Open That Bottle Night

Open That Bottle Night is February 28!

I was reading the Aging or Hoarding thread and I thought this was a perfect time to talk about OTBN. I read that several of us have wines we want to share with others. What a perfect reason!

For those not familiar with it, OTBN was created by Wall Street Journal wine reviewers John Brecher and Dottie Gaiter. Dottie and John believe that we all have that bottle of wine (okay, some of us have several) we’ve stashed away, waiting for a special occasion. Open That Bottle Night IS that special occasion.

People all over the world get together with friends and family to share food, wine and friendship. It’s celebrated in a number of ways. Some carefully plan the menu, the wine, the friends. Others conduct blind tastings of wines brought by friends. Me? I invite about 20 people into my home, asking each to bring a wine they’ve been wanting to share or a wine they’ve been wanting to try. I make a bunch of food, and we open the wines, eat the food, and make memories.

How will you celebrate this year’s Open That Bottle Night?

For me, Open That Bottle Night is usually called 'Saturday'.

Except when it's called 'Friday'.

Except when it's called 'Thursday'.

You get the picture

Yup, I get the picture!

[David M. Bueker]

Hopefully we will get together with some friends & then I will open that bottle. If it's just me and Laura maybe we can open a really nice Champagne!

[James Roscoe]

I will be in Orlando and far away from THAT bottle and DC's lousy winter weather. It is a great idea, especially for those of us who are hoarders.

I will probably open something special that night. Unfortunately, I missed out on the Bring that Bottle night at St. Jacques Restaurant in Raleigh Tuesday of this week because a friend invited me to the Michael Bolton concert that night here in Fayetteville. I had been waiting a year or longer for the Bring the Bottle night at St. Jacques. The owner's wife said they may do it again sometime this year. I sure hope so! The last time they held it I took a village red Burgundy that drinks like a Premier Cru and a German dessert wine. I invited the owner to have some of the Burgundy and he commented on the "beautiful stink" (translation: aroma, nose or bouquet.)

How cool! I have a cab from Thelema vineyards that I obtained on my honeymoon (since divorced) for which I've been waiting for an appropriate occasion to open...looks like I've found it! I'm going to try to get some of my more oenologically inclined friends together for a combined effort, but if all else fails I'll make my sister come over and drink it with me.

Let's hear it for sisters!