Wine "Holidays" such as National Wine Day and National Prosecco Day are a cause for celebration. But when choosing the perfect wine during the holiday season, wine lovers need to make an informed decision. That's why Firstleaf offers a wide selection of fine wines to choose from.
So whether it's Christmas, or Valentine's Day, popping open a bottle of bubbly sparkling wine isn't a bad way to celebrate. Mark your calendars with these wines to look for for the festive season.
Wine can be used for year-round celebrations. To learn more about which occasions call for specific wines, here's our Wine Advent Calendar.
The Calendar features wines of different varieties. From dry to sweet, sparkling wine to aged, this 365-day countdown calendar calls for celebration every day.
Learning about different wine varietals and regions is fun. Take the quiz now to explore wines matched to your unique palate.
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Whether it's a baby shower or an engagement, sweet occasions call for sweet wine. A few types of sweet wine are Moscato, Riesling, White Zinfandel, port, and Sauternes. Of these, white, red, and rosé wine are some of the sweet wine types that are enjoyed across the globe.
But special occasions can also call for bubbly sparkling wine.
There are also dry or brut wines that carry a more muted taste and are aged. These wines include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cava, Merlot, and Rosé.
The different wine varieties offer a plethora of options to choose from.
To know which calls for which wine, here's the list of holidays in chronological order.
What better drink to kick start the New Year than with a glass of bubbly, sparkling wine?
That's what makes December 31st National Champagne Day.
As for the rest of January, there aren't many other wine holidays to celebrate, which makes February the real start to the Wine Advent Calendar.
February 1st – International Furmint Day
This white Hungarian wine grape variety starts off our list and can be enjoyed as a dry or sweet drink. It's one of many dessert wines which can be enjoyed on its own as a reward for a long day's work. There are also delicious sparkling wines made with this grape.
February 14 – Wine Lover's Day
On Valentine's Day night, cap off a romantic evening with a glass of bubbly sparkling wine.
February 18th – Global Drink Wine Day
On this day, sit back, relax, and enjoy a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay.
March 3rd – Mulled Wine Day
This spiced wine has a kick to it. Mulled wine is served hot with added spices. Although traditional during February, it also can be enjoyed during Christmas.
March 13th – International Riesling Day
This German white grape variety comes in all tastes: dry, semi-sweet, sweet, and sparkling white wines. When oaked, Riesling is one of the best-aged wines for a wine lover's palate.
April 17th – Malbec World Day
This dry red wine originated in France but made its way all around the globe as an iconic Bordeaux wine.
April 27th – World Marselan Day
Marselan is a red French wine grape variety and is a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.
May 7th – International Sauvignon Blanc day
A bottle of Sauvignon Blanc or Cabernet Sauvignon makes for the perfect gift idea for Mother's Day. The white grape also originates from Bordeaux and can be vinified either dry or sweet.
May 9th – World Moscato Day
This white wine, which originates from Italy, is known as a sweet wine.
May 25th – National Wine Day in the United States
With Memorial Day around the corner, any wine works for this holiday.
May 27th – International Chardonnay Day
Chardonnay is a white wine that can be dry or sweet, depending on which region of France it's grown in.
What better way to celebrate the summer than with a classic summertime wine.
June 11th – World Lambrusco Day
Lambrusco is a unique sparkling red wine that is brightly colored and has a sweet, fruity taste.
June 18th – International Drink Chenin Blanc Day
This Blanc, French for white, can be enjoyed dry or sweet and can be balanced as sparkling wine or dessert wine.
June 25th – National Rosé Day
Bordeaux is a region famous for its glasses of wine, with Claret, a rosé wine, being a notable classic.
July 22nd – Shiraz Day
Much like July itself, Shiraz is a dry wine. The dark red grape variety originates from the Syrah grape and is the only wine holiday in the month.
August 4th – National White Wine Day
You can't go wrong with any white wine on this occasion. Prosecco, Moscato, and even Champagne are all fair game on this holiday.
August 13th – National Prosecco Day
Proseccos usually come in a brut, dry style. However, fruity flavors such as green apple, honeydew melon, pear, and honeysuckle usually make the wine taste sweeter than normal.
August 18th – Pinot Noir Day
This dry red wine is iconic to the Champagne wine region and should be circled on the Wine Advent Calendar as one of the days you can't miss!
September 3rd – Cabernet Day
This is just one of those holidays you have to circle on your calendar. Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic red wine.
September 18th – International Grenache Day
Grenache lovers should mark off the third Friday every September for International Grenache Day.
October 9th – International Pinotage Day
This dry red wine is exclusive to South Africa and is a mix between Pinot Noir, Cinsaut, Grenache, and Carignan.
October 15th – Champagne Day
Just like Christmas or New Years Day, October 15 is one of those nights of wine where you pop off the cork to a Champagne bottle and enjoy the occasion.
October 28th – Carignan Day
We celebrate Carignan Day on the last Thursday in October. Although Carignan's popularity has declined in recent years, the grape can still be found in France, Spain, Italy, and New World wine countries.
November 7th – International Merlot Day
This dry red wine is a renowned classic in the eyes of wine lovers worldwide.
November 24th – Carmenere Day
This red wine is another one originating from Bordeaux. It's dry but has an array of flavors like plum, raspberry, blackberry, peppercorn, green bell pepper, vanilla, and spice.
December 4 – Cabernet Franc Day
What better way to celebrate than with cabernet wine. The black grape variety mixes Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the Bordeaux style, making both worlds the best.
December 20 – National Sangria Day
This drink, which originated in Spain and Portugal, is a great way to wind down for the year.
December 25 - Christmas
Last but not least: Christmas. It's just one of those nights of wine. Under the Christmas tree, a bottle of Bordeaux, Chardonnay, Prosecco, or Pinot Noir wine makes for the perfect gift ideas to celebrate the holiday season.
For that, there's always a Christmas advent calendar. It's a countdown from December 1st to the 25th, with an array of selections that fit the holiday season. They come in all different sizes, from quarter-bottles, half bottles to mini bottles of the finest wines. So next December, make sure to have the right wine bottles, or vino, sitting under the Christmas tree; before they're sold out! To wine lovers out there, let's make this the last year without a Wine Advent Calendar and kickstart the New Year with some fresh glasses of wine.
When choosing the right wine for the right holiday, First Leaf's best Wine Advent Calendar serves as a reference point. So whether it's Christmas, Valentine's Day, or a birthday, wine lovers should check out this advent calendar to prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Cheers!
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