Wine as Relationship Lever

Wine has been an important part of human culture since Biblical times. Wine helps poets wax poetic; wine also helps 2 people become lovers – now that is something to wax poetic about as relationships are the foundation of our humanity. Future generations are begat when the 2 people in the current generation find each other and experience the magic of falling in love (not necessary for reproduction, but makes the experience turn from merely a sexual act to a sublime, life-changing experience).

Why Wine versus Tequila?

A man and a woman sharing a bottle of wine embarks upon a slow journey with a destination. They will likely finish the bottle of wine, but it will take them time, perhaps and hour and a half or more. If it is an expensive wine, say $100/bottle, then they are naturally asking themselves the question “is it worth the money”? In the process of answering this question, they are opening up all their senses: their sense of smell, taste, and are evaluating the wine from both a sensory perspective as well as an intellectual perspective. This process of opening their senses and their mind up to the wine also opens them up to each other. Their conversation can become more nuanced; they are more aware of what is said and what is not said and perhaps why; their conversation may drift towards hopes and dreams and possibly a future together.

In contrast, tequila is only about tonight. Nothing wrong with that, but it also depends if you want to play the relationship short game or long game. Relationships need to created, nurtured and maintained. Sharing a bottle of wine and intimate conversation can help with all three.

Bart O’Brien