The National day calendar could be seen as some what of a joke, and coming from a foreign perspective I’ll admit it seems a bit ridiculous. But is it, really? I typically joke with Italians or people from other cultures that I’ve ran into about how Americans typically look for excuses to have a party of some kind. For instance, halloween: The only reason anyone over the age of 12 does anything at all for halloween is because it’s an opportunity to be with friends, dress silly and have a good time. Another one would be Cinco de Mayo. I’ll be honest, I have thoroughly celebrated this holiday many times without really having a deep cultural understanding of the holiday. Why? Simple, we want an excuse to eat Mexican Cuisine, be with friends and laugh as we try and pronounce things in Spanish. See what I’m getting at here? We’ll find any reason to celebrate anything.

So, that brings us to today! National Drink Wine Day. It’s highly unlikely that someone will have to twist your arm to get you to celebrate today, but I’d like to try and give the day a little more meaning. Not only do these national days give us an excuse, but also an opportunity. We live in such a hectic world with social media, news, sports, you name it, flying at us a million miles per hour. So why not take advantage of a moment to slow down and enjoy something that has an innate ability to bring people together. Once you’ve decided to celebrate, I’d recommend making a quick phone call or sending out messages to those friends who maybe you haven’t heard from in a while or have been on that list of “we need to catch up.” Today, you have the perfect excuse. Then go to your local store, whether that be at the supermarket or an actual wine store, and ask them for something with a story: a Barbera d’Asti. When you choose a wine that you know has been made with hardwork, passion and love for the wine and those who drink it, you are able to add something else to your evening. It’s no longer just a glass of wine while you talk with your friends, it’s something more. You’re now connected to another place, land and culture. You get to go on this journey together, with whomever you are with. That’s the real pleasure of drinking a glass of Barbera d’Asti and being with friends and family.

So, it’s National Drink Wine day. You’re going to celebrate. Maybe you’re not a great cook, the burn water type, or you invited some friends over but you don’t want to cook a meal. What in the world are you going to do?!? Make yourself look even more cultured and put together a beautiful “aperitivo”. It’s easy and a it’s a great way to have a nice snacking session with friends.

There are some simple ingredients to put together a great “aperitivo” spread, and the first, besides the wine, would be some great salamis or sliced meats. I’d suggest keeping things Italian if possible. I’d say any supermarket you go to now, especially the fancy ones (Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Earth Fare, etc.), have a great selection of cured or cooked meats. I have to suggest “proscuitto crudo” which is not really raw (crudo) but it is cured. Completely healthy and wonderfully delicious. The key here is to ask them to cut it as thin as they can, almost transparent if possible. A nice cooked ham is great as well. Also, there are a wide variety of salamis: savory, spicy, aged or fresh, the best the you can do is ask. If you go to the right place they will probably even give you a sample. Next up, CHEESE!! This is another fun part, especially if you go to a store with a knowledgeable employees, because by telling them the wine you’ve chosen they can offer a variety of cheeses that they have. Rich cheeses that are creamy and smooth, as well as aged cheeses go really well with Barbera d’Asti as they contrast well with the acidity.

A lot of places also have a great display window with different pre-made dishes. Just to make sure you cover all your bases, it’s great to get an orzo or potato salad or maybe even roasted vegetables. And to really cap things off, head over to the olive bar and take your pick. Whether you like green or black, stuffed or with the pits still inside, choose the ones you like the most, and maybe one that you’ve never had (it’s good to try new things).

When you get home, take out a nice serving plate or even a large cutting board and have some fun putting things together in creative way. Make sure you have some nice toasted bread, little bread sticks (grissini in Italian) or crackers to add the right crunch to all your little bites.

Once it’s all ready, open your bottle of Barbera d’Asti, let it breathe for a minute, and get ready to open the door. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy the people around you. Use the opportunity of a silly national day to create a wonderful memory with friends and family, maybe even new tradition. So from Italy to America: Happy National Drink Wine Day!

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