Wine Club

The first of every month Carol and I attend wine club on Tybee Island. One of the local restaurants host the event. It costs $150 per person to attend the once a month event all year. We are beginning our third year with the group. It is kind of interesting as most of the attendees are locals who have known each other for years. It stuck me last night that now I know how the unpopular kids felt at the lunch table in junior high school. You walk in 15 minutes before the event is to start and most of the chairs are tipped in toward the table. It's that subtle reminder that you can't sit with us. I could see it if they were all there but I think we were among the first five of about 40 to arrive. So we sit near them but clearly are not included in their group. Some of the others who end up seated with us complain about the chairs being tipped and not having an opportunity to sit at that table. It would seem that having to sit with us creates a desire to be somewhere else. Bald guys with beards and tattoos are apparently not desired table mate material. It is their loss. You might reasonably ask if that is the way it is why do we go.

It is not the best picture but that is the list of wines we sampled last night. Every month there are 6 wines to sample. If you like any of them you can order a bottle or as many bottles as you like to be picked up later in the month. Wines usually cost from a low of about $11 to a high of $25 or so. In addition to the wines you sample you are treated to some snack items from the kitchen. Some of the food offered is quite good. I think my favorite was the pork belly tacos.

The picture above is the typical sample size given to each person. So over the course of the year we will sample 72 different wines. Some we will like and buy. Some we will be thankful we were not at a wine shop and bought a $15 bottle of drain cleaner. So we go to try the wine. To try to learn something from the experts about wine and choosing a good bottle of wine. All of us who ever tried to buy wine have stood in front of literally hundreds of bottles wondering what is and isn't good. Labels aren't much help since no one is going to put on their bottle "Best enjoyed with Cheetos and a bologna sandwich while you waste another Saturday night at home alone." They talk about where they were grown and the flavors the grape has imparted to the wine. A hint of blackberry with tones of tart cherry with a smoky finish. Really? Sounds like pretentious bullshit to me. I want to taste it and if I like it and the price is reasonable then I will buy some.

So, as long as my Jenny (Carol) will sit next to her Forrest (Me) we will go to wine club and sit with the others at the losers table.