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If you’re a red wine lover, then this is about to be your new favorite holiday. Mark your calendars and read on for all the best ways to celebrate national red wine day!
Don’t get us wrong, we love all wine. However, August 28th is a day for celebrating the one, the only…red wine. That’s right, it’s National Red Wine Day! So, we decided to celebrate by talking about all the different ways you can participate in this seriously underrated holiday.
Just picture it–all those gorgeous shades of ruby, scarlet, and purple, or even the deeper garnet or tawny hues. While you can totally find sweet reds, the complexity of dry reds is truly exquisite. Extra tannins from darker grapes lend that characteristic texture and astringency.
Oh, and we can’t talk about the beauty of red wine without talking about flavor. Talk about variety! You can find red wines with juicy berry flavors, savory vegetal and balsamic flavors, and even spices like black pepper and anise. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Is anyone else’s mouth watering yet? Ok, ok, without further ado, here are just a few ways you can celebrate National Red Wine Day!
How to Celebrate National Red Wine Day
First, and foremost, feel free to throw all the rules out the window.
This isn’t “The Most Official Way to Drink Red Wine” or “A Sommeliers Guide to Drinking Red Wine.” This is the day for you to enjoy and celebrate all your favorite parts of red wine.
If that means throwing your favorite red wine and some fruit into a pitcher and calling it “Momma’s Sangria,” then go for it! Prefer your wine chilled as opposed to room temperature? That’s your business!
If reading those examples made you cringe in embarrassment, then feel free to perfectly pair your red wine with a delicious meal to show everyone what a wine connoisseur you’re becoming.
Whatever you decide to do, it’s between you and your wine. We won’t tell 😉
Have a Glass of Your Favorite Red Wine
This one should be a no brainer. Why wouldn’t you choose your favorite red wine to celebrate National Red Wine Day?!
Even if you only have time for a quick glass after dinner, grab a bottle of that one wine you can’t stop raving about. Not confident enough to drink alone? Grab two bottles and deliver one to your bestie so you can share the red wine love!
Branch Out and Try a New Red Wine
If red wine isn’t your forte, then this is a fantastic opportunity! Ask friends and family members, who know your taste preferences, to recommend a bottle for you. Worried they’ll recommend something not to your liking? Check out our How to Choose A Low-Carb Wine You’ll Love guide and read the section all about flavor.
If you’re already a red wine connoisseur, then consider acquiring that bottle you’ve been eyeballing for a while. Even the most experienced wine drinkers can end up sticking to what they know and love. Maybe you’ve been avoiding reds with vegetal flavors because it sounds bonkers to you. Perhaps, you never choose reds with strawberry flavors because they’re your least favorite fruit. Whatever the reason, get out of your comfort zone and give it a try!
If all else fails, just have your favorite bottle around as a back-up.
Plan a Meal Around a Red Wine
Whether you’re planning an elegant meal to enjoy solo or if you’re entertaining a large party, an excellent wine pairing can make or break a meal. That being said, don’t take yourself too seriously!
Food and wine are, first and foremost, meant to be enjoyed. So even if you’re just pairing your favorite red with your favorite meal, you can’t go wrong. For those who want to experiment with traditional wine pairing practices, take a glance at our Wine Pairing 101 blog. In it, you’ll learn how to discern different taste components, how to gauge the intensity of your food and wine, and even tips for the perfect complementary and/or congruent wine pairings.
Feel free to get crafty on your own, or even check out one of our recipes!
Throw a Red Wine Tasting Party
All this talk of food and wine sure puts us in the mood for a party! If you’re still social distancing, then this is actually a great opportunity to catch-up with friends and family virtually or by getting together outdoors. Seriously, say the word Wine Tasting and you’ll be surprised how quickly friends and family come out of the woodwork for a sip.
Plus, if you’re trying to expand your wine knowledge, this is a great opportunity to assess several different reds. Compare how the wines look, smell, taste, and the finish of each wine. Just don’t forget to snack and sip water alongside your wine, since indulging too much can make it hard to note unique wine characteristics.
There’s definitely an art to wine tasting, but you can also approach them casually. If you want to simply highlight one wine and try it with different pairings, that can be a great way to discover all the subtle nuances of a particular bottle.
Celebrate With Wine & Cheese
Since we’re talking about wine, food, and parties, we’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t suggest wine and cheese! A perfectly paired wine and cheese sampler can be an elevated midday snack or even the main focus of a date night. Seriously, is there really a more iconic duo than wine and cheese?
Like we’ve said before, if you don’t take pairings too seriously then feel free to eat your favorite cheese with your favorite red. Simple as that!
If you need a few tips, however, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- If you have a bold red wine, choose an older cheese like an aged Gruyère or Manchego.
- If your wine has an intense flavor, choose an equally intense cheese.
- Young, fruity wines tend to pair well with fresh cheeses that are soft and rindless. Think mozzarella, goat, or even feta cheese.
Make a Wine-Infused Cocktail
Wine purists everywhere may shriek in horror, but sometimes a wine spritzer just hits the spot. Besides, this is not the day to pretend you don’t love a glass of homemade sangria every once in a while.
So, get creative! Blend up a batch of Zesty Watermelon Slushies with your favorite sweet red. Throw together a fruity red with some whiskey and lemon juice to put your own twist on the classic whiskey sour. So long as you practice moderation, there are no rules!
Throw Out the Rules and Just Enjoy Your Wine!
Regardless of whether you’re crushing it at work, taking care of your family, or struggling with studies (or all three!) you deserve a break every now and then. Consider this your message from the universe that you, Yes YOU, deserve to take a moment for yourself and enjoy a glass of wine. But today just make sure it’s red wine!
Make your wine journey a little easier and consider subscribing to our wine club for wine safely delivered to your door every month. Not sure if full membership is right for you? Don’t sweat it! You can still purchase delicious low-carb wine from our website even if you’re not an official member. Either way, make sure to let us know what you think of our wine in the comments below and follow us on social media for all the latest updates.
