National Red Wine Day - National Red Wine Day pours in on August 28! But does wine really get better age? We have all the answers about this ancient drink .

National Red Wine Day 2024 – August 28, 2024

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 timeline

4100 B.C.
First winery established

The oldest-known winery is founded in what is now Armenia.

800 B.C.
Greek wine takes root

The ancient Greeks perfect wine and use it for trade, religion, and health. As they conquer new lands, they plant grape vines, including in Spain and Italy.

1300s-1500s
Don't drink the water

For many years, Europe had no steady supply of clean drinking water causing the public (including children) to drink wine, instead.

1500-1600
Spanish wine debuts in the New World

The Spanish bring wine to the Americas as a completely new alcoholic beverage.

1800s-2000s
New varieties of wine emerge

Vineyards in California, Australia, and South America start producing wines to rival those from Europe.

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

  1. 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.”

  2. 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!)

  3. 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.

National Red Wine Day dates

Year Date Day
2023 August 28 Monday
2024 August 28 Wednesday
2025 August 28 Thursday
2026 August 28 Friday
2027 August 28 Saturday