(PCM) If you read that title and thought, “Isn’t EVERY day Drink Wine Day?” then, boy, is the holiday for you!
National Drink Wine Day is celebrated annually on February 18th, for no apparent reason, but the death of Michelanglelo (1564), the discovery of Pluto (1930), the birth of John Travolta (1954) and the switch from green Girl Scout uniforms to blue ones (1987) also happened on February 18th, and those are all perfectly good things to raise a glass to.
What kind of wine should you be drinking today? Your local wine merchant, restaurant server, bartender or friendly sommelier (wine expert) can guide you towards something suitable for your tastes and price range. If you’re planning to wine and dine, certain foods and wines are traditionally paired together (e.g. white with poultry or fish, reds with meats, sparkling wines to clear the palate). If you’re a novice wine drinker, you might start with something light like Pinot Grigio or Riesling (crisp whites), or a Pinot Noir (a gentler red). If you’re a confirmed oenophile (a wine connoisseur) however, you might take this opportunity to try something exotic or unexpected.
The Greek god Dionysus ruled the grape harvest, winemaking and wine. Also known as Eleutherios (“the liberator”), Dionysus grants his followers freedom from worry through dance, music, and wine. His Roman counterpart, Bacchus, was celebrated with the Bacchanalia, a festival of… loosened inhibitions. While we wouldn’t necessarily recommend doing as the (Greeks) and Romans did, do feel free to drink (responsibly) and be merry today – it’s National Drink Wine Day!
