Calling All Wine Lovers: Here’s How to Celebrate National Wine Day on a Budget

It’s time to wind down and pour open a bottle of wine with some of your closest friends. With National Wine Day (May 25th) right around the corner, we could all use another reason to raise a toast and celebrate those much-anticipated summer evenings with some aged Merlot or sparkly Rosé. Plus, there are tons of ways to celebrate National Wine Day without going over budget. Below, we’ve compiled a budget-friendly list of fun things to do during National Wine Day for all types of wine lovers to enjoy.

Enjoy wine cocktails with good company.

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Picture a beautiful sunny afternoon on the back patio with a few good friends and a pitch of wine cocktails. Sure, it may be a little idyllic, but doesn’t it sound just perfect and relaxing? If your taste aligns with the more classic wine combinations, try the Red Wine Berry Spritzer. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try a trending flavor combination, make the vibrantly flavored Cotton Candy Champagne Cocktail. Pro tip: Make sure you’ve got a patio-friendly pitcher to serve with and send out those invites.

Signup for a local vineyard wine tasting.

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What better way to learn about the rich history of the wine you’re drinking than supporting a local business and scheduling a wine tasting? The process to make wine is so complex, and most of us don’t know anything about it. Make sure to schedule your booking ahead of time to reserve your spot. Luckily, there are plenty of websites where you can look up local wineries and book your preferred time and date.

Cook with wine.

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For the foodie in each of us, learning to cook has been a special treat this year. While there are so many different diet trends circulating social media, nothing beats a traditional meal with savory flavors. Since we’ve dabbled with wine for thousands of years, it’s fitting that National Wine Day is all about celebrating wine traditions. Why not learn some new recipes that involve cooking with wine? Kohl’s has a wonderful cookbook that is dedicated to the art of cooking with wine. As an added bonus, you can use leftover wine that you already have in the house.

Create a DIY wine rack.

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Who doesn’t need more storage space for their wine collection? We’re always running out of room. If you have an empty wall, then we’ve got the perfect DIY wine rack for you to tackle. Pick up all the supplies you need from your local Home Depot and get to it. The rack we’ve found holds up to 16 bottles at a time and it’ll look fancy at dinner parties.

Pop open a bottle and celebrate.

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If you like to keep things simple and want to sit back and relax with a glass in hand, then don’t let us sway you otherwise. There is literally nothing better than a freshly opened bottle of wine at the end of a long work day. Make sure to stock up on your favorite bottle of wine beforehand, whether that’s a full-bodied Malbec or a light, citrusy Pinot Grigio. If you don’t have a wine cooler for your red collection, make sure to get one since red wines are supposed to be kept between 55° and 65°.

Use wine to bake delicious goods.

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We don’t know about you, but we really got into baking this year and of course are obsessed with “The Great British Bake Off" because, well, do we need to explain? Have you baked with wine? If you haven’t, then you are in for a treat! For a rich dessert, try the Chocolate Red Wine Cake and serve with a drizzle of chocolate on top for some gooey goodness. For a light and airy dessert, try the Raspberry Rosé Wine Cupcakes. Make sure you have plenty of cupcake tins ready because we know you’re going to want to make more than one batch.

Create stylish wine decor.

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If you love cooking with wine, why not consider decorate with it, too? You love to cook with your We love saving corks from special bottles of wine and writing the dates they were opened as a special keepsake. Sometimes we also like to note the occasion it was opened for as well. Our new favorite hobby is storing them in this stylish wine barrel-shaped jar. If you don’t have counter space and prefer a decoration that hangs on a wall, try getting out a hot glue gun and creating a wreath with your old corks.

Throw a wine picnic.

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Pick your favorite local park and prepare a basket with a bottle (or two). Don’t forget to grab some sturdy outdoor tumblers and enjoy the sunshine. Invite a close friend or that special someone with some slow jams from this portable waterproof Bluetooth speaker.

Indulge in a bowl of wine and ice cream, the most perfect combo.

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Another warm-weather classic: ice cream! Not only can you enjoy it in a bowl so it doesn’t melt all over your hands, but you can serve yourself as big of a portion as you wish. We found a tasty recipe for both red and white wine ice cream that’ll make your taste buds melt with joy. Just whip up a batch in your ice cream maker in the comfort of your own home and share the batch with a friend or two.

Make some wine popsicles.

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This popsicle recipe has options for either red wine or white wine, so no matter what your preference is, you’re sure to enjoy it. Plus, this easy recipe only calls for four ingredients! DIY-ers: Make sure you’ve got your popsicle molds ready!