Let’s be honest, do we really need another excuse to enjoy delicious wine? I say, absolutely! Did you know that all over the world, there are days dedicated to celebrating and ultimately enjoying an individual varietal, giving us all the more reason to host a fun event, attend a wine tasting, or simply give something new a try?
To help you celebrate wine with the rest of the world, I’ve compiled this list of wine holidays celebrated both nationally and internationally. Be sure to update your calendars and celebrate accordingly!
Winter
| February 18th | Global Drink Wine Day | Started in the US by a conglomerate of wine enthusiasts, this holiday has grown to be celebrated worldwide! More info here. |
| February 23rd (last Saturday of every February) | Open that Bottle Night | Founded by Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher of the Wall St., this holiday is your chance to pop that special bottle you’ve been saving! More info here. |
Spring
| Date | Description | History |
| March 3rd | Mulled Wine Day | This holiday comes to us all the way from the UK, and celebrates the tradition of warm, spiced wine that has been served since the Roman Empire. More info here. |
| April 17th | Malbec World Day | This event celebrates a delicious, peppery red, and was founded in in Argentina in 1993. More info here. |
| May 4th | International Sauvignon Blanc Day | The celebration of this popular white began in New Zealand and is now celebrated worldwide. Be sure to post your pictures with the hashtag #SauvBlancDay. More info here. |
| May 9th | Moscato Day | The Gallo Family Vineyards started Moscato Day in 2012 at their vineyard in Northern Italy. More info here. |
| May 23rd (every Thursday before Memorial Day) | Chardonnay Day | This celebration started in the Burgundy Region of France in 2010 and has now grown to become a global event! More info here. |
| May 25th | National Wine Day (U.S.) | While the exact origin of National Wine Day is unknown, it is widely celebrated by vineyards and distributors, and restaurants across the US. More info here. |
Summer
| June 8th (second Saturday of every June) | Rose Day part one | This delicious holiday was founded in 2014 by Bodvár – House of Rosés in France, and has become a travelling event. More info here. |
| June 21st | Lambrusco Day | Founded by Italian wine producers in Italy in 2014, this day is celebrated internationally by lovers of the dry, sparkling red. More info here. |
| August 1st – 5th | International Albariño Days | Founded by TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers, and Amigos Society) in Spain, this global, week-long celebration has been going strong since 2001. More info here. |
| August 4th | National White Wine Day | Founded by wine expert and journalist, Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, this global event has been going on since 2014. More info here. |
| August 18th | International Pinot Noir Day | This yearly event celebrates the complex red grape and the folks who produce it, and is observed all over the world, from Oregon to the Walker Bay Region of South Africa, where this challenging varietal is produced. More info here. |
| August 29th (the last Thursday before Labor Day) | International Cabernet Day | Said to be founded in Margaret River region of Australia, International Cabaret Day celebrates this popular red all over the world! More info here. |
Fall
| September 20th (third Friday of every September) | International Grenache Day | Organized by the Grenache Association headquartered in Séguret, France this day is recognized by producers and wine enthusiasts across five continents. More info here. |
| November 7th | International Merlot Day | Founded in the Bordeaux region of France, this is one of the most popular and widely celebrated wine days of them all! More info here. |
| October 12th | International Pinotage Day | This ode to a budget-friendly yet delicious red was originally celebrated in South Africa in 1995. More info here. |
| October 31st (last Thursday of every October) | Carignan Day | This celebration was founded by German oenologist Sebastian Nickel in 2012. More info here. |
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| November 14th | International Tempranillo Day | Founded by TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates, Producers, and Amigos Society) in Spain, this global celebration has been going strong since 2011. More info here. |
| November 20th (third Wednesday of every November) | National Zinfandel Day | Zinfandel Day is a worldwide celebration meant to give Zinfandel lovers the chance to express their passion for the grape and all it brings. Be sure to use the hashtag #ZinDay when sharing your photos! More info here. |
| November 21st (third Thursday of every November) | Beaujolais Nouveau Day | This beloved holiday marks the competitive annual release of each year’s Beaujolais offering from various producers in the Beaujolais region of France. More info here. |
Hi, I’m Tiffany Yarde, author of How To Wine With Your Boss.” I have tons of opinions about humanity, economics, upward mobility and good wine.
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