How to Celebrate National Drink Wine Day 2021
National Drink Wine Day 2021
In the United States, National Drink Wine Day is today, February 18th. The idea behind this day is to “spread the love and health benefits of wine.” I’m sure you’ve heard that drinking a glass of red wine daily is good for your heart, and this is sort of true, but most research shows that it’s a combination of other factors like diet and exercise. Red wine may also help with inflammation, sharpen your mind, improve mood, and promote longevity. Of course, drinking wine is best in moderation, and anything in excess will have negative effects.
Making wine is an art, and each barrel is like a snowflake because there aren’t two that taste alike. A lot of factors can change the taste of wine: which grapes are used, the quality of the soil, how long it’s left to ferment, if the grape skins are intact or peeled, what barrel material it’s held in, and more. Because of this, there’s practically an infinite amount of wines to try, so you’ll never get bored.
Most wines can be grouped into one of three categories: Reds, Whites, and Rosés. Within those categories, wines can also be grouped into dry or sweet. A dry wine doesn’t mean it makes your mouth feel dry. It simply means that the wine was left to ferment long enough for the yeast to eat the sugar, creating a more bitter-tasting wine. Here’s a rundown of a few popular wines to enjoy on National Drink Wine Day.
Red Wines
Red wines are made from black grapes that are pressed; the grape skins mix with the colorless juice to make red wine. Red wines are typically more bitter than white wines, and that’s because red wines contain tannins, which are found in grape skins. Tannins give red wines a “dry mouth” feel, and they’re also a preservative, so red wines with more tannin can age longer. Red wines can be either dry or sweet. Here are a few red wines to try on National Drink Wine Day.
Dry
Cabernet Sauvignon
Arguably the most popular red wine, Cabernet Sauvignon tastes mostly of black currant, cedar, black cherry, and baking spices. It’s rich with tannins, so it’s a bitter wine, and it pairs well with grilled meats and flavorful, peppery sauces.
Merlot
Similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot is also a popular wine and has hints of plum, cherry, vanilla, chocolate, and bay leaf. Its tannin content is less than Cabernet Sauvignon, but it’s still a bit bitter. Merlot works well with a lot of different foods like lamb, roast turkey, pasta with creamy tomato sauce, ratatouille, and especially beef.
Syrah
This wine is very rich and has notes of blueberry, tobacco, peppercorn, black plum, and milk chocolate. Syrah has about the same tannin content as Merlot but isn’t as bitter. It pairs well with exotic foods and spices like gyros and Indian tandoori meats.
Sweet
Black Muscat
Also known as Red Moscato, this wine tastes like raspberry, rose petals, and roasted black tea. The grape that Black Muscat is made from is a cross between the Muscat of Alexandria white grape and the Schiava red grape, which tastes like cotton candy. This wine goes well with cheese, fruit tarts, and scallops.
Ruby Port
Originating in Portugal, Port comes in a few styles, depending on the grape used. It has one white variation, White Port, and three red variations, Ruby Port, Tawny Port, and Rosé Port. Ruby Port is very sweet and tastes like blackberry, plum, raspberry, cinnamon, and caramel. As many as 52 different grapes can be used to make different types of Port. It’s a popular wine used in cooking and pairs well with smoked meats, chocolate and caramel, and rich cheeses.
Dornfelder
Made from Dornfelder grapes that were originally used as a blending grape, Dornfelder wine is sort of hard to find in the United States and is very popular in Germany, where it’s mostly produced. It tastes like blackberry, cherry, baking spices, and flowers. This wine is very dark and sweet, and it pairs well with roasted meats and pizza with meat toppings.
White Wines
White wines are made from green grapes with the skins removed and then pressed, which results in the white-yellow liquid we know as white wine. Because of this, white wines don’t have tannins, so they won’t cause a “dry mouth” feeling and are usually sweeter than red wines. White wines can also be either dry or sweet. Here are some different white wines to drink on National Drink Wine Day.
Dry
Pinot Grigio
Also known as Pinot Gris, this wine tastes of white peach, raw almond, cantaloupe, and lemon zest. It’s dry but doesn’t contain tannins, so it’s a nice zesty wine. Pinot Grigio is sometimes used for making rosé and pairs well with seafood, white meats, and dishes that have a fruit element like pasta with lemon sauce.
Chardonnay
A versatile wine, Chardonnay can taste like lemon and green apple to canned pineapple and peach, depending on how ripe the grapes get. Chardonnay grapes are a very popular grape because of this flavor range. It can also have hints of vanilla, starfruit, and butter. This wine pairs well with a lot of foods like seafood, mushrooms, corn, risotto, and other light, delicate dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc
Tasting like grapefruit, white peach, passion fruit, and honeydew, Sauvignon Blanc is another popular wine that has a range of flavors depending on the grape ripeness. It pairs well with lighter foods, particularly herbs and vegetables with white meat like fish and chicken.
Sweet
Riesling
Primarily made in Germany, Riesling is a very versatile grape that can produce dry and sweet wines, but it’s mostly sweet. It tastes like green apple, lime, jasmine, and beeswax. Sweet Riesling pairs the best with crab, duck, shrimp, pork, and spicy dishes.
Muscat Blanc
More commonly known as Moscato, Muscat Blanc is one of the oldest grapes used for wine in the world. It’s another very versatile grape that can be grown in a lot of regions, and depending on where it’s grown, the wine will taste different. Muscat Blanc typically taste like pear, mandarin orange, honeysuckle, orange blossom, and lemon. This wine pairs well with light foods like flaky fish, lobster and crab, chicken, duck, medium to firm cheeses, tofu, and mango.
Gewürztraminer
Another German wine, Gewürztraminer is a lesser known wine, but it has thrived in Germany for centuries. It tastes like grapefruit, tangerine, lychee, ginger, and rose. Because of its spicy ginger and floral notes, this wine will go great with Indian dishes.
Rosé & Sparkling Wines
To achieve its light pink hue, rosé wines are made two ways: by removing the skins of red or black grapes before they turn the wine red, or by blending red and white wines together. Sparkling wines go through a second fermentation process that makes bubbles. Rosé and sparkling wines can be either dry or sweet. Here are some rosé and sparkling wines to try this National Drink Wine Day.
Dry Rosé
Grenache Rosé
Tasting like stewed strawberry, blood orange, cinnamon, and dried herbs, Grenache Rosé originated in Spain but is mostly made in France today. It’s a very versatile grape and is used to make white, red, and rosé wines. Often, Grenache grape juice is mixed with other grape juice to make rosé. This wine goes well with spicy ethnic dishes and roasted meats and veggies with herbs.
Pinot Noir
Also made in red and white varieties, Pinot Noir Rosé is a popular dry rosé and tastes like strawberry, pomegranate, rose, lemon, and white cherry. It’s very fruity and acidic, making it ideal for summer evenings – but it can be enjoyed any time, of course. Goat cheese, salmon and crab, corn, and roast chicken with thyme are great pairings.
Sangiovese Rosé
This wine originated in Italy but is now made all around the world, and it’ll taste different depending on where it’s from. Sangiovese Rosé typically tastes like cherry, strawberry, flowers, and can be a little acidic. It pairs well with hard cheeses, roasted meats, olive oil, and couscous.
Sweet Rosé
White Zinfandel
Making up about 85% of all Zinfandel production, White Zinfandel isn’t white at all; it’s actually one of the best starter rosés. It isn’t too expensive for a bottle, it’s low in calories and sugar, and it has a nice, sweet taste that most people enjoy. This wine tastes very fruity with notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and citrus. White Zinfandel goes well with barbecue (chicken, pork, and lamb), smoked gouda, seafood, and spicy dishes.
Pink Moscato
This wine is made mostly of Muscat Blanc with a splash of Merlot, which gives it its pink hue. Pink Moscato tastes like raspberry, cherry, pomegranate, and jasmine. Similar in taste to Brachetto d’Acqui, it pairs well with fruit and desserts.
White Merlot
Just like White Zinfandel, White Merlot isn’t actually white, but it’s a light pink blush color. This wine is crisp, sweet, and tastes like cherry, plum, blackberry, cranberry, raspberry, and orange peel. It goes well with smoked cheese, tomato dishes, red and barbecued meats, and fruity desserts.
Dry Sparkling
Champagne
When you think of “popping some bubbly,” you probably think of Champagne. It’s made in the Champagne region of France from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes. Champagne has its own sweetness scale, from least sweet to most sweet: brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra dry, dry, demi sec, and doux. Because it’s made in small batches using the traditional method, its bubbles last for a while, but it’s more expensive for a bottle. Champagne is quite dry and tastes of peach, white cherry, citrus, almond, and toast. Try pairing it with pickled veggies, shellfish, and fried appetizers.
Prosecco
Mostly made in Veneto, Italy, Prosecco is made with Prosecco, or Glera, grapes. It tastes like pear, green apple, honeysuckle, honeydew, and cream. This wine is a little bit sweeter than Champagne, and its bubbles don’t last as long since it’s made in large batches using the tank method, which uses less pressure when fermenting. Because of the sweet fruity notes, it pairs well with fruit and cured meats, as well as Asian dishes. Prosecco is a good cheaper alternative to Champagne.
Cava
A better alternative to Champagne than Prosecco, Cava goes through a similar fermentation process as Champagne. It has its own sweetness scale, from least sweet to most sweet: brut nature, extra brut, brut, extra seco, seco, semi-seco, and dulce. Cava is super versatile and mostly dry, but there are a few sweet varieties. Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo, Trepat, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Garnacha and Monastrell are the types of grapes used to make Cava. In addition to all of that criteria, Cava also has different labels telling how long its aged. Cava must be aged for at least 9 months, Reserva Cava has been aged for at least 15 months, Gran Reserva ages for at least 30 months, and Cava Paraje Calificado ages for at least 36 months. Cava has a range of flavors, but mostly tastes like almond, apple, citrus, dough, and white chocolate.
Sweet Sparkling
Lambrusco
There are at least 60 types of Lambrusco grapes, and each type creates a different wine flavor profile. A few common ones are Lambrusco salamino, Lambrusco marani, and Lambrusco grasparossa. It comes from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, which is also home to Parmesan-Reggiano cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar from Modena. Lambrusco can taste like strawberry, hibiscus, blackberry, and rhubarb. This wine pairs well with practically anything.
Brachetto d’Acqui
Tasting like candied strawberry, apricot, orange zest, and cream, Brachetto d’Acqui is made in Piedmont, Italy. Brachetto grapes are grown in this region too. It’s great with fruit tarts, creamy chocolate desserts, and strawberry ice cream. Just like Lambrusco, Brachetto has a few different types: Rosso, Spumante, and Passito. They vary in sweetness and fizziness.
Asti Spumante
Closely related to Moscato d’Asti, this wine is made from Moscato Bianco grapes that are older than the grapes used for Cabernet Sauvignon. Spumante means “sparkling wine” in Italian, and Asti is a province in northern Italy. Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante are almost alike, but Asti Spumante has more bubbles and a higher alcohol content. Asti Spumante tastes like apricots, peach, and jasmine with hints of tangerine and butter. It doesn’t have as much fizz as Prosecco and Champagne, and this is because Asti Spumante doesn’t ferment twice. It pairs well with melons, spicy dishes, and fruit tarts.
Final Notes
This is not a comprehensive list of all wines by any means. The best way to find out which wines you like is to do a tasting. You probably already have an idea of what you like, whether that be dry or sweet, fruity or earthy, or maybe all of the above. There are so many types of wine out there, too. What better day to start than on National Drink Wine Day (responsibly and in moderation)!
