National Red Wine Day
It’s always a good time for red wine, especially on August 28, National Red Wine Day. Today, we throw out all those stuffy rules about how and when to drink this nectar from the gods. Instead, we grab our coolest glass and savor the taste of our favorite red wine.
Red wines including merlot, pinot noir, shiraz, and cabernet sauvignon don’t always have to rest at a temperature of between 65-70 degrees before you can enjoy a glass. In fact, there are some experts who say it’s perfectly acceptable to refrigerate red wines and drink them cold, especially during exceptionally hot weather.
So, ignore the wine snobs, make your choice and commit to drinking responsibly. Then, hoist your glass in a toast to National Red Wine Day.
NATIONAL RED WINE DAY ACTIVITIES
1.Eat, drink and be merry
In honor of this holiday, some restaurants offer a special deal on, you guessed it, red wine! Instead of going for a single, heavy meal, consider a tapas crawl. Small plates are shareable and they won’t make you drowsy (although red wine contains melatonin, so you might have to fight the urge to catch some z’s.)
2.Make sangria with your friends
There are too many types of sangria for you to make by yourself. Instead invite your friends to bring over their own sangria recipes so you can taste and compare. Have everyone suggest a flavor, and settle on a recipe that combines the best of each idea.
3.Cook and unwind with a glass of wine
Make a meal using red wine. You don’t have to look very hard to find recipes for wine-based apps, entrees, and desserts. We have a feeling that the pairings will be spot on.
3 WINE FACTS YOUR FRIENDS ONLY WISH THEY KNEW
1.Oenophobia
Oenophobia is a thing — that’s the (totally real) scientific term used to describe people with a fear of wine.
2.Red vs. white
Wine tasting is all about expectations: Even oenology students have trouble discerning red wine from white wine in blind study (Brochet 2001).
3.Like long legs?
Your wine’s “legs” don’t mean what you think they do. Rather than showing quality, “legs” show that a wine has high alcohol content.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL RED WINE DAY
A. Red wine keeps us healthy
A five-ounce glass of wine is fat-free, cholesterol-free, and only 100 calories. But other than helping to keep you slim and trim, red wine keeps your brain sharp. Resveratrol is in the skin of red grapes, and it’s the mortal enemy of beta-amyloid — a protein that’s a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s. So, a glass of wine here and there can slow down the formation of this baddie. Looks like they weren’t kidding when they said, “Let’s drink to your health.”
B. Sangria!
Sangria is a refreshing way to cool off in the summer. It’s also a great way to expand your taste buds’ horizons. There’s literally no end to the variety, with some recipes containing bitters or Italian amaro liqueurs. Being that it’s National Red Wine Day, you probably want to stick to red wine-based sangria. (But, if you sneak some white wine into the party, we won’t think any less of you…okay, maybe just a little!)
C. Red wine makes food taste better
Drinking a glass of red wine isn’t the only way to celebrate. Wine not only pairs well with food but it’s a key ingredient in some seriously tasty dishes. There are standard dishes like Spaghetti Bolognese that have red wine infused in the sauce. If you’re a more more adventurous foodie, try some cabernet apple slaw. You’ll also be happy to know that red wine is a nice complement to spiced pear bread pudding.
References:
“National Red Wine Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-red-wine-day/