After surviving Dry January, do you really need encouragement to pop open a bottle of wine in February? In case you do, we have a few international and national wine days coming up in February to give you a little extra incentive:
We’ll Toast to These International and National Wine Days in February
February 5: Australia & New Zealand National Rosé Day (it’s 5 o’clock somewhere on the globe!).
I will be an Aussie or a Kiwi for this day as long as I can open a bottle of rosé, because why NOT? Since I am not in the southern hemisphere (where it is summer in February), I will pop a bottle of a robust southern Rhône Valley Chateau d’Aqueria Tavel Rosé, which is better suited for the below-freezing temperatures outside. This deep salmon-colored, bone-dry rosé has a full and creamy mouthfeel and hints of wildflowers and strawberries with a crisp velvety finish on the palate.
February 18: Global Drink Wine Day
Global! Indeed, I must comply; we are all citizens of the world, so why not try something new from the global vineyard? A bottle of Malbec from The Seeker collection of wines from around the world plays nicely with the globetrotter theme. This delicious and playful blend of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Bonarda grapes from the Mendoza region of Argentina is a perfect any-night wine. It bursts with fresh red fruit and is smooth and robust, with juicy, ripe black cherry flavors culminating in a lingering, spicy finish. It pairs perfectly with wintry stews, roasts, steak, Cajun, or Indian-style dishes—or just sip on its own on a chilly February night.
February 26: Open That Bottle Night
Wall Street Journal columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher created ‘Open That Bottle Night’ in 2000, and it takes place annually on the last Saturday of February. The night is intended to motivate you to open that bottle you have been hoarding for a special occasion and share it and its story with friends—sans the special occasion, but to enjoy it just because.
If we learned anything these past two years, it’s that life is fleeting. We need to celebrate it and treat ourselves any chance we get. So, dust off one of your precious bottles hidden deep in your cellar; or if you are a space-challenged New Yorker without a cellar or a wine fridge, there are plenty of excellent wine shops where you can pick up a special bottle to open tonight. I plan to open a bottle of Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT. This Super Tuscan gem, well-known in wine connoisseur circles, is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet, and Petit Verdot. It has a rich and complex bouquet of blackcurrants on the nose and subtle velvety tannins with aromas of concentrated luscious black fruit and chocolate on the palate, with a long and elegant finish. Cheers to great wines and friends!
