Single & Winelover

Simply because you don't have a special someone to share a bottle with doesn't mean you have to give up good wine. Below I'll offer you a few pieces of advice on savoring solitude...with great pleasure! You'll see that the bottle is half full and enjoy it. And you won't have to fight over that last glass. Tasting a wine without witnesses doesn't mean you can do it any old way. Just like cooking and investing time into a healthy diet is worth the effort so is wine, and you should treat it with the same degree of importance. For two simple reasons: One, simply because. And two, you deserve it. No excuses. However, if you suddenly find yourself seized by the typical doubts we have all experienced, consider these responses:

1. Why should I open a bottle if I won't finish it?

Remember, you can always "vacuum it" by removing the air from the bottle with a vacuum pump or wine saver. Under good conditions, this will preserve the wine for two to three days. Now divide those 75 cl by three days, and it won't seem like all that much.

2. It is better to wait for a special occasion.

Right... Sometimes we wait for happiness, and it ends up being nothing but a memory, an illusion. If you wait for the day they give you a raise, you reach your ideal weight or that special someone notices you, the wine might have gone off. Why not take a different view and turn those blue Mondays into the beginning of an exciting week by raising a toast to yourself? Or why don't you open that incredible bottle someone gave you as a present? Now that would be a special occasion, wouldn't you agree?

3. Wine is best enjoyed as a couple.

Wine and love make for a wonderfully special match. But it isn't an exclusive relationship: wine also pairs well with friends, a good book, your parents, writing... Don't let your mind limit your senses!

4. All I'm going to do is eat popcorn and watch TV...

Did you know that Pinot Noir is the star grape of the film Sideways? Pick up a bottle of Marimar from California's Russian River Valley or a Mas Borras from the Penedès and you'll be blown away. And make that popcorn with grated Parmesan and pepper: glamorous and absolutely delicious!

5. Not enough wines come in half-size bottles, and they pass their prime right away.

You're absolutely right, but even though there aren't many, they do exist and some of them are very good. Not all wineries choose to offer this size, but Torres does. Check the vintage carefully and let it "fine-tune" for a much shorter time than a standard 75 cl or a magnum bottle. Even though the capacity is less, it has the same ullage—less than one centimeter between the top of the wine and the cork—which means that the wine matures much faster.

6. I'm afraid I'll finish the bottle...

Well yes, you have a point, it can happen... Always remember that wine is ONLY enjoyed in moderation.

7. I'll just open an old bottle I have lying around even if I end up pouring it into the stew...

Would you drink a wine that has gone bad? No, right? Well then don't eat it either! Don't let the wine get old—enjoy its youth, its primary aromas, its liveliness.

8. The best piece of advice: Pick up a couple of magnums and organize a singles night with a bunch of your single friends! And who knows, perhaps with a little wine, you'll leave singlehood behind.

There you have it, lonely hearts—cheers!