In 2000, former Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher founded Open That Bottle Night. The night is simply an excuse for people around the world to pop open a bottle they’ve been saving, but have never been able to find that “special occasion”. Open That Bottle Night is celebrated on the last Saturday in February ~ today, 2/25/12. So…go get that bottle you’ve wanted to open, and drink up!
A special bottle doesn't have to be an "aged" bottle
Don't worry about how "old" the wine is. You want to drink it, open it! Not all wine is meant for aging. In fact, most wine is drunk “young” (12-18 months after it is produced). NapaNow.com states that the average time that most Americans “lay down” wine is probably half an hour. While some wines age quite nicely, most are ready to drink when sold. With that said, a good Cabernet Sauvignon with heavy tannins will improve with age, and can be stored for as much as 10-15 years. You’ll want to drink your whites within a couple of years.
More than one special bottle on hand
Do you have a couple of bottles that are the same varietal, produced the same year, but are from different wineries? Try a side-by-side tasting. Tasting wines at the same time allow you to appreciate the subtle differences. It is interesting to see how the different environments, processing, and winemaker’s touch can have on the finished product.
Share your special bottle with friends
Invite a few friends over and throw a last minute gathering. Wine parties don’t have to be formal. They are really just a reason to drink. Whip up something easy, order take out, or make it potluck ~ the food is secondary to the bottle! I recently read about a fun wine party idea. Have each guest bring a bottle under $25. When they leave, they grab a different bottle than what they came with ~ a great way to share wine with friends, and possibly discover a new favorite!
Cheers, and share with us what bottle you open tonight ~ we are still deciding!
