Who’s ready for a glass of wine shared with a friend or two? I always am, but often daily life unfolds into a very busy 12+ hours. Before I know it, the wine window is closed! However, I am diligent about making time with friends and family for a conversation, a lunch or dinner, and of course, a glass of wine as much as possible. Others feel the same, and for the third year, the Come Over October campaign, founded by the powerhouse trio of Karen MacNeil, Gino Colangelo, and Kimberly Charles, is alive and doing quite well. “What is Come Over October all about?” you may be asking. Karen MacNeill explains in the following video.
The Come Over October is embraced by those in Canada and New Zealand at this point, markers of its continued success to assist the wine industry to not only hold its own, but to thrive. “We were looking into what’s behind the downturn [in the wine industry],” says Gino Colangelo. “How can wine address it?” Although many wine drinkers and those who abstain express interest in wine, “the majority of respondents (61%) say that wine is almost always part of their social get-together, and 41% of respondents cited “occasions” as their main impetus for drinking wine: birthdays, promotions, milestones, break-ups, girl’s nights, even Vanderpump Rules premiers,” writes Kate Dingwall in her latest article for Wine Enthusiast. “Getting together, however, isn’t always so easy,” Dingwall contines. “77% of respondents cited busy schedules as the main reason they weren’t gathering, and 40% cited the distance between friends and loved ones. It can feel too expensive, time-consuming, and physically taxing to gather.” If you’re interested in seeing the survey results, click HERE.
Photo Credit: Come Over October
Are you ready to pop the cork with your friends and family? Following are a few ideas…
Because I live in wine country, I have a gaggle of girlfriends who love to go wine tasting together once a month. We choose a winery of which one of us is a club member or a new-to-all-of-us winery in the area. If allowed by the winery, one of us brings a cheese and charcuterie board for sharing with the wines. We sip, learn, talk, laugh, and simply have a perfect afternoon. Other ideas are for the taking, too! Since sports are on the telly just about every night, invite some friends to drop by for appetizers and a drink or two. Consider a theme-driven backyard barbecue with wines from around the world. Since Halloween festivities are around the corner, how about a creepy/scary movie night with… popcorn and Champagne? My neighborhood offers “Sausage Fest” every month for all the men abandoned by their ladies who have gone to “book club.” The host provides the meal, and the single men (for the night) help with appetizers or sides and bring a bottle of wine. My husband has returned home raving about many of the wines shared. At the same time, the book club ladies are doing the same!
And as a spoiler alert, these ideas are not just for October!
Photo Credit: Come Over October
Remember the good old days when we went to grandma’s house for Sunday dinner? Let’s revisit that idea with a new twist! The Share and Pair Sundays campaign encourages everyone to gather on a Sunday throughout the year to share wine, good food, and lively conversation. A simple brunch, a picnic in the park, a late afternoon soiree where everyone brings a dish and a bottle of wine are perfect occasions to get to know each other better, connect in real life, and to enjoy a good glass of wine.
Let’s do this! Come over! The wine is poured.
Cheers! ~ Cindy
