National Wine Day is on Tuesday, May 25, 2027, and it falls on May 25 every year. It’s a day for adults 21 and older to appreciate wine, from the grapes and the growers to the glass. If you choose to celebrate, do it responsibly.
When Is National Wine Day?
It’s always May 25. It’s an unofficial day, often marked by wineries, wine shops and restaurants with tastings and specials. National Drink Wine Day is a separate observance in February.
Who Started National Wine Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Background: the oldest known wine
People have been making wine for at least 8,000 years. In 2017, researchers reported chemical traces of wine in pottery jar fragments from the country of Georgia. They came from two Neolithic sites about 50 kilometers south of Tbilisi.
The residue dates to around 6,000 B.C., the Institute of Food Technologists notes. That’s 600 to 1,000 years earlier than the previous oldest evidence, from Iran’s Zagros Mountains. The study appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Co-author Stephen Batiuk of the University of Toronto called it “the oldest example of the domestication of a wild-growing Eurasian grapevine.”
Why Celebrate Wine?
Wine connects agriculture, geography and culture. The same grape can taste very different depending on the soil, climate and winemaker, which is what makes tasting interesting.
The day also supports wineries and vineyard workers, from small family farms to large estates.
What is a standard glass of wine?
In the U.S., one standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) says. For table wine at about 12% alcohol, that’s 5 fluid ounces.
Restaurant and home pours are often larger, and some wines are stronger. Fortified wines like port count as a standard drink at just 3 to 4 ounces.
How to Celebrate National Wine Day
- Visit a local winery: most states have wineries; book a tasting and arrange a designated driver or ride.
- Taste side by side: compare the same grape from two regions, or two grapes from one region.
- Pair with food: try a crisp white with seafood or a fruity red with grilled food.
- Learn the label: look up the grape, region and vintage on your next bottle.
- Pour sensibly: use a measuring cup once to see what 5 ounces looks like in your glass.
- Try a non-alcoholic option: alcohol-free wines let everyone join the toast.
- Cook with wine: deglaze a pan or make a wine-based sauce; much of the alcohol cooks off, but not all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many ounces is a glass of wine?
A standard drink of table wine is 5 ounces at about 12% alcohol. Many glasses hold far more, so check your pour.
Where was wine first made?
The oldest known chemical evidence comes from Georgia in the South Caucasus, dating to around 6,000 B.C.
Who should not drink wine?
People under 21, anyone who is pregnant, driving or taking medicines that interact with alcohol, and people who choose not to drink.