In our increasingly digital world - paired with an individualistic society - it’s easy to fall away from hosting. We often feel it's too much of a lift between our work and family responsibilities.
Last week, I came across a BEAUTIFUL podcast from The Ezra Klein Show, in which the host shared a wonderful discussion with Priya Parker, the author of “The Art of Gathering,” about how to remedy this pain-point. I highly recommend you give it a listen.
The core message, “Don’t wait for someone to invite you to a gathering. Take the initiative to host. The rewards will follow.” It was easy for me to see how wine appreciation could be incorporated into this solution.
This month, whether for your valentine or to make the cold more cozy amongst friends, I’m sharing a few suggestions on how to gather around wine.
Open The Good Stuff
Whether gifted or something you bought yourself, it’s easy to wait for “the right occasion” to open the best wine stock. Remember, WINE IS MEANT TO BE OPENED. Call your favorite wine friends and have everyone bring a bottle that is special to them. Invite everyone to bring a story about how a wine resonated or changed them and let the good times roll.
Magnum Party
Nothing sets the stage like a large format bottle! Guests can pool funds to buy 2 or 3 large format bottles. Focus on premier options and give yourselves a reason to shoot the moon with a peak wine experience.
Blind Tasting
Whether new or experienced, tasting wines blind is always revealing. Have everyone bring a bottle of wine in a paper bag and, once opened, mark down their flavors and to guess the variety and country of origin. Make it fun by rewarding top guesses or the most creative tasting notes. This is a disarming way to encourage a deeper dive and get folks to stretch their wine-muscles.
