Here at Laithwaite’s HQ we rarely need an excuse to open a bottle of wine. We love the stuff, and try to drink as varied an array as possible.
But we know not everyone gets the chance to try new things all the time, and many (and there’s nothing wrong with this) find something they like and stick to it.
But there’s a whole world of wine out there to be discovered. From popular grape varieties being used in many different ways, to grapes most will never have heard of.
Which is why we’ve put together a list of international wine awareness days, in the hope that it will inspire you to reach for a bottle you haven’t tried before.
And if nothing else it’s another reason to pour yourself a glass!
Global Drink Wine Day
The first celebration of our favourite drink is held every year on the 18th of February, which falls on a Tuesday in 2020. It all started in America a few years ago as a way for people to show their love of wine, and we’ll certainly be marking it by raising a glass!
Open That Bottle Night
An opportunity for anyone who’s been saving a bottle for a special occasion to enjoy it. It’s not very often that we treat ourselves, so founders Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher of the Wall St. Journal started this campaign back in 2000.
Open That Bottle Night is marked on the last Saturday of February every year. This year it’s Saturday the 23rd of February.
Malbec World Day
This event was created by Wines of Argentina to celebrate the country’s evolution into a winemaking giant. Malbec World Day will be marked in 2020 on Friday the 17th of April.
Events are held in Argentinian embassies all over the world but are by invitation only. So we’ll celebrate by opening a bottle of one of our favourites at home.
International Sauvignon Blanc Day
It’s rare to find a person who doesn’t love Sauvignon Blanc, so we expect many will be celebrating this day. It was started by the New Zealand Wines group who have become famous all over the world for their refreshing Sauvignon Blancs.
Read more: 5 reasons you should drink Sauvignon Blanc
But there’s no obligation to drink Kiwi on this day … if you’d rather open up a Sancerre or something from Chile that’s fine with us! This year International Sauvignon Blanc Day will be marked on Friday the 1st of May.
World Moscato Day
Whether you call it Muscat, Moscato or Moscatel, there’s nothing else to drink on Saturday the 9th of May. This Spanish grape produces the most delicate, floral tasting wines, and even makes delicious fizzes. We’ll drink to that!
Read more: Everything you need to know about Moscato
International Chardonnay Day
If you’re an ‘ABC’ kind of wine-drinker, perhaps this is the time to give it another go. Chardonnay is one of the most versatile grapes in the wine world. It can make anything from citrus charged, steely wines to tropical fruited, buttery wines. And that’s before we’ve even discussed to oak or not to oak!
Read more: Our wine picks for International Chardonnay Day
So broaden your horizons on Thursday the 21st or May and try a glass for International Chardonnay Day.
English Wine Week
Not content with just one day, we need seven to celebrate English wine! English Wine Week will kick off on Saturday the 23rd of May in 2020, and will run until the end of the month.
Vineyards all over the country will be hosting open days to give visitors the chance to try their wines. Look out for one near you, it’s a great opportunity to try something new and discover a new favourite!
Beer Day Britain
Okay so it’s not wine, but with a brewer in the family we’d be remiss to not mention Beer Day Britain! Celebrate on Monday the 15th of June with a pint!
Lambrusco Week
Lambrusco got a bad rap back in the 70s, which is why there’s an entire week dedicated to changing perceptions. Usually sparkling, but not always, Lambrusco is a red wine which is delicious served chilled.
We know what we’ll be drinking come Friday the 19th of June!
Also on the blog
- Wine quiz: 10 times our favourite drink was mentioned in film, tv and music
- Laithwaite’s top 10 VIWs (that’s Very Important Wines)
- How to decipher a wine label
- Five bargain wines that will age brilliantly
International Rosé Day
Thanks to a group of Provence winemakers, every fourth Friday in June will now be known as International Rosé Day! That means we’ll be drinking pink come the 26th!
International Albarino Days
Another wine not content with just one day, there are five to celebrate Albarino! From the 1st to the 5th of August we’ll be drinking Rías Baixas!
This white Spanish grape makes distinctive wines which are unusually light and generally high in acidity – delicious!
Celebrate Prosecco Day
As if we needed an excuse to pop open a bottle of Prosecco! But that’s exactly what we’ll be doing on Thursday the 13th of August this year!
Italy’s sparkling wine is fruity and fresh, and opening a bottle on a weekday is certainly a treat!
International Pinot Noir Day
Another day created by the New Zealand Wine group, this time to celebrate their most widely-planted red grape. This light-bodied red wine is best-known for its Burgundian styles, but over the last 20 years it’s found success in many other places.
Wherever your favourite is from, make sure you open a bottle on Tuesday the 18th of August.
International Grenache Day
Set up by the Grenache Association, International Grenache Day is marked on the third Friday in September each year. That means this year we’ll be opening a bottle of this juicy French wine on the 18th.
Wine-lovers all over the world will be pulling a cork out of their favourite bottles, so make sure you’ve got yours ready!
International Pinotage Day
On Saturday the 10th of October we’ll be opening a bottle of our favourite Pinotage. Events will be held all over the world so look out for something happening near you!
Champagne Day
If any wine day needed celebrating more than other it would be Champagne Day. This fine, French fizz is the official wine of everything so deserves its very own party!
Pop open a bottle on Friday the 23rd of October, whatever you’re celebrating (we recommend pairing it with good old fish and chips!)
International Xinomavro Day
This Greek wine was celebrated all over the world for the first time ever in 2019, and this year we’ll continue to mark it. The wine isn’t well known just yet, but give it a few years and you’ll be able to show off to your friends that you discovered it first!
Open up a bottle of Xinomavro on Sunday the 1st of October.
Beaujolais Nouveau Day
Perhaps the best known of all the international wine days, Beaujolais Nouveau (pron. bow-jo-lay noo-vo) Day is always held on the third Thursday of November, which this year will be the 19th.
Read more: What is Beaujolais Nouveau Day and why does it happen?
As the name would suggest, the wine is designed to be consumed while it’s new. So Beaujolais Nouveau is released at the same time each year. That leaves winemakers just two months to pick the grapes, turn them into wine, bottle it and ship it out around the world!
