerland, Australia, Argentina, and of course, the Americas. They all hold the nectar of the grapes very well. Enjoy!   

12th November – International Tempranillo Day – Just what is this? Well, it is all about the Spanish Grape. First, Tempranillo means “very old”. So far back, it’s B.C and Spain had/has the cornerstone of the market.  The best thing, it is an overall simple beautiful red wine which can be partaken at any given gathering. When looking for a nice, soft red wine, you can never go wrong when choosing the grapes of Spain. 

24th November – International Carmenère Day– To the United States, that’s Thanksgiving Day! This wonderful Grape wine was thought to have been lost. Wiped out back in the 1860’s from a pandemic. All to be found again, due to a mislabeling it was mistaken for a Merlot. Known as “The Lost Grape of Bordeaux”, its flavor is not too fruity and not too spicy, just a perfect blend to the pallet.  

December

4th December – Cabernet Franc Day– Forget the tea glasses! Please bust out the Wine glasses! We have so much to savior today! We are celebrating the passing of Cardinal Richelieu, the father of Cabernet Franc. This wine is not to be mistaken for a Cabernet Sauvignon. The grape is one of the three main grapes used in the Bordeaux blends. Its flavor holds a rustic earthiness filled with a bit of cherry, followed by a hint of an orange twist. Best served a bit chilled (20 minutes in the fridge) and then allow to breathe for half-hour. It will still be chilled enough to hold the right temperature, bringing out all its bouquet of flavor. Enjoy.  

 20th December- Sangria Day– Anyone already received a fruit basket? Let us put it to use by creating a delicious Sangria! Let’s begin by grabbing some “in season” fruit and have fun. This wine was created by the Romans to mask the flavor and kill bacteria in drinking water.  Originated in Spain, Portugal. It’s simple, a cheap red wine, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons) berries (any member of the berry family), honey, and sugar. Even better, peaches and mangos!  Best to make the day before, this will allow the absorption of all the flavors, but you can also throw it together and allow it to sit a few hours before serving. Always served chilled as it is a refreshing beverage. Adding Brandy for a bit more of a “kick” will add to the flavor, as if you enjoy bubbles, some soda water will do the trick. Oh’ and some Triple Sec will add a bonus of flavor.  

An Ideal Way To Taste Lots Of Wines

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There is no better way to get to know a variety of wine than going to a wine tasting. It is a unique opportunity to taste wines, have an expert guide you through the tasting, give them points according to your own tastes, and then, by the end of the evening, have a great idea of the type of wine that is your favourite.

When you are at a wine tasting, you taste the wine with a group of people, sometimes familiar people, sometimes strangers, making it a great opportunity to get ideas from others. Other people will have tried different bottles of wine to you previously and will be happy to share their views on which wine goes with which type of food and how to keep wine at its best once the bottle has been opened.

Wine tastings happen regularly across the country and beyond. They are usually held in interesting locations in city centres, such as art galleries, museums, or other heritage buildings. They often have producers of wine in attendance as well as experts, to guide you through the evening and offer advice if needed.

In addition to wine on offer, canape or hors d’oeuvres are often served as well, making for a great night out, discovering new tastes and hopefully finding a new wine to fall in love with.

Not only are wine tastings a great way to get to know a new wine, it is also a fantastic way to meet fellow wine lovers and who knows, by the end evening, you could have made a new friend or two.

Most wine tastings only last for a couple of hours – any longer and you would have forgotten the first wine that you have tried. It is a good idea to make sure you don’t drink too much too quickly, as you will be mixing different types of wine, and you don’t want to end up buying something you didn’t really like, or having a splitting headache in the morning.

Wine tastings are held all over the country, from Bristol to Durham, at Lancaster to Salisbury.

There is bound to be one close to you. In addition to wine tastings, some companies hold wine dinners, where you get to taste wine in conjunction with indulging in a great meal.

Wine tastings come in a couple of different formats. There is a more formal, intimate set-up, which could feature fine wines and more information on a smaller number of wines. There is also the less formal setting where you walk around tasting a larger variety of wines, but this lacks the intimacy and the expertise of the more formal gathering.

If you are interested in wine tastings, why not check out an independent online retailer where you will find more information on this service.

A Beginner’s Guide To Enjoying Red Wine

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The world of red wines is a heady, rich and wonderful world filled with everything from the nuanced subtlety of a gentle South African Merlot to the peppery richness of Sangre de Toro, “Blood of the Bull” from Spain. In general, many of the “rules” of wine drinking have been cast aside in today’s world, making it more accessible to every person, and with the increased demand supply has soared, allowing for inexpensive and very delicious wine available to all.

Still, there are many who feel that the world of wine loving is not as yet open to them. With so many wines to choose among, where do you begin? How do you properly enjoy a red or white and with what meals would they be best?

Let’s look at some very basic tips to maximizing your exploration of red wines.

Don’t spend a ton of money on a bottle of wine.
Leave that for later, once you’ve begun to explore beyond the brands and varietals that you like. There are so many wonderful and delicious wines that are available for somewhere between $5 and $8 a bottle, that you really should not need to drop $20 or $30 for a bottle of wine at least not yet.

Don’t buy local, yet.
Often, your local wine store is stocked with bottles from the local vineyard (if there is one). These can be wonderful, or they can be vinegar. It really can be something of a crap shoot. So, unless you live in the Napa valley, or some other area that is renown for its wine-making efforts, stick with something that is nationally or internationally distributed.

Stick with a varietal, for now.
In other words, pick a wine that is primarily made from one type of grape, i.e. a Shiraz, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc. Try to avoid blended reds to begin with, though they can be quite delicious. By learning the flavors of the varietal grapes, you’ll better understand what it is about the blend that you like. Avoid flavored wines or coolers that you can get at your local convenience store. These are little more than non-bubbly soda pop with alcohol in them and can lead to a nasty headache as they are hastily made from the least pure ingredients.

Start with a nice Merlot from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand or Chile.
These vineyards are usually able to balance cost with quality quite nicely. The reason I recommend Merlot is that of all the red varietals, it is the gentlest, and complements a broad menu of meals.

Reds like to breathe.
Open the bottle and let it sit for ten minutes or so. This allows oxygen to get at the wine and mature it quickly. For that matter, pouring the wine into the glasses and allowing it to sit for ten to twenty minutes accelerates this process. You’ll find the flavor is much enhanced by this approach.

Reds at Room Temperature and Whites Chilled.
A simple rule that does not always apply but is a good guide, nonetheless. Chilling a red removes many of the subtleties of flavor for which you buy the wine in the first place and slows the wine’s ability to mature with exposure to oxygen. Keep them room temperature.

I mentioned earlier that many of the rules of wine loving have been discarded, or at least loosened, such as red wine with red meat or pasta and white wine with fish or poultry. While these are not bad guidelines, they really are not carved in stone and nowadays waiters and even the seasoned gourmand will not turn up his/her nose at a guest who asks for a red with fish or enjoys a nice, tart Chardonnay with a burger.

Merlot with what?
While a Merlot can be a perfect complement for a spaghetti dinner (particularly if you have a nice buttery garlic bread), it can easily sit beside a pork chop or fried chicken dinner. A Merlot is a lovely, non-pretentious start to your journey and should open the door nicely to a journey of wine loving.

OK, Now What?
Try a few different brands of Merlot from competing vineyards. Note the differences in style and substance. I recommend sticking to those south of the equator to begin with. Once you feel like you’ve tasted a number of Merlots and are acquainted with the differences, then move on to a Cabernet Sauvignon and begin your journey anew. I’ll hold off on Shiraz, Syrah, Petite Syrah or Beaujolais until you have a basic appreciation of Merlots and Cabernets, but once you do, then dive in to the heavy, heady, peppery joy of the stronger reds. Once you feel like you really understand and can note the differences of the red varietals, start exploring the blends or the truly excellent California varietals. Good luck and enjoy!

Why You Should Use A Wine Rack

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For wine to mature in the proper way, you’ll need to have the right humidity, temperature, light condition, and movement. Whenever you are storing wine for any amount of time, you’ll need to ensure that the wine is in a safe place. Even though there are a few ways that you can store wine, none are safer or smarter than using a wine rack.

When you choose your wine rack, you should always remember to choose one that will store your wine properly. There are a several styles to choose from, including those that stack, wall mounts, and side mounts. You should also pay attention to size as well, as the sizes range from storing a few bottles to storing hundreds. You’ll also have a lot of varieties and designs to select from, all of which depend on your needs and your space.

Among the best types of wine racks are the horizontal racks. Contrary to what many may think, vertical racks aren’t a good choice for storing your wine. Wine that is stored on vertical racks are stored vertically, which means that the cork will dry out and eventually start to shrink, bringing air into the wine and ruining it. On the other hand, vertical racks can come in handy when storing wine for short periods of time, or wine that is best consumed young.

Tilted racks are another type of rack you should avoid using, as they can dry out the corks or deposit the sediments too close to the cork. For your wine storing needs, you should always go with a horizontal rack. Horizontal racks will keep the cork moist, and keep unwanted air from making contact with the wine. The sediment will fall towards the side of the bottle, preventing spillage when you pop the cork. Horizontal racks are also very affordable and you can always add more racks to the design with little to no problem.

The materials for wine racks are normally wood or metal. You can hang them from ceilings, mount them on the wall, or simply place them on the floor. Metal racks are the strongest, although wood is more flexible. Wooden racks provide a bit more storage, for the simple fact that you can always add to them. Wood racks are also visually appealing, durable, and provide plenty of strength.

All in all, a wine rack is a fine investment for anyone who appreciates wine. There are various sizes to choose from, all of which are very affordable. The small to medium sizes work best for homes, while the large styles are best for commercial settings. No matter where you keep your wine – you can count on a wine rack to keep your wine stored for years to come.