We’ve celebrated a lot of French wine varietal days throughout 2021 for varietals that are well-known and some that are lesser-known. Join us as we take a look back through 2021 in wine.
JANUARY
There are no days in January dedicated to French wine varietals but New Year’s Day is also Bloody Mary Day – did you know the Bloody Mary was invented in a bar in Paris?
FEBRUARY
16th International Syrah Day – the day celebrating the grape known by many names which is also celebrated later in the year under its Shiraz moniker. There’s also an official facebook page celebrating the grape and its day.
MARCH
13th International Riesling Day – celebrated on 13th March annually since 2019. This date is also known as Riesling’s birthday because 13 March 1435 is the date of an invoice which is the earliest documented date making reference to Riesling or Riesslingen as it was known in Germany – the heartland of Riesling – at the time.
APRIL
17th World Malbec Day – While very much a French grape, Argentina has made it its own and Wines of Argentina hose 17th April as World Malbec Day in recognition of the day, on which President Domingo Faustino Sarmiento of Argentina officially made it his mission to transform Argentina’s wine industry.
27th World Marselan Day – The date was chosen to honour the creator of the Marselan varietal , Paul Truel who was born on April 27, 1924.
30th International Viognier Day – Australia’s Yalumba wines declared the last Friday in April to be International Viognier Day.
MAY
7th International Sauvignon Blanc Day is celebrated on the first Monday in May (but also by some on 24th April)
9th National Moscato Day – a celebration of the grape and wines known as Muscat in France and not always sickly sweet like wines by the Moscato name.
17th Pinot Grigio Day – we took a look at this varietal by its French name, Pinot Gris.
21st Chardonnay Day – the date changes each year as it is held on the Thursday before Memorial Day in the USA
JUNE
18th Drink Chenin Day – an initiative of Portland, Oregon winemakers Kate Norris and Thomas Monroe, #DrinkChenin Day celebrates what they call “the greatest white grape varietal on earth”. It’s held on the 3rd Saturday of June each year.
24th (and or 12th) Rosé Day is held on the 4th Friday in June each year (but also on 12th June).
JULY FRENCH WINE VARIETAL DAYS
22nd Shiraz Day – this was the 2nd annual Shiraz Day which is held on the 4th Friday in July. We took a look at this varietal by its French name, syrah.
AUGUST FRENCH WINE VARIETAL DAYS
18th International Pinot Noir Day – a day celebrating one of the oldest grapes – Pinot Noir is 1000 years older than Cabernet Sauvignon! It is held on 18th August each year.
30th International Cabernet Day – Cabernet Sauvignon gets its annual celebration on 30th August but for some the Thursday before Labor Day in the USA where the day originated.
SEPTEMBER FRENCH WINE VARIETAL DAYS
17th International Grenache Day – Grenache is celebrated on the 3rd Friday in September each year.
OCTOBER FRENCH WINE VARIETAL DAYS
22nd Champagne Day – Comité Champagne have declared that the 4th Friday in October shall be #ChampagneDay. This year we spoke about the types, styles and key champagne terms. As always, we shared recommendations from French wine importers. This is perhaps one of the most popular and celebrated French wine varietal days.
28th International Carignan Day – held on the last Thursday each October, this is one of the lesser-known French wine varietals, Carignan. While the grape is thought to have its origins in the North-Western Spanish region of Aragon, this grape is also found in the South of France, in the Languedocian regions of Aude, Gard and Héraul.
NOVEMBER FRENCH VARIETAL DAYS
18th Beaujolais Nouveau – celebrated on the 3rd Thursday of November each year, the day heralds the arrival of the new wine from the latest vintage. With COVID-19, there wasn’t any Beaujolais Nouveau 2021 in Australia so we expanded the celebration of the day to include Beaujolais and Gamay.
24th Carménère Day – a day celebrating a French varietal you may not have heard of – it was thought to be extinct for a long time. It’s held on the 24th November each year.
DECEMBER FRENCH WINE VARIETAL DAYS
4th International Cabernet Franc Day – a day celebrating the grape and wines which are often seen as the feminine version of the more masculine cabernet sauvignon. Held on the 4th each year.
16th Pinot Meunier Day – while we didn’t publish an article for this day, it’s worth mentioning that this Pinot Meunier Day is celebrated on the 16th each year.
Which French wine varietal days do you celebrate? Cheers to another year of French wine!
