As I mentioned last week, for Hammond and me, Damp January is an exercise in balance and moderation. One of the easiest ways to keep things feeling balanced and enjoyable is simply to stretch a bottle across two, three, or even four evenings. These intentionally shorter pours are the key to what Hammond and I like to call mindful moderation.
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For the last few years, “Dry January” has been a recurring topic of conversation here at the shop. Many folks are looking for a top-of-year reset after the holidays; however, they still want their evenings to feel separate from the workday. For many of us, that still includes a glass of wine. January is the…
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AWM 2026 Quick Guide to picking your New Year’s Bubbly There’s a reason Champagne and sparkling wine are the default bubbly for New Year’s. It’s crisp, festive, food-friendly, and perfectly suited to leading us into the New Year, whether it’s a room full of people talking over each other, or a quiet night at home…
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We’ve all gotten that invite: “Come on over at seven, and bring wine, we’ll figure out food when you get here.” It sounds relaxed and fun—right up until you’re trying to pick a bottle that might have to work with cheese, ethnic takeout, roast chicken, and whatever someone else decides to bring. The good news is you don’t need a crystal ball to choose well to pair with the mystery menu. You just need the right kind of all-purpose wine.
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When it comes to wine, there’s no getting around the fact that we live in a pop-the-cork-now world. While that’s super convenient, and quite often fits the time and place, it also means we’re missing out on the glorious effect that time can have on wine. A small stash of well-chosen bottles becomes its own…
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