Don’t you hate how it’s all of a sudden Global Cab Sauv or Chardonnay day and you are not prepared? I don’t know about you, but when it comes to this sort of thing I hate not being ready for it. Therefore, I have put together a list of important wine days to mark your calendars or you can print out my Wine Days infographic below.
I have mentioned the source (below infographic), just in case you come back and point the finger at me saying I made it up (it’s only Global Wine Day I can be thanked for).
There are not many wine appreciation days which are actually “official”. The majority of them have been started by die-hard fans or wine companies who’ve used social media to help spread the word.
I’ll add to this post as we go through the year in case any other ‘very important’ days pop up/are created. And hey, if they are celebrating a ‘national day’ in Europe or America, I don’t see why we can’t also celebrate in Australia and New Zealand too! Any excuse right?
2020 Wine Holidays
Scroll down for 2021 dates
November:
- 1 November 2020 – International Xinomavro Day
- The Association of Winemakers “Wines of North Greece” recognises the charismatic
“Xinomavro”, as it holds the top rank among the Greek varieties. Thus, it is decided
to establish the “International Xinomavro Day” in order to promote the noble variety
around world.
- The Association of Winemakers “Wines of North Greece” recognises the charismatic
- 7 November 2020 – International Merlot Day
- November 7th every year
- 12 November 2020 – International Tempranillo Day
- Hashtags: #TempranilloDay or #Tempranillo
- Always on the 2nd Thursday of November
- 18 November 2020 – National Zinfandel Day
- 3rd Wednesday in November every year
- 19 November 2020 – Beaujolais Nouveau Day
- 3rd Thursday in November every year
- 24 November 2020 – Carmenère Day
- 24 November every year
December:
- 4 December 2020 – Cabernet Franc Day
- December 4th every year
- 20 December 2020 – Sangria Day
- December 20th every year
2021 Wine Holidays
February:
- 1 February 2021 – International Furmint Day
- Always the 1st of Feb every year
- #FurmintDay
- 18 February 2021 – Global Drink Wine Day
- Celebrated every year on the 18th of February
- 27 February 2021 – Open That Bottle Night
- Always the last Saturday in February
March:
- 3 March 2021 – Mulled Wine Day
- Celebrated every year on the 3rd of March
- 13 March 2020 – Riesling’s Birthday
- Celebrated every year on the 13th of March
April:
- 17 April 2021 – Malbec World Day
- Celebrated every year on the 17th of April
- 27 April 2021 – World Marselan Day
- Celebrated every year on the 27th of April
May:
- 7 May 2021 – International Sauvignon Blanc Day
- Celebrated always on the first Friday in May
- Official hashtag: #SauvBlancDay
- 9 May 2021 – World Moscato Day
- Every year on the 9th of May
- Learn more about Moscato Wine via my ultimate guide
- 27 May 2021 – International Chardonnay Day
- Celebrated on the Thursday before Memorial Day (U.S.) each year thanks to the creator Rick Bakas
- Learn more about Chardonnay via my ultimate guide
- 25 May 2021 – National Wine Day (USA)
- Every year on the 25th of May
- Official hashtag: #NationalWineDay
June:
- TBC June 2021 – International Drink Chenin Blanc Day
- Learn more about Chenin Blanc via my ultimate guide
- 11 June 2021 – World Lambrusco Day
- 25 June 2021 – International Rosé Day (4th Friday of June every year)
- Learn more about Rose Wine via my ultimate guide
July:
- 22 July 2021 – Shiraz Day
- The 4th Thursday of July every year
- Read about my favourite food & Shiraz matches
August:
- 1-5 August 2021 – International Albariño Days
- Learn more about Albariño wine
- Typically the first 5 days of August (I am not 100% sure of the 2021 dates FYI)
- 4 August 2021 – National White Wine Day
- 4th of August every year
- 18 August 2021 – International Pinot Noir Day
- 18th of August every year
September:
- 2 September 2021 – International Cabernet Day
- The Thursday before the US Labour Day every year (Monday, 6 September = Labor Day 2021 in United States)
- Creator: Rick Bakas
- Official hashtag: #CabernetDay
- Here are 7 things you (probably) didn’t know about Cabernet Sauvignon
- 17 September 2021 – International Grenache Day
- Celebrated on the 3rd Friday in September every year
- Official hashtag: #GrenacheDay
- Facebook Page
October:
- 9 October 2021 – International Pinotage Day
- Celebrated on the second Saturday of October every year
- 15 October 2021 – Champagne Day
- Here are 20 Ways to Celebrate International Champagne Day!
- Official hashtag: #ChampagneDay
- I believe it’s celebrated on the 3rd Friday in October every year
- 28 October 2021 – Carignan Day
- Last Thursday in October every year
November:
- 1 November 2021 – International Xinomavro Day
- The Association of Winemakers “Wines of North Greece” recognises the charismatic
“Xinomavro”, as it holds the top rank among the Greek varieties. Thus, it is decided
to establish the “International Xinomavro Day” in order to promote the noble variety
around world. - The 1st of November every year
- The Association of Winemakers “Wines of North Greece” recognises the charismatic
- 7 November 2021 – International Merlot Day
- November 7th every year
- 11 November 2021 – International Tempranillo Day
- Hashtags: #TempranilloDay or #Tempranillo
- Always on the 2nd Thursday of November
- 17 November 2021 – National Zinfandel Day
- 3rd Wednesday in November every year
- 18 November 2021 – Beaujolais Nouveau Day
- 3rd Thursday in November every year
- 24 November 2021 – Carmenère Day
- 24 November every year
December:
- 4 December 2021 – Cabernet Franc Day
- December 4th every year
- 20 December 2021 – Sangria Day
- December 20th every year
If you know of any other important wine appreciation dates please let me know by leaving a comment below. Cheers!
Hi Emy, thanks for the heads up! I’ll add it in now 🙂
Thank you for the great initiative Casey. Can you please add the world Marselan day on April 27. http://www.worldmarselanday.com/. It’s celebrated in China and spreading around Bulgaria and many other countries
Hi Kate, I am actually just about to add it as I think people are trying to get it started: https://www.mastermindconsulting.com.au/blog/shirazday/ 🙂
Is there a World Shiraz Day for 2020 and 2021? This source says it is 23 July:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/trishbarry_shirazwineday-varietaldays-winemarketing-activity-6686565234854899712-UsJx/
Thanks Stephanie!
National Bubbly Day is the first Saturday in June. https://nationaldaycalendar.com/days-2/national-bubbly-day-first-saturday-in-june/
Oooo thanks for that Sacha – I’ll update it, good spotting!
Hi Casey,
Was just checking on the upcoming days to see what I had to look forward to while in lock-down and noticed an error. World Lambrusco Day is on the 20th June, 2020 according to their Twitter feed.
Happy Malbec drinking for today though… 🙂
Thanks so much for the heads up Peter, I’ll add it in now 🙂
International #FurmintDay is on February 1 every year …
Hi Sacha, thank you so much for that – I am going to update it right now – most appreciated 🙂 Cheers, Casey
The Wine Geek’s International Rose Day on the 14th August is no longer promoted and your website link goes to an error page.
The National Rose Day on the 2nd Saturday in June is only celebrated in the USA and is more of a promo for the Bodvar brand.
However the Organisation Internationale du Rose have launched an International Rose Day on the fourth Friday of June each year. Perhaps this is more relevant to everyone?
See more info below:
https://www.provencewinezine.com/an-international-rose-day-is-launched-from-provence/
http://www.rose-day.fr/organisation-internationale-du-rose/
Time to update your list again perhaps? 🙂
Is there one? I can definitely add it if there is 🙂
What about Riesling?
Will do, thanks for the heads up!
You should add Carmenere Day, Nov 24.
http://www.winesofchile.org/es/news/11-2016/este-24-de-noviembre-celebramos-el-d%C3%ADa-del-carmen%C3%A8re
Oooo brilliant, thank you for the heads up on that one Alesha!
Casey Thank you!)
Carignan Renaissance has proclaimed the last Thursday of October to be Carignan Day.
Ooo thanks for the heads up Thomas 🙂
Thanks for providing the list of wine days to celebrate, very convenient. Just an FYI, there is a typo for March 2019.
Thanks for your comment Maike and I am so glad you ended up finding my post 🙂 Your International Cabernet Day sounded fantastic!! I’ll do some research regarding Syrah Day and see what I can dig up. Thanks for the heads up and cheers!
I read about International Cabernet Day on facebook yesterday, googled it and ended up here 🙂 I live in Germany and of course, my family decided to join in the celebration. To make it even more international we had one bottle from South Africa and one from Chile. Thanks for the inspiration and your list! My husband was looking for a Shiraz Day. I found a facebook-post saying that International Syrah Day was on Feb 16th. Maybe you’d like to add this to your list. (I counldn’t really find out who started it though)
Thanks for the heads up Katti!
I believe National Zinfandel Day is the 3rd Thursday of November.
Ooo brilliant, thanks for the heads up Johan!
International Pinotage Day is on 14 October 2017
Haha nothing wrong at all with celebrating 2 days in a row Carmen – practice makes perfect right 😉
Thanks for this!!!! I almost celebrated Cabernet Sauvignon day too early, imagine I would’ve had to celebrate two days in a row! Hmmmmm….
Your welcome – enjoy all the upcoming wine days Villa 🙂
Great post, thanks for sharing the list…
Oh my, how terrible of me not to already have that on the list! Thanks for much for that JME – adding it now 🙂
What about National Rosé Day? It is the second Saturday of June. This year it is June 10, 2017. Is it an international declaration?
National Rosé Day was submitted to and approved by the registrar of National Day Calendar in October of 2014 by Bodvár – House of Rosés – a Rosé House specializing in Rosé wines to raise awareness and give Rosé lovers a day to celebrate with “summer’s water”.
Thanks for the heads up on Tannat Day Bugabea!
El día del Tannat del Uruguay (nuestra cepa insignia ) es el 14 de abril. Lo fijó la autoridad nacional del vino.
In Uruguay “Tannat Day” es 14 abril. Uruguay is known over the world because of Tannat.
http://www.wineriesofuruguay.com/notas/leer/inavi_establecio_el_14_de_abril_como_dia_del_tannat
Awesome thanks for the confirmation Derek!
Thanks for sharing this list of important holidays! One correction: Chardonnay Day is May 25th this year (2017); it is defined by creator Rick Bakas as the Thursday before Memorial Day (U.S.) each year (similar to #CabernetDay in the autumn). Cheers!
I have done some further research and the US National Drink Wine Day is Feb 18th for sure (which I say we make it Global Drink Wine Day) and #ChardonnayDay should more accurately be the 26th of May – every year – you can find more details here: https://tigchandler.com/2011/05/30/international-chardonnay-day/ & http://grapevine.webologyworlddemo.com/world-chardonnay-day-26th-may/ I have updated the post accordingly, cheers for the heads up 🙂
Hmm…I’m seeing Chardonnay Day on May 21, and National Wine Day for May 25 in 2017…if Chard day changes as everyone says, then yes, it would be the 25th. Can anyone clarify?
Hi Carma, yep some of them will change and yes I will be doing a 2017 version 🙂
Hey Casey! Do you know if all these days are the same each year or if they change? Or are you looking at putting together a 2017 list at all?
Thanks Carolyn!
November 19, 2016 national Zinfandel day
Awesome thanks for that 🙂
Rick Bakas, who actually created International Cabernet Day back in 2010, says it’s the Thursday before Labor Day meaning Thursday 1st September this year, FYI.
Awesome thanks for the heads up guys!
International Chardonnay Day is the Thursday before the last Monday in May (Thursday before American Memorial Day), so it will be May 25 in 2017.