As Bastille Day approaches, the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) has encouraged international wine drinkers to crack open a bottle of the regional vintage to join the French celebrations.

Bastille Day is the name we English-speaking nations have given to the French National Day, which is celebrated on July 14th every year. Known domestically as 'La Fête Nationale', it remembers the 1790 Fête de la Fédération- the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison- which has been used as a symbol of uprising of the modern nation.

This year, the Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) is calling for drinkers worldwide to crack open a bottle of the regional rouge and join the French in celebrating their day of national pride.

Although it is unlikely that you will have a bottle of 1790 stored in your cellars, you may have a bottle of 1990 lying around, which would be particularly apt for the occasion. The 1990 Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse scored 100 Parker Points, and joined the ranks of several other noticeable '90 wines, such as Angelus, Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Haut Brion, which scored an impressive 98 points.

Megan Wiig, one of Bordeaux's U.S. Wine Buffs and author of Postcards from France explains why celebrating Bastille Day is easier than you think. "Many casual wine drinkers aren't aware that Bordeaux, France's historic wine region famous for bold, high-end red wines, also makes affordable and crowd-pleasing white and rose wines that are perfect for summer entertaining."