Open That Bottle Night for Eve, and, Marylanders

So it’s come to this: Our friends in the north are still waiting for Better Beer and Wine Laws so that they can enjoy the same wine, from the same wineries, as their friends in other states.

I run Adam Borden’s press releases from Maryland on this wine blog and am always astounded at to what I read.  I try and keep my politics to myself.  Always.  I’m married to a Republican and I’m a Democrat…but I think not allowing people the freedom of buying their wine from anywhere they want is ridiculous. 

My state:  I feel guilty living in So Cal at times with wineries within one, two, three, four, five…hours from my home.  Tasting rooms with nominal surcharges, wine clubs, friendly sommeliers and discounted case pricing. 

My personal state of mind:  I was reminded this week that Open That Bottle Night (A night dedicated to opening that special occasion bottle that you’ve been saving far too long, http://www.openthatbottlenight.com) is this Saturday, and not all of us winos will be opening up the same wines.  And not by choice.  Not by price.  Not by desire.

I queried friends as to what they planned to open and my Marylanders were even more woe than I expected:

Larry: Eve – We had to delay our OTBN this year. I still have 2ft of snow on the ground from the last snow storm and another one due in on Thursday evening. With close to 30 – 40 cars arriving throughout the evening, I have no place for people to park.

Niki: Eve, I’m one of Larry’s OTBN guests (he introduced me to his fabulous parties about 4-5 years ago) so the bummer factor of our dreaded snow is having a rippling effect! Please open a few bottles for your MD pals and keep your fingers crossed that next year we can perhaps exchange bottles of wine through the mail for OTBN! 🙂 Btw, love your blog! 🙂

And suddenly, just like that, I was in the same rickety boat with them.  I had been sick (with what turned out to be a sinus infection) and now wasn’t going to be able to drink with friends on Saturday night either.  And, I lamented further, that instead of just missing one OTBN I would miss TEN nights due to the fancy schmancy antibiotic my MD prescribed.  She said that I could have wine, on one night, but I couldn’t take the pill that night and would have to make it up the very next day.  Which would only PROLONG MY AGONY.

But I’m only looking at a ten day stint, they’ve been dry for decades. 

I might as well fly to Maryland and enjoy the 2 feet of snow for a nice TEN DAY vacation.  I only wish I could sneak in contraband to my pals!