Red wine is an alcoholic beverage that has been enjoyed by humans for literally thousands of years and has now become one of the most popular wines in the world. Among wine-drinking adults in the U.S., red wine is the most popular wine of them all.

But don’t take our word for it; the numbers say it all. According to a recent poll, 69% of Americans prefer red wine to white wine or rosé wine. That is probably why we’re here talking about a holiday that celebrates red wine, aptly known as National Red Wine Day, observed annually on August 28th.

The History Of National Red Wine Day

Archaeologists have discovered evidence of wine fermentation in Georgia, parts of Iran, Greece, and Sicily going back over 8,000 years. These sites feature basic wine fermentation, and the oldest known winery that has been discovered so far is in the caves at Vayots Dzor, Armenia.

This site had a wine press, jars, cups, and fermentation vats and dates back to 4100 B.C. Scientists also found seeds and vines of the Vitis vinifera species—known colloquially as the common grapevine. In ancient Egypt, the wine that was created was mainly red wine.

It was originally thought they made pomegranate wine, but that turned out not to be the case. In 2014, author Jace Shoemaker-Galloway invented National Red Wine Day. She wanted to create a holiday that celebrates the sophistication and beauty of red wine.

Although we’re not sure why she placed this holiday on August 28th, we do know that she wanted everyone to try out a decent red wine on this day and perhaps share it with friends and family members.

Observing National Red Wine Day

Pouring a glass of red wine or sharing a bottle with friends and family members is the perfect way for people to celebrate this holiday. Of course, if a person is going to drink red wine on this day, then they should make sure that they’re going to pair it with something delicious.

Fortunately, there are a number of foods that can be paired with red wine to great effect. These foods include cheese, roast beef, chocolate, mushrooms, pork, pizza, and pasta with a good red sauce. No matter what type of wine or food a person chooses to enjoy on this day, they should let wine lovers around the world know about this holiday as well.

That can easily be done by sharing it with friends and family members or the judicious use of the hashtag #NationalRedWineDay on social media. Now, let’s open that bottle and pour a glass!