Family get togethers always pose a great dilemma. What to bring is not the issue - it's who will drink it in our family. If we're with my sister and her husband, the wine gets consumed at record pace. It's usually five of us, Marc, Mom, Randi, Bob and me and at least two bottles for one of our 'dining room' meals. If it's Marc's family, it's a whole different story.
Everyone dives into the vodka as soon as we gather - it doesn't matter whether it's mid-afternoon or early evening - with bloody mary's and martinis being the family favorite. Then comes the meal. "Who wants wine?", I ask (knowing full well there will be very few takers).
So imagine how difficult it is to choose what to bring to this Thanksgiving feast. "Let's break out something fabulous," I declare as we're getting ready to leave for for the drive to the Valley. This outburst is met with rolled eyes from Marc. "What for?," he asks. You know it's really only us (referring to who will be drinking the wine).
"Aren't we deserving of something a bit special this year?" is my response. "Isn't this holiday a reason to be thankful for all we've accomplished, our health, our family...?"
I go into our 'cellar' - a cool place under the house that is in desparate need of TLC. I spy an oversized bottle of Ladera 2003 Howell Mountain Cabernet, a gift from winemaker Karen Culler. Perfect.
I head to the internet to see how the wine is drinking and see from the website that it's one of Wine & Spirit Magazine's Top 100 of 2006. Yikes - the pressure is on. Too good for the family? I hate thinking that way so I quickly place it in one of our totes and off we go.
Well, my husband ends up being right (or course). The wine is beautiful - lush, herbal - perfect for Thanksgiving dinner. And by the end of the night, we've barely made a dent and it sits in the middle of the table crying out for a room of wine lovers. But we've had a great Thanksgiving - and spoiled ourselves a bit (which isn't all that bad!).
Can it ever be a bad decision to bring a good wine to a non-wine drinking crowd? Well, I guess there's always the consolation that there's more for me.
I'm hoping that your holiday was shared with those you love.
Julie
