National Drink Wine Day & A Little Wine History!!!
February 18 is National Drink Wine Day. This is an unofficial “official” holiday everyone across the United States celebrates every year on this day. Celebrating the love and health benefits of wine is the purpose of this “official” holiday. After all, this amazing beverage plays an important role in history, religion and relationships. Besides, drinking this amazing beverage in moderation seems to reduce the risk of all kinds of different health issues; everything from liver disease to heart disease. So open a bottle of your favorite red, white or rose and enjoy a glass of this amazing beverage considered to be an integral part of the human experience.
Wine is a Lifestyle, a Passion, a Part of the Human Experience!!!
A Brief History of Wine
Who Knew…Wine Ambassadors Have Been Around for Eons!!!
Around 146 B.C., Rome conquers Greece and they make wine their own. Eventually making it a big part of the Roman culture. Even changing the name of the Greek god Dionysus to the Roman god Bacchus. As the military power of the Romans was growing and their armies were stretching all across Europe, the fantastic Roman grapevines were traveling with them. Can we say, “Wine Ambassadors?!” Appearing everywhere from France to Germany to Italy and Spain. Wine making was officially taking root.
Adopting Catholicism in 380 AD, wine became a significant part of the Roman Empire’s Catholic sacrament. Therefore, it was necessary to expand the cultivation of grapevines and increase wine production. Thus, wine went along for the ride as Catholicism spread across Europe.
Wine Ambassadors Are Not New!!!
By the Middle Ages, wine was well established and available just about anywhere in Europe. In all probability, this is why it is not a big surprise the conquistadors (aka Wine Ambassadors) were introducing wine to Mexico and Brazil during the late 15th century. As Spanish missionaries were scattering across Mexico to Chile to Argentina during the 16th century wine was starting to show up all over the Americas. During the 16th century, the French claim Canada as their territory; but, they didn’t start establishing permanent colonies and vineyards until the 17th century.
900 Million Gallons of Wine Per Year…Wow!!!
The popularity of wine is higher than it has ever been. Here are a few staggering statistics: Over 40{6240f97e29b4159de6ff78317e10f820a7e2f517694b3d1c4628c71d0a3ac8d8} of all adults drink wine, more than 35{6240f97e29b4159de6ff78317e10f820a7e2f517694b3d1c4628c71d0a3ac8d8} of the population drink wine several times per week, and the millennial and baby boomer generations are the biggest wine consumers. The United States alone consumes over 900 million gallons of wine per year and this number is increasing with each passing year.
Unsafe Water…Drink Wine!!!
Can you believe there was a time in history when humans were consuming wine in greater quantities than they were consuming water?! During the Dark Ages, water was often unsafe to drink. As a safer and healthier alternative wine was drunk (pun intended) at nearly every meal.
yWine is a unique part of our world history and has many health benefits. And, it is still being praised for both of these qualities many centuries after the Dark Ages. For National Drink Wine Day on Feb. 18, get out your corkscrew, uncork the amazing bottle of wine, and ponder the history of this healthy, historical beverage that also makes us happy and giddy.
National Drink Wine Day ~ A Little History!!!
In today’s world, the overall history of wine is pretty well established. However, the history of National Drink Wine Day appears to be lost to be lost to us forever. In all probability, an unknown wine enthusiast or someone working in the wine industry, created this amazing holiday.
Celebrating National Drink Wine Day!!!
National Drink Wine Day is the perfect day to open up your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy it with your friends or with your dinner. As you toast your friends and family members, you can contemplate the thousands of years of history that stands behind this marvelous little alcoholic beverage. And if you want, you can also use the hashtag #NationalDrinkWineDay on all of your social media accounts.
Although most of the Presidents’ Day attention goes to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, we need to raise a glass and toast our longest serving President, Franklin Roosevelt. After all, he put a stop to prohibition (!!!), giving us permission to openly enjoy this fun holiday!!! Woo Hoo!!!
Here are a Few Activities to Enjoy on National Drink Wine Day!!!
Drink a Glass of Pinot Noir
Not all wines are equal when it comes to health benefits. According to experts, the wine varietal that provides the biggest health benefits is Pinot Noir. In general, red wines are considered healthier than white wines. However, Pinot Noir, containing the most resveratrol, is the healthiest red wine. Resveratrol is a plant compound that reduces cholesterol and blood clots and increases longevity. Forget the apples, a glass of Pinot a day keeps the doctor away… right?!
Drink a Glass of History
What better way to celebrate wine’s role in history than to enjoy a vintage wine?! A mature wine takes on subtle nuances and textures, you just can’t find in a new wine. And, it can also transport you to the past. Opening a vintage bottle of wine is like opening a time capsule. Its flavors give you hints about the soil and weather the grapes were grown grew in, the landscape of the country where the wine originated, and what was happening in the world at the time the wine was bottled. As the old saying goes, wine gets better with age!!!
Drink Like an Egyptian
In Ancient Egypt, wine was typically consumed with natural sweeteners, such as honey, dried fruits, or very ripe, slightly dried grapes. Not only did these sweeteners make the wine more palatable—they also caused it to re-ferment, increasing the alcohol content and making for some very tipsy Egyptians. So grab your fancy wine glasses, invite your friends over, and drink like the Ancient Egyptians. Bonus points if there’s a cat present!!!
Why We Love National Drink Wine Day!!!
Wine Doesn’t Make You Fat (Well, For the Most Part)
Although beer is famous for causing the dreaded beer belly, you can drink wine without worrying about your waistline. Wine has few to no carbohydrates and not an ounce of fat. However, it contains calories. What a bummer!!! Consuming wine in moderation is said to help you regulate your weight. But be careful—too much alcohol can make you hungry and cause you to head straight for the fridge!!!
Wine Has Lots of Health Benefits
Let’s not forget the real meaning of National Drink Wine Day (besides giving us an excuse to drink): to reflect on the health benefits of wine. Consuming wine in moderation reduces the risk of type II diabetes, heart attach strike, certain types of cancers, and liver disease. It can also lower the bad cholesterol (LDL) and boost the good cholesterol (HDL).
Wine Has Been Popular Since… Well Forever
Wine has a rich history!!! The oldest archaeological evidence of wine production was found in Georgia (the country, not the state) and dates back to 6,000 B.C. No other beverage enjoys such a global presence across civilizations and eons of time as wine. While wine plays a central role in Ancient Egyptian ceremonies, the Greeks worshiped Dionysus or Bacchus as the gods of wine, and the Romans continued the tradition. Wine consumption has great importance in Jewish rituals since Biblical times and was later adopted into Christianity.
The Wine and Dine Show!!!
Join us every Wednesday night for this amazing virtual wine and dine event! Good Friends, Good Wine, and Good Food!!!
