While one perspective suggests honoring tools used to make holes, another points to a day created to throw a few punches at a punching bag. However, we will direct you toward the thirst-quenching version instead. Besides, this delicious, refreshing drink sparkles with celebration. A wide assortment of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, fall into the category of punch.
A combination of fruit juice and a carbonated beverage, the colorful, bubbly drink sparkles with party personality. In fact, parties, weddings, and other celebrations serve punch as part of the centerpiece at the beverage table. Large wide bowls known as punch bowls provide a beautiful vessel for serving punch.
The word punch is a loanword from Hindi panch (meaning five). Originally, punch was made with five ingredients: alcohol, sugar, lemon, water, and tea or spices. It was called paantsch.
Soft drink manufacturers today distribute many types of “fruit punch” beverages. Most punch mixes are red in color. However, despite the name, they contain a small fraction of fruit juice. Sugar, corn syrup, citric acid, and artificial flavors make up the main ingredients.
Make some punch and make a toast! Thousands of punch recipes make the beverage versatile and easy to make. Check recipe books and online. Be sure to share your favorites, too! Use #NationalPunchDay to post on social media.
The first Friday in September each year ushers in a celebration worthy of a toast. National Chianti Day recognizes the most-recognized red wines from the Tuscany region of Italy.
Always leading with the Sangiovese grape, the ruby red wine is famous throughout the world, and Chianti Classico is represented by the iconic Gallo Nero logo, which is a black rooster inside a red circle. While Chianti is most associated with Tuscany, the smaller Chianti Classico region, located between Florence in the north and Siena in the south, is the historical heartland and most-respected area for red wines.
As essential to Italian cuisine as olive oil, Chianti Classico is a dry red wine that is medium to full-bodied. It shows red cherry and herbaceous notes, making it flexible with many cuisines and pairing particularly well with robust dishes like barbeque and grilled meats. And because Chianti Classico is the authentic taste of Tuscany and the ultimate expression of the region, the wines have a natural affinity to Italian dishes like pasta carbonara or pizza.
For a more savory and earthy expression, look for the word Riserva. Chianti Classico Riserva demands that the wine is aged an additional two years and will develop subtle notes of balsamic and espresso notes during that time. These hedonistic wines work brilliantly with stews and braised dishes.
NATIONAL CHIANTI DAY HISTORY
Santa Margherita USA founded National Chianti Day to honor our Chianti Classico Riserva, a wine that embodies the traditions of Tuscany and the Chianti Classico region. Our Santa Margherita Chianti Classico Riserva is from a single vineyard called Salcentino located just outside of the town of Panzano. Dry, rich, and rewarding, the wine has complex aromas of red cherries and plums with a palate that unfolds to berry fruits and licorice, framed by light toasty notes of oak and finishes with a firm structure.
About Santa Margherita USA
Santa Margherita USA is a fine wine import company representing premium and ultra-premium wine estates from Italy. Since our founding in 1935, Count Gaetano Marzotto dedicated his life to establishing Santa Margherita and its estates as one of the leading ambassadors of Italian wine excellence around the world. With the establishment of Santa Margherita USA in 2016, we proudly carry on his vision in the United States.
Pick up a bottle of Chianti Classico to serve with dinner. To really elevate your meal, consider an aged bottle of Chianti Classico Riserva. While you’re exploring the wine aisle, be sure to plan your meal. May we suggest a charcuterie board with a selection of Italian meats and cheeses? Chianti Classico will also go well with a thick-cut porterhouse steak. But don’t stop there. The tangy acidity of Chianti Classico cuts through the richness on your plate, so explore all the ways this Italian wine complements a meal.
While you enjoy your wine, be sure to share your favorite pairings by using #NationalChiantiDay on social media.
On August 28th, National Red Wine Day ushers in the flavors of fall. As the grapes ripen and signal a time for warmer sips, wine drinkers know reds mean tailgating and spicy foods.
Throughout the year, wine days afford us the opportunity to taste and learn about the differences between wines. Earlier this month National Prosecco Day gave us the last bubbly rays of summer. Now we savor the best of the season with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Port, and Syrah.
Red wine varietals produce deep ruby reds as well as subtle ambers and browns. Their beautiful colors hint at the coming change in the season. With that, we can look for delicious menu changes, too. Besides, what better way to enjoy a great bottle of wine than by pairing it with excellent company and food. Restaurants around the country will be happy to oblige throughout the celebration. Be sure to check out the latest menus from appetizers to desserts.
Don’t fear the red, either. Even if you prefer a sweeter wine, there’s a red for you. Also, blends offer a way to enjoy the best of both wine worlds. And don’t fret. Red, red wine pairs well with salad, steak, dessert and so much more.
If you’re hesitant, attend a wine tasting. There you will learn more each time and find the wine that fits not only your palate but your cooking style, too.
Pour a glass or two of delicious red wine. Not sure what kind to try? Ask sommelier and enjoy a wine tasting with friends. Use #NationalRedWineDay to share your favorites.
NATIONAL RED WINE DAY HISTORY
In 2014, Jace Shoemaker-Galloway created National Red Wine Day.
International Cabernet Day is celebrated on the Thursday before U.S. Labor Day, and this year it falls on August 27th. It is a special day that is dedicated to one of the world’s most popular wines — Cabernet.
There are two styles of Cabernet. There is Cabernet Franc, a heritage grape from Bordeaux that is grown throughout the world, and Cabernet Sauvignon, a cross between Cabernet Franc and the white Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Cabernet, being one of the world’s most popular red wine grape varieties, is grown in every major wine-producing region in the world.
The idea for the International Cabernet Day came in 2010, when the NoCal and Twitter user, Rick Bakas, got a bunch of Napa Wineries together. Although it was initially started as a marketing tool, it quickly turned into a holiday.
Cabernet Sauvignon was developed by accident in the 17th century when a red Cabernet Franc grape plant bred with a white Sauvignon Blan grape plant in a French vineyard. Cabernet has been around for hundreds of years, but it is still pretty young compared to other wine varietals. Some people argue that it is a half-sibling to Merlot. So, if you have ever had trouble differentiating between a glass of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, don’t feel bad! They are closely related and it is very difficult to tell the difference.
One surprising and sweet thing about Cabernet Sauvignon is that everybody loves it. Cabernet is a timeless classic. There is also a reason why Cabernet tastes great with anything on any occasion. Researchers studying the effects of taste and food on the tongue found that the tannins in Cabernet act as ‘scrapers’ for fats and proteins that collect on the tongue from the food you eat. So, any fatty and protein-rich food you consume with wine will be enhanced in taste with Cabernet.
Today, France is the largest producer of Cabernet Sauvignon in the world. With a whopping 126,000 acres of Cabernet grown in France, it is still the fourth most planted grape in the country.
What is the difference between Cabernet and red wine? Red wines get their color and much of their texture and flavor from the grape skins. The thicker skins of Cabernet create a rich, concentrated, purple-black, full-bodied wine that does best in warm climates.
What is the difference between Merlot and Cabernet? The main difference between Merlot and Cabernet is the levels of tannins and acidity. Merlot is typically in the middle for both tannins and acidity, whereas Cabernet is very high in both.
Is there a difference between Cabernet and Cabernet Sauvignon? Cabernet Sauvignon is often referred to as just Cab, Cabernet, Cab Sauv, and many other names. One thing you need to know is that there is no grape called Cabernet.
INTERNATIONAL CABERNET DAY ACTIVITIES
Appreciate itThe best thing you can do to celebrate International Cabernet Day is by appreciating fine wine. Whether you like Cabernet or any other varieties of wine, appreciate it and enjoy the goodness.
Taste itIf you are looking for a sign to taste Cabernet and haven’t had this kind of wine before, today is the perfect day for first introductions. Invite your friends, family, and colleagues and make it a party.
Share itEven if you’re not much of a drinker, you can give Cabernet a try anyway. It is considered one of the tastiest wines by many. So, if you have any stories like these, share them on social media.
It’s the most planted wine grapeCabernet is the most planted wine grape in the world. It involves heavy cash. Wineries in Napa Valley pay more for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Stock market Cabernet Sauvignon wines are tracked and traded like stocks. It took over China too. Cabernet is one of the most important varieties in China too. People notice it a lot. Cabernet is the most reviewed red wine variety in the Wine Spectator’s database.
It’s a day of appreciationInternational Cabernet Day is a much-needed day that gives us all the time in the world to appreciate and honor one of the greatest wine varieties in the world. Try it today if you get a chance!
People love this wine! Its bold fruit flavors and smooth tannins are all brought together in a single sip and give the taster an exquisite experience.
It’s a time to unwind, International Cabernet Day is an opportunity to break away from the stress and all other hustles of the world to take some time for ourselves and enjoy life a little with a glass of wine. Who can say no to that?
Share your favorite brands and experiences on social media #InternationalCabernetDay.
National Pinot Noir Day on August 18th encourages wine lovers to experience one of the wine world’s most versatile wines.
Since Pinot Noir’s high acidity along with the lower tannins, it complements food nicely. Wineries around the world produce pinot noir using red wine grapes and primarily the Pinot Noir varietal.
The dry wine includes hints of cherry and raspberry, as well as earthy flavors and notes of floral. It’s one of the world’s favorite red wines, too. One Pinot Noir grown and produced in Burgundy, France bears the name of the region. France also produces more Pinot Noir than any other country. However, today the grape is grown all over the world. The soil, climate, and how it is processed all impact the flavors.
The easiest way to celebrate the day is by having a glass of Pinot Noir. However, don’t stop there. There are other ways to get the fullest enjoyment of this wine.
Another way to savor your Pinot Noir is while watching a documentary about how it’s made. The Holy Grail of Wine follows the passion of vintner John Saemann.
Curl up with your ruby red glass and enjoy the flavors with a charcuterie board while watching the film Sideways starring Paul Giamatti.
Attend a wine tasting and sample a variety of wines.
Serve a meal of salmon, pasta or game. If root vegetables and mushrooms are your pleasure, Pinot Noir will enhance your enjoyment.
Share your favorite pairs and bottle of Pinot Noir by using #NationalPinotNoirDay on social media.
