CityView Magazine

Wit and wine Janet Carter is a wine drinker and an active member of the Fay- etteville Wine Society. But really, is there such a thing as too much wine? Many people open their homes to family, friends and neighbors for more informal wine gatherings. Carter and the 20 or so women who gather once a month at her house call theirs the Wine and Whine club. Both are allowed, but there’s just one rule. “No white Zin,” Carter says. Sorry, but this sweet concoction most often found in a box is not allowed. Other than that, guests bring whatever they like. “It’s funny,” Carter says, “but it always works out.” Half the group winds up bringing red wine, the other half brings white. Everyone brings an appetizer to share. Carter says the group has a great time talking, laughing and sharing favorite wines. She adds that there is just one last (unofficial) rule: no men al- lowed. “We do have some hus- bands who kind of want to come,” she says, “but we haven’t invited them yet.” – Allison Williams Fayetteville Wine Society on Web sites for wine enthusiasts from all parts of the country. The group even chartered a bus for a special trip to a wine trade show in Raleigh last month. “We’re talking tables full of wine everywhere,” Miller says. “It’s a special treat and usually not something the public can get into.” Miller says the society has grown into a close-knit group. “The trend in the wine community, universally, is go- ing away from the snobby, unapproach- able perception. We are trying to beat the bad rap; wine tasting groups have a bad reputation. The people in our group are very warm and welcoming.” 32 | Food & Wine • 2008 Top | Kristine Miller and Nick Parrous, with the help of Teresa Swint and Matthew Fink, lead the Fayetteville Wine Society. Above | Parrous and Fink talk at a recent meeting at Huske Hardware House Restaurant and Brewery. For those who think a wine society comes with a snobby reputation, Miller says the group welcomes all wine lovers, experts to newcomers. A typical meeting of the Fayetteville Wine Society will include the introduc- tion of six to eight wines. Miller, Parrous, Swint and Fink provide information about the wines, which are tasted by everyone. But there’s always a detailed explanation of the country the group is studying that month whether it’s the wines of France or South Africa. “There is a great opportunity to learn,” Miller says. “After we pour wine and talk about it, we take questions. Our group is open to all ages and all levels of wine knowledge. We don’t want people to be intimidated.” And there’s food, of course. The group rotates between Fayetteville restaurants. Members may sample tapas one month, Italian dishes the next. Each mouthwa- tering course, whether it’s spicy risotto or wine-soaked strawberries, has a cor- responding wine. Members then have the option of buying the wines they try for a dis- counted rate. Miller says it’s helped create coopera- tion and synergy between Fayetteville’s wine shops, distributors and restau- rants. After all, nothing goes together better than good food and drink, she says. “It’s a way to bring people together over a good bottle of wine.”CV For more information, visit www.fayettevillewinesociety.com.

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