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Cooking with Wine — Part 1

January 24, 2026

When most folks think of wine, it evokes a picture of easy-going evenings with friends and family, enjoying that sublime combination of good food and good company. Wine always supplies that special spark to the evening and makes everything taste a little better. Or maybe it’s the simple comfort of a sturdy Rhône red by the fire. For Hammond and me, wine certainly fills those roles, but it also wears another hat: it’s the quiet secret ingredient that can transform your meal from fine to unforgettable.

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How Long Does a Wine Keep?

January 18, 2026

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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Damp January

January 11, 2026

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 5 Minute Guide to Holiday Bubbly

January 3, 2026

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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Holiday Wine Guide v1

December 14, 2025

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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