A reminder that the most meaningful bottles aren’t meant to be saved forever—and that sometimes the moment is simply now
There’s a good chance you have a few wine bottles tucked away somewhere safe, waiting patiently for the right moment. You saved them for a reason. Maybe they’re tied to a place, a person, or a moment in time you don’t want to forget. A milestone birthday. A meaningful gift. A bottle carried home from a trip that still makes you smile when you think about it.
You may not have decided exactly when you’ll open them—but you’re sure you’ll know when the moment feels right.
And then, somehow, years pass.
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The occasions you imagined never quite materialize. The bottles remain unopened. And quietly, that sense of anticipation turns into something else: impatience. You want to drink the wine. You want to relive the memory. You want to share the story that’s been waiting inside that bottle all along.
Take a breath. This is exactly where Open That Bottle Night comes in.
Created by Wall Street Journal wine columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, Open That Bottle Night was designed as a gentle nudge—and a much-needed excuse—for anyone holding onto a “special occasion” bottle without a special occasion in sight. By design, the night itself becomes the occasion. It takes place every year on the last Saturday in February. This year, that night is February 28.
The beauty of Open That Bottle Night lies in what it isn’t. There are no rules. No prescribed rituals. No expectations. You decide what the evening looks like. Make it casual or ceremonial. Share one bottle or several. Gather friends, family, or keep it intimate. The only thing that matters is that the bottle finally gets opened—and the story finally gets told.
Because wine, at its best, is meant to be shared. Not saved indefinitely. Not guarded for a moment that may never arrive.
So, open the bottle. Pour generously. Tell the story.
And if you feel like it, share your Open That Bottle Night with us on Instagram. We’re @vineroutes.
Craig Haynes is a part time instructor in the sommelier program at Algonquin College (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) and a director with the National Capital Sommelier Guild. He holds the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level 3 certificate in Wine with merit, as well as the Wine Scholar Guild’s French Wine Scholar with honours, Italian Wine Scholar with highest honours, and Spanish Wine Scholar with highest honours.
