Do you have a stash?

It would be interesting to see your face at this moment. Me? Have a stash? And then the tilting of the head and your inquiring eyes look upon me and you start to wonder why I asked that particular question of you. My response, once again, would be … do you have a stash?

The word “stash” has a couple of meanings — one is that you have things hidden from everyone else, and the second meaning is that you have put things away and stored them. Let’s be nice and not talk about your secret stash –that’s your business — and let’s focus on the other stuff we have stuffed away for whenever or for whatever reason.

For some reason and when I finish a bottle of wine, I keep the empty bottle and stash it with others similar bottles. They’re all empty and just sitting there looking at me and probably carrying on a bottle type conversation about why they are being stored.

Some questions can’t be answered in a logical fashion. They are stored because I liked the wine they had contained. I like the shape of the bottle. The bottle label is cool. The bottle, and therefore the wine it contained brings back a memory of something special.

So many reasons to create a stash, and all of them very personal. So, let me expound a bit about my bottles.

Over the years, I’ve handled a great number of wine bottles. Of course, I didn’t drink all the wine in all the bottles I’ve held…well, not all the wine, and yes, some wine from each bottle. I’m trying to be transparent here — remember some stashes are personal! My reason for keeping a bunch of empty wine bottles? I enjoy feeling the bottle, remembering the wine it contained, who was with me while consuming the wine and where we were located.

Each bottle tells a story. Obviously, a great number of the wines I’ve tasted over the years were done so in the same place — at home. A fair number have been tasted in restaurants and picnics and concerts where it’s always a joyous occasions to sip a bit of vino.

German Rieslings were first tasted sitting in a restaurant located on the North Sea. A nice Chardonnay was initially sipped near France. A remembrance to never forget is sitting at an outdoor cafe in Rome having a glass of Chianti. As the years and occasions passed by, the wines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet and so many others enriched me. Then, norther grapes were developed.

Minnesota grown grapes brought a new addition to my stash. Marquette, LaCrescent, Frontenac and Frontenac Gris all embellished my collection of bottles. Such a variety and such tasty wines — many tasted at the local wineries after a discussion with the wineries’ owners. All of the experiences lent to my memory stash, my tasting stash and my friend’s stash.

I just pulled out some bottles from my wine bottle stash — maybe it’s time to recycle them. But, I’ll never forget the lively spiciness of Zen of Zin — an old vine Zinfandel. Nor will I ever forget the richness and tanginess of Bogle’s Pinot Grigio. Then, there’s that empty bottle of McManis Chardonnay — if you want a liquid to pair with your buttery popcorn, here it is.

A terrific valued wine is Tavernello — Vino Blanco. It’s fresh, crisp and floral — oh, Italy, I hear you calling! Wait a moment, there’s New Zealand calling me with a taste of Matua Sauvignon Blanc. The list goes on and on…

So stashes are good. I look at a bottle of wine and I can see and hear having a glass of it with a friend. The number of glasses consumed with a rather favorite person of mine would be staggering to count — let’s just leave it as a personal stash.

However, there comes a time to let things go and my bottles will soon be in the recycling bin — as they should be. After awhile, some of our stashes become too much and letting go is good.

Yet, my memories will always remain of my stashes — as I expect yours will.

As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon.

Cheers!