National Wine Day is annually observed on May 25. Typically, we don’t require a “official” reason to celebrate with a bottle of wine, but today we do. The increasing number of wineries in the United States, coupled with the proliferation of social media platforms, has prompted the development of novel methods for people of all (legal drinking) ages and beverage tastes to celebrate with wine. Whether you are hosting a wine tasting to sample the latest rosés or meeting friends for a night of professionally paired food and wine, the celebration begins when the cork is opened. Cheers!
WHEN IS NATIONAL WINE DAY 2023?
On May 25, wine aficionados commemorate the diverse varieties of the fermented beverage on National Wine Day.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL WINE DAY
Humans have relished wine for thousands of years. This beverage is naturally appealing not only due to its delicious flavour, but also due to its nutritional value and psychotropic effects.
Furthermore, wine has had an important impact on economic activity and the founding of societies. Wine is the only alcoholic beverage whose trade facilitated the exploration of various cultures and the spread of philosophical and religious ideas. From the time of Noah to that of Jesus, wine is frequently mentioned in the “Bible,” indicating its central function. The production of wine was additionally seen as a symbol of economic prosperity, as only wealthy societies could support a thriving wine industry. In fact, it is frequently argued that wine was the foundation of western society.
The wine consumed in antiquity is a distant relative of the wine consumed today. Additionally, palm dates, figs, and pomegranates were frequently added. So the flavour was radically different from what we are accustomed to. Using other fruits to create wine is comparable to using grapes, with the addition of sugar to aid in the fermentation process.
National Wine Day’s exact origin is unknown, but the earliest references extend back to 2009. It is a day for wine lovers to commemorate their favourite fermented fruit juice.
In 1974, there were only 25 wineries in this region of California. There are currently over 800!
While California remains the leader in U.S. wine production and is now home to over 4,000 wineries, at least three wineries exist in every state. Over one million people annually visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, making it the most popular winery in the world.
This availability of wineries allows us to visit a gorgeous vineyard with rolling hills closer to home. Yes, it is highly probable that one is nearby, within reach for a pleasant day excursion or weekend getaway. Therefore, prepare your bags and set your GPS to the closest winery to you!
5 FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT WINE BOTTLES
Size matters
There are more than a dozen distinct wine bottle sizes, many of which are named after biblical monarchs or other historical figures.
Who is the ruler?
The largest wine bottle size, at 30 litres, is dubbed “Melchizedek” or “Midas” and holds 200 glasses of wine.
Sealing a bottle with a cork
Nearly 70% of wine vessels are corked with natural cork, the majority of which is sourced from Portugal.
Evaluating a bottle by its label
There are currently over 60,00 wine labels on the market.
It takes a huge amount of grapes to make wine
On average, one bottle of wine contains 600 grapes.
NATIONAL WINE DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 25 | Thursday |
| 2024 | May 25 | Saturday |
| 2025 | May 25 | Sunday |
| 2026 | May 25 | Monday |
| 2027 | May 25 | Tuesday |
