Open That Bottle Night

We are sorry for the late notice, but we have canceled OTBN here at Chatham Hill Winery. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Saturday, February 26, 2011 is the 12^th annual “Open That Bottle Night” (OTBN). Join us for this nationally recognized evening of wine and friendship. OTBN was invented by former Wall Street Journal columnists, John Brecher and Dorothy Gaiterin. On the last Saturday in February, friends, couples, and groups around the world get together to enjoy bottles of wine, champagne and spirits.

Traditionally, the bottle that you open is one that you have been saving for some special event that has never quite happened. OTBN is the time when you are entitled to uncork that cherished bottle and enjoy the contents. Save your wine from the cellar!!

It doesn't matter if the wine is expensive or low cost, white or red, decades old, or bought today to celebrate. We invite you to bring along your ‘cherished’ bottle and an appetizer to share.

Please let us know if you plan to join us 919-380-7135.

OTBN TIPS courtesy of Dorothy J. “Dottie” Gaiter and John Brecher creators of OTBN

1) Three days before the big night, if the bottle you have selected is an old one that has been lying on its side, stand it up so that any sediment will float to the bottom.

2) Because corks of older bottles are sometimes fragile, plan to use a two-prong bottle opener. This requires practice to get the hang of it so try it on a less precious bottle before OTBN. If your cork falls apart, put a coffee filter over a carafe and pour enough wine into it to catch the pieces of cork.

3) Don’t decant, at least not immediately. You’ll risk losing what precious fruit still resides in an older wine. If it’s a young, tight wine and you don’t have hours to savor it, you might want to decant it.

4) In case your wine is undrinkable—and give it some time before you make that call—have a back-up wine ready.

5) Enjoy the wine for what it is. Share the reasons it is special to you.