NATIONAL CHIANTI DAY

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.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalChiantiDay

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.

NATIONAL WINE DAY

On May 25th each year, wine lovers everywhere pour a glass of their favorite wine to celebrate National Wine Day.  Whether it is Red or White, the sound of glassing “clinking” will be heard around the world today.

Made from fermented grapes or other fruits, wine is an alcoholic beverage. During the fermentation processes, yeast consumes the sugars in the grapes converting it into alcohol.  Different grapes produce different wines.  Winemakers will combine different wines to create more complex flavors.  Wines made from fruit or honey are often named according to the variety of fruit used.

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.

Winemakers produce white wines from grapes with light yellow-green skins or light red skins. However, it’s not the color of the grapes that give the wine its color. It’s the tannins in the grape skins that color wine red and also the flavor. White wines are generally sweeter than red wines and are best served chilled. Most red wines are served at room temperature. However, a sweet red should also be chilled for the best flavor.

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HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL WINE DAY

Reminisce with family and friends over a glass of wine.  Enjoy wine with a favorite meal.  And just a little tip, in a couple of days we celebrate National Coq Au Vin Day which includes red wine as an ingredient. Pick up an extra bottle to prepare. Post photos using #NationalWineDay on social media.

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INTERNATIONAL MERLOT DAY

Every year on November 7th, International Merlot Day celebrates one of the world’s most popular red wines. It’s also a day to encourage those who have never had merlot to give it a try.

The word “merlot” is thought to be a diminutive of merle. This is the French name for the blackbird, which most likely refers to the color of the grape. Merlot wine was first produced in Bordeaux, France. Some mistakenly think that a different grape, cabernet sauvignon, is the most widely planted in Bordeaux. This is not the case, however. More hectares in Bordeaux are devoted to growing Merlot than any other grape. In Italy, Merlot is the 5th most planted grape. The grape is the 2nd most widely planted grape in Israel.

Besides Bordeaux, Italy, and Israel, other regions that produce Merlot include: California, Washington, Chile, Australia, Canada, South Africa, Greece, and Mexico.

Wine experts describe the flavor of Merlot as a dark fruit flavor. These fruits include black cherry, blackberry, plum, and raspberry. These fruity flavors are layered with herbal tones as well as an undertones of vanilla and mocha. It is not a sweet wine, however. Merlot is a dry wine that some would consider bitter. This bitter taste comes from the skin of the grapes during the winemaking process.

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HOW TO OBSERVE #InternationalMerlotDay

On this day, liquor stores, bars, and restaurants feature different kinds of Merlot and offer special discounts on bottles of wine. Merlot lovers gather together and celebrate their favorite wine. Wine-tasting events and winemaking demonstrations are also popular on this day. If you have never tried Merlot, today is the perfect day to give it a try. Sit back with a glass of wine and enjoy one of these movies that features this popular beverage:

You can also share this day on social media with #InternationalMerlotDay.