Drink Charitably!

Around my house, as in so many others, the Holidays bring some critical wine selection issues.  This Thanksgiving we are loading up the mini-van for the trip to my Mom’s house in the Palm Desert area with the kids, our 85 pound Bernese Mountain Dog named Bear, golf clubs, guitars, wiffle ball, frisbees, turkey, cranberry bread, clothes…and lots of wine.  My brothers love wine and drink good stuff.  My Mom doesn’t really drink..but she’ll sip.  My sister likes wine but isn’t geeky about it like the boys in the family.  My wife loves wine and has a great palate.  And we never know what other friends or neighbors might drop in.  Not to mention that we need to evaluate the wine selections required for the various football games.  And what goes best with the family ping pong tourney?  What wines are ideally suited for the Dart tournament?  It isn’t just about pairing wine with the food — that’s the easy part.  Try pairing wines with people, discussions, games…family members – that’s when the fun starts.

One thing is clear, we will be enjoying several Humanitas wines.  Every wine will be cracked open, sniffed, tasted, paired, discussed, and drained…into our mouths, of course.  Will the Pinot Noir standup to the political jousting between the brothers?  How will the Cabernet taste during the croquet challenge?  And no doubt, we will have several other selections representing as many wine regions as possible.  A good time will be had by all…guaranteed.

And the message?  Well — there are a couple. 

Quantity:  it is critical to consider the quantity.  In college we developed a hypothesis that bordered on law:  If a little is good, more is better.  This seemed to apply to everything.  More = Better.  M=B.  When you think you have enough wine, get some more…it will never go to waste.

Quality:  know your audience and supply accordingly.  If they aren’t into wine — don’t bring plonk!  Use this as an opportunity to turn them on to some mind blowing wine that will convert them.  And if they don’t immediately ‘get it’ – remember from above — More = Better. 

And do me a favor — during this celebration of bounty, please try to remember the two words ‘thanks’ and ‘giving’.  More than likely, if you are reading this, you have a lot for which to be thankful.  Let the people you love know it — tell them.  And raise a glass together, smile, and appreciate your life.  As they say, it is far better than the alternative.  As for ‘giving’ — take this opportunity to help someone else.  Donate food to your local Food Bank or clothes to a shelter.  Give an anonymous gift to Toys for Tots.  Send a letter to a one of our soldiers serving overseas.  And smile — always smile.

The San Francisco Food Bank is one of my favorite charities.  The work they do is beyond belief and during the period between Thanksgiving and the New Year is when they need your help the most.  At Humanitas, we hope you to have a fantastic Thanksgiving and Holiday season.  And if you are interested in helping the SF Food Bank AND enjoy a nice bottle (or two…or more — remember M=B) — if you enter the promo code FBSF while checking out at the Humanitas on-line store, we’ll donate 20% of your purchase to the San Francisco Food Bank. 

Good wines that do good.  This is what Humanitas is all about – and what we mean when we say ‘drink charitably!’  And please, drop me a comment & let me know what you are thankful for this year, what wine you are enjoying this Thanksgiving and what you are doing to help others.  Thanks!