Food Holidays: April 24th, 2022

Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: April 24th, 2022. Today is National Wine Day and after all this time of looking for a apartment of home I am excited to let you know we found a place. Which we will move into on the 17th of June. To celebrate I think David and I will have a glass of Wine when he gets home. I hope he brings Sangria. Would you like to join us for a glass?

National Wine Day

We don’t typically need an “official” reason to celebrate over a bottle of Wine but today we have one. Did you know it’s National Wine Day. Which is celebrated annually on May 25th. The growing number of Wineries across the US coupled with Social Media options has prompted more creative ways to celebrate Wine for people of all legal drinking ages and beverage preferences. Whether you host a Wine Tasting Party at home to try the latest Rosés or meet family for an evening of Food and Wine, let the celebration begin.

WHEN IS NATIONAL WINE DAY 2022?

Wine lovers celebrate the fermented drink’s many types on National Wine Day on May 25.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL WINE DAY

Wine has been enjoyed by humans for thousands of years. The natural likeness for Wine is not only because it tastes wonderful, but also because of its nutritional value and psychotropic effects. 

Wine has also had a significant impact on the economy and the shaping of Societies. Out of all the Alcoholic beverages, it is the trade of Wine that allowed exploration of different cultures and paved the way for philosophical and religious ideas to spread. Wine is cited frequently in the “Bible,” from the time of Noah to Jesus, indicating its integral role. Wine-making was also seen as a sign of a provident economy, as only provident Societies could accommodate a well-established Wine industry. In fact, it is often debated that the foundations of Western Society were built on Wine.  

Wine enjoyed in the olden days is a distant relative to Wine enjoyed today. Red, pink, green, white, and blue Grapes were used by the Egyptians to prepare the drink. Palm Dates, Figs, and Pomegranates were often added to the mix too. The taste was completely different from what we know. Using different Fruit to make Wine is similar to how it is prepared using Grapes, except that Sugar is also added to aid the fermentation process.  

The exact origin of National Wine Day is unknown, but the earliest references date back to 2009 which is a day for Wine enthusiasts to unite and celebrate there favorite fermented Fruit Juice. 

Since its establishment in 1812 by Spanish Missionaries, California’s Wine Country in the Northern Bay Area of Northern California has dominated American Wine production and our personal vision of the elegant American Vineyard. There were a mere 25 Wineries in this area of California in 1974. Today, there are over 800!

While California still leads U.S. Wine production and is now home to over 4,000 Wineries State-wide, Wineries exist across the U.S. with at least three in every State. In fact, the most frequently visited Winery today is the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, with over one million people annually.

This availability of Wineries enables us to visit a Vineyard closer to home. It is very likely there is a Vineyard near you, for a fun day trip or weekend getaway.

TRADITIONS

Traditions for National Wine Day revolve around indulging in and celebrating Wine! Family get together and uncork bottles of Wine. Splurging on expensive Wine is also the norm today. Treat yourself to that fancy Wine you’ve always wanted to buy.

Wine tasting events are hosted, allowintg Wine lovers to enjoy different flavors and varieties of Wine. Wine bottles are pleasing, so reusing Wine bottles for a DIY project, or making a rack from scratch are also go-to celebratory traditions for National Wine Day.

BY THE NUMBERS

55 degrees is the optimal temperature for storing Wine.

60 gallons is the amount of Wine found in a single barrel. 

4-10 isthe number of clusters of Grapes in a single bottle of Wine.

10 is the number of bottles of Wine that a single Vineyard is able to produce. 

NATIONAL WINE DAY ACTIVITIES

1. What better way to celebrate the beginning of Summer than with friends over a Sangria bar? Sangria is an easy, make-ahead beverage with Wine as its base. Red, white and Rosé recipes abound. Don’t limit yourself to the obvious. Peach or Blueberry Lemonade Sangria taste so good.
2. Chances are, if you’re making plans for National Wine Day, you don’t consider yourself an amateur. Aficionados need gadgets. Treat yourself to an electric wine bottle opener or a wine aerator.
3. The extensive variety of stemware can be confusing with so many choices? The shape of the bowl controls the amount of air reaching the Wine surface which impacts the taste and aroma. Celebrate National Wine Day by researching the recommended glass to use based on Wine type.

5 FACTS ABOUT WINE BOTTLES

1. There are over a dozen different sizes of Wine bottles, many named after Biblical kings or historical figures.
2. At 30 liters, the largest wine bottle size is named “Melchizedek” or “Midas” holding 200 glasses of Wine.
3. Almost 70% of Wine bottles are sealed with natural cork; and the majority of this cork comes from Portugal.
4. There are over 60,000 Wine labels.
5. One bottle of Wine holds an average of 600 Grapes.

WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL WINE DAY

1. There are 5 basic types of Wine: red, white, Rose, sparkling and dessert), and thousands of varieties of Wine Grapes. The options you have for trying a new Wine are endless. You’ll never get bored in your pursuit for trying something new.
2. Wine is not the type of beverage you drink quickly. You sip Wine. Savor Wine. Linger with Wine. Which means, you are likely lingering with whomever you’re sharing a glass with. Taking your time to enjoy a glass of Wine allows you to enjoy other things including people, and food.
3. Each bottle of Wine tells a unique story. If you close your eyes, Wine’s aromas and flavors can transport you to faraway lands, giving you hints about the soil and Weather the Grapes grew in. The landscape of the Country the Wine originated in. As welll as what was happening in the World at the time the Wine was bottled.

National Brown-Bag It Day

National Brown-Bag It Day is celebrated annually on May 25th. This holiday is an ode to the unsung hero in our lives that gives us many benefits. Brown bags have been used in grocery stores and to pack and carry lunches to school or work. Brown Bags are great and they not only help us save some money that we would have otherwise spent on buying lunch but also encourage us to pack home-cooked meals and stay healthy. Brown Bags truly deserve a holiday dedicated to them.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL BROWN-BAG IT DAY

National Brown-Bag It Day is a fairly recent celebration and has been observed for less than a decade. It’s not known who established National Brown-Bag It Day.

Brown paper bags have been part of our daily lives for many years. Knowingly or unknowingly, we use brown bags almost everywhere including packing lunches, carrying groceries, or even making Halloween masks, and crafts.

However, brown bags did have to be invented at some point for brown bags to have made an entry and improvement on our lives. The invention of the brown paper bag has been attributed to many innovators including Francis Wolle, Margaret Knight, and Walter Deubener. These people endeavored to make brown bags the best version of itself, be it through adapting the design, functionality, or pricing. Thanks to their efforts, we now have a timeless product that is widely used across the Country and World.

People have been brown-bagging their lunches to school or work for a while now. However, the trend seems to have slowed down with people’s hectic schedules. In fact, between 2012 and 2013, Americans spent a whopping $1,000 on lunch each year. Imagine if you’d just brown-bagged your lunch you would have saved quite a bit of money and even help you eat healthy becuase you can control the portions of the food you pack.

National Brown-Bag It Day is the perfect occasion to bring brown bags back in style and encourage people to start using brown bags more often.

HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL BROWN-BAG IT DAY

1. Make it your mission to brown-bag your lunch for work today and have your kids do the same for school. Pick your favorite foods and enjoy a delicious home-prepared meal. You might even inspire others to follow suit.
2. It’s easier buying brown bags, but you can save money by making your own! Why not use National Brown-Bag It Day for a little DIY craft project. Get supplies like sheets of brown paper from the store and get to work. Make a few for yourself and even give some brown bags to family to show them that brown bags are still cool.
3. It’s a rather unconventional idea but if you do have some spare brown bags lying around at home, why not use them as a blank canvas? Unleash your creativity and paint something beautiful on the brown bags which you can show off at work or school.

5 FACTS ABOUT BROWN PAPER BAGS

1. Paper bags are made from trees, making them a renewable source, unlike plastic bags.
2. Brown bag stake a month to decompose while plastic bags take 10 to 100 years to decompose.
3. Paper bags consume less energy during production, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
4. Paper bags can be reused at home for multiple purposes including storage of certain foods.
5. Paper bags are ideal for composting and brown bags can be used to contain food waste.

WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL BROWN-BAG IT DAY

1. When we are stuck in our busy lives, it’s easy to rely on bought meals which are more convenient but Brown-Bag It Day is a great place to start if you’re looking to save some money and live on a budget. Brown-bagging lunches for work and school will help you save the money you’d end up spending on take-out.
2. Who said brown bags only have to be used for carrying lunches? You can use brown bags to carry small non-fragile belongings, including craft supplies. Use brown bags as shopping bags, and much more.
3. Deciding to brown-bag your lunch to work will encourage you to form healthier eating habits. You’ll know what’s going in your food and this way you can work on having a more balanced diet.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates