National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day
July 18
About National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day
National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day is celebrated in the United States on the third Saturday in July, falling on Saturday, 18 July 2026. The day champions strawberry rhubarb wine, a sweet and tangy fruit wine, and was created by Maple River Winery in Casselton, North Dakota. It is a relaxed, glass-in-hand celebration of country winemaking and the pairing of two classic summer crops.
How to Celebrate National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day
This is a day made for slowing down and enjoying a glass, so the best way to mark it is simply to taste, share, and explore. Here are eight ways to get involved:
- Pour a glass of strawberry rhubarb wine – Track down a bottle from a fruit winery and serve it well chilled. Its sweet-tart character shines when it is cold, much like a glass of summer sangria.
- Visit a local fruit winery – Many small wineries produce country wines from berries and rhubarb rather than grapes. Book a tasting and ask the winemaker how they balance the tartness of rhubarb against the sweetness of strawberries.
- Try making your own batch – Home winemakers can ferment strawberries and rhubarb with sugar, water, yeast and a little acid blend. It is a forgiving recipe, though you will need to start weeks in advance, so consider this a long-term project to enjoy next year.
- Host a fruit wine tasting – Invite friends to bring different fruit wines, from elderberry to blackcurrant, and compare them side by side with the strawberry rhubarb as the guest of honour.
- Pair it with dessert – Strawberry rhubarb wine echoes the flavours of a classic strawberry rhubarb pie, so serve it alongside fruit crumbles, cheesecake, or shortbread for a natural match.
- Mix a wine spritzer – Top a measure of the wine with soda water, ice and a few fresh strawberries for a lighter, lower-alcohol drink perfect for a warm July afternoon.
- Cook with it – Reduce the wine into a syrup to drizzle over ice cream, or use a splash to deglaze a pan when making a summer fruit sauce.
- Support a small producer – Buy direct from an independent or family-run winery. Country fruit wines are often made in small batches, and your purchase helps keep regional winemaking traditions going.
What is National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day?
National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day is an annual celebration of strawberry rhubarb wine, a fruit wine that blends the bright sweetness of ripe strawberries with the sharp, tangy bite of rhubarb. It sits within the broader family of “country wines”, a term used for any fermented drink made from fruit, vegetables, herbs or flowers rather than grapes. The day is enjoyed by fruit wine fans, home winemakers, and anyone who appreciates the flavours of a summer harvest in a glass. It is an informal observance with no fixed rules, beyond raising a glass to a genuinely distinctive drink.
When is National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day?
National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day takes place on the third Saturday in July every year. In 2026 that falls on Saturday, 18 July. Because the date is tied to the third Saturday rather than a fixed calendar date, it shifts slightly each year. The table below shows the dates for the next five years.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, 18 July |
| 2027 | Saturday, 17 July |
| 2028 | Saturday, 15 July |
| 2029 | Saturday, 21 July |
| 2030 | Saturday, 20 July |
The History of National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day
The day was created by Maple River Winery, a family winery in the historic downtown of Casselton, North Dakota. The winery has been producing wines from locally grown fruit since 2002, and strawberry rhubarb is among its best-known bottles. Each spring the winery brings in tons of North Dakota rhubarb followed by fresh local strawberries, fermenting them into a wine that is often described as tasting like fresh strawberry rhubarb pie.
That wine earned national recognition when it was named the best fruit wine of 2010 at the Indy International Wine Competition, one of the largest wine competitions in the United States. Buoyed by that success and the popularity of the bottle, the winery established National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day, with the observance settling on the third Saturday in July, placing it firmly in the heart of summer when both fruits are at their seasonal best.
The choice of mid-July is fitting. Rhubarb is one of the earliest crops of the year, while strawberries reach their peak in early summer, so by July there is a ready supply of both. The pairing itself has a long culinary heritage, most famously in the strawberry rhubarb pie, and turning that combination into wine is a natural extension of a much-loved flavour partnership. If you enjoy celebrating drinks with regional roots, you might also like English Wine Week, which spotlights another country’s homegrown wine industry.
Fun Facts About National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day
- Maple River Winery’s strawberry rhubarb wine was crowned best fruit wine of 2010 at the Indy International Wine Competition.
- The winery has been crafting wines from locally grown fruit since 2002 in Casselton, North Dakota.
- Rhubarb is technically a vegetable, even though it is most often used in sweet dishes and, here, in wine.
- Country wines can be made from almost any fruit, vegetable, herb or flower, with grapes being the notable exception that defines conventional wine.
- The day always lands on the third Saturday of July, so it never falls on the same calendar date two years running.
- Strawberry rhubarb wine is frequently described as tasting like a liquid version of strawberry rhubarb pie, sweet up front with a tart finish.
Why National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day Matters
Beyond the simple pleasure of a good glass, the day shines a light on small, independent fruit wineries that often work outside the mainstream grape-wine world. These producers keep regional crops, traditional recipes and local agriculture alive, and a dedicated day gives them a moment of well-earned attention. It is also a reminder that wine does not have to come from grapes to be worth celebrating, and that summer’s harvest can be enjoyed long after the fruit itself has gone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day?
It is an annual American celebration of strawberry rhubarb wine, a country fruit wine that combines sweet strawberries with tart rhubarb. It was created by Maple River Winery in North Dakota to mark one of its signature bottles.
When is National Strawberry Rhubarb Wine Day in 2026?
It falls on Saturday, 18 July 2026. The day is always held on the third Saturday in July, so the exact date shifts a little each year.
What does strawberry rhubarb wine taste like?
It is typically sweet and tangy, balancing the ripe sweetness of strawberries against the sharp tartness of rhubarb. Many people compare the flavour to a glass of liquid strawberry rhubarb pie, and it is best served well chilled.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best strawberry rhubarb wine photos on social media with #StrawberryRhubarbWineDay and #StrawberryRhubarbWineDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to take part!
Related Awareness Days
- English Wine Week – A week-long celebration of England’s homegrown wine industry, perfect for fellow wine enthusiasts.
- National Prosecco Day – A lively toast to the popular Italian sparkling wine, another reason to raise a glass in summer.
- National Champagne Day – A celebration of the world’s most famous sparkling wine, ideal for ending the year on a high note.
Links
- Visit the Maple River Winery strawberry rhubarb wine page
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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