From social to physical distancing

For the last two months there has been a global situation going on that has caused millions to be socially separated from family and friends. A large part of the world was shut down.

Think about the power of social isolation in society.

Solitary confinement is considered the worst punishment a human can receive. In fact, most civilized communities consider it a form of torture and yet this is what some have been experiencing.

For us wine lovers sharing and socializing is what it is all about and the last two months have been tough. So tough that thousands of virtual tastings have been streamed. Who doesn't love to watch someone else drink and talk about it? Well, we don't. We tried that once at a wine event where we sat in the audience as some sommeliers and a couple winemakers tasted and yammered on about what they were drinking. The only question we had was "are you going to finish that?"

Now some have stepped up their game and presold you their wine so you can taste along. But seriously who can buy three bottles of wine for a tasting on a regular basis.

Look, a few have gone up another level and made up small samples for you to taste.

A step in ta a more appropriate direction but still just a shadow of what we would want.

After hours of zooming at the office or at home every day there is almost nothing I want to do less than to watch a computer screen of someone drinking and yammering about it.

This last weekend with restrictions being lifted a bit we got together for the first time in two months and shared three bottles of wine. Face to face (2 meters apart) on the back patio in the beautiful Monterey Bay sunshine in Pacific Grove, California and enjoyed the wine, the snacks and the company as we discussed the solutions to the world's problems.

This last weekend we went from social distancing to physical distancing, a subtle but hugely significant shift.

Wine is for sharing. What’s the fun of swirling, swishing, sloshing and yakking

if my friends can’t join in?

—Jennifer Rosen

As we all come out the other side of this we must all remember to be patient, be smart but also start to look for safe opportunities to reconnect with each other and enjoy the companionship of friends and family and those with which we share a passion.

Cheers to your mental health,