In today’s busy world, it can be hard to connect with neighbors. As you rush to and from work and school and take on countless other commitments, often the most you do with neighbors is raise your hand in a brief wave to say hello. But it’s important to get to know those that live around you. Not only will building a relationship help with things like keeping an eye on each other’s homes, but you might find some new friends who are literally next door.
The key to getting to know neighbors is often having a reason to get together. One great way to get acquainted and easily break the ice is by creating a neighborhood wine club. Getting started is simple. Find the best way to contact people in your neighborhood – in some cases, it might be posting a flyer, while in others it might be going door to door or posting on a neighborhood Web forum. Or, do a bit of neighborhood networking – invite your acquaintances, and ask them to extend the invitation to their acquaintances in the neighborhood who you might not know.
Once you’ve got your guest list started, you can work on the most fun part of the gathering – the wine. If you’re not sure exactly what to pick, joining the Wine of the Month Club can make the decisions simpler. Each month, two bottles, which have been pre-screened for quality, are delivered to you, taking the guesswork out of selecting options. You can opt for two reds, two whites or one of each, depending on your tastes. They will also help with party ideas and themes.
Once your club gets going, you might need more bottles to allow everyone to get a taste, so others might want to join the Wine of the Month club to bring in additional selections. Consider these ideas for wine party themes, to keep each meeting fresh and fun.
* Micro-regional. The region that a wine comes from is of central importance to its characteristics, so it can be fun to get to know a specific region through tasting a variety of its wines. Whether you’re sampling zinfandels from the Russian River Valley in California’s Sonoma County or Argentine Malbecs, challenge yourself to find the subtle characteristics of terroir in for each location. Do some research beforehand about the qualities of the soil and climate that might affect the wine and bring them up in discussion.
* Varietal-focused. As the wine world has expanded over the years, growers have experimented with growing varietals in locations across the world. Try focusing your event on a single varietal, like sauvignon blanc – you could choose bottles from South America, Australia, France, South Africa and beyond. It’s a great way to discover the dynamics of a single varietal across a number of growing regions.
* Cuisine-driven. Wine and food go hand in hand – and make a delicious partnership. If your neighborhood wine club has some gourmands in the group, so much the better. Collaborate to develop a multi-course menu and experiment with matching wines to create exciting taste combinations. Whether your menu is thematic (like Spanish tapas or classic French dishes) or a hodge-podge of tasty treats is all up to you.
* Worldwide wines. You don’t need to leave your neighborhood to take a worldwide wine-tasting tour. Draw up a list of wine-producing countries around the world and have club members sign up to bring a bottle from each. You can focus on whites, reds, or go with a combination, but it’s guaranteed to be a fun evening. If possible, ask members to bring a dish to share from some of the countries on the list, so you can get a taste of some international foods as well.
Forging friendships with your neighbors is an important thing to do. By creating a neighborhood wine club, you’ll be giving everyone a great reason to get together and talk on a regular basis in a fun environment. For more background about wines and information on receiving a monthly delivery of wines to bring to the party, visit www.wineofthemonthclub.com.