People don’t need an excuse to drink red wine, but they’ll gladly take it. Here are some Red Wine Fun Facts to share at the water cooler…
You can thank writer and wine aficionado Jace Shoemaker-Galloway for National Red Wine Day, but it’s a bit of a head-scratcher that he chose a pretty hot month of the year to celebrate it.
You have to feel for purists who can only drink wine at room temperature. For red wine specifically, that’s between 65-70 degrees, which doesn’t sound all that great under the blistering sun. But if you’re chilling in the AC, it’s all good.
Many people opt for something that’s aged, but not don’t believe the hype — the fact is, 90% of wines should be downed within a year. As for the ones that do get better with age, there’s California Cabernet Sauvignon, vintage Port, and Châteaux of Bordeaux.
Say Cheese? 15% of Americans love wine and cheese, while 12% like to pair wine with their meal—cheese or no cheese.
Bottles Up! 12% of Americans say they have finished an entire bottle of wine by themselves. 8% of Americans say wine is their alcoholic beverage of choice.
It’s Got Legs! The “legs” in a glass of red wine, or the streaks that snake their way down the glass after you’ve had a sip, are actually an indication of the alcohol content. Long legs = Higher Alcohol.
Red wine is good for you. A five-ounce glass of wine is fat free, cholesterol free, and only 100 calories. But other than helping to keep you slim and trim, it can keep your brain sharp. Resveratrol is in the skin of red gapes, and it’s the mortal enemy of beta-amyloid — a protein that is a contributing factor to Alzheimer’s. So, a glass of wine here and there can slow down the formation of this baddie. Looks like they weren’t kidding when they said, “Let’s drink to your health.”
Planning to celebrate? Here are some suggestions for honoring National Red Wine Day….
Go out to eat (and drink). In honor of the holiday, some restaurants offer a special deal on, you guessed it, red wine! There’s a lot to try, so it’s important to save some room. Instead of going for a single, heavy meal, you might want to consider a tapas crawl. Small plates are shareable and they won’t make you feel like you need a power nap. Although, red wine does contain melatonin, which means you’ll have to fight urge to catch some Z’s. Good thing you’ll have your buddies along for support…as long as they stay awake, that is.
Mix up a batch of Sangria to share with friends. There are too many types of sangria for you to make yourself. Have your friends bring over a batch of their own so you can taste and compare. You could even mix them all together to form a monster concoction, but we don’t recommend it. For a less risky experiment, have everyone suggest a flavor, and settle on a recipe that combines the best of each idea. But remember to get everyone’s input well before they start drinking.
Cook with it (and drink some while you’re at it). Drinking a glass of red wine isn’t the only way to celebrate. Wine not only pairs well with food — it’s a key ingredient in some seriously tasty dishes. Make a meal using red wine as much as possible. You don’t have to look very hard to find recipes for wine-based apps, entrees, and desserts. There’s no need to worry if you don’t use up your entire supply when cooking. Just pour the leftovers into a glass, and enjoy. We have a feeling that the pairing will be spot on.
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