Wilmington wine lovers take their tastings online

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WILMINGTON -- For wine lovers, going to regular tastings at local shops and bars is a good way to learn about wine and get to know like-minded people. Restrictions now in place across Southeastern North Carolina due to the COVID-19 pandemic have made such events problematic.

At least in person.

As social distancing has become the new normal, wine professional David Koebley and Andrew Bopes, owner of Mon Ame Chocolate & Wine Bar in downtown Wilmington, wanted to see if there was still a way to get people together over a glass of wine.

“We are trying to bring you some joy in these trying times,” Bopes told an online group as they all prepared to pour some Argentinian chardonnay into a glass at home. “This isn’t a normal tasting. You can pour it as full as you want.”

Their first virtual tasting took place Wednesday. The idea was that Bopes would deliver two sterilized bottles of wine, priced at $30, before the scheduled Facebook Live event. Pickup was also available at his shop, at 19 S. 2nd St.

Before it started, he sold out of two cases of the selected wines, the chardonnay as well as an organic malbec from Bodega Santa Julia. Bopes and Koebley, who is the national sales manager for the wine brand in the U.S., sat six feet apart as they opened and discussed.

“I thought this was a really great idea to connect community,” Koebley said. “What better thing than wine to bring us together? That’s one of the most beautiful things about wine.”

He also admitted that, despite hosting a number of tastings for groups of all sizes, the Facebook Live format was a little unnerving.

For about 40 minutes, they discussed the wine, vineyards and history of viticulture in Argentina. Bopes' roommate, Michael Brown, was behind the camera, occasionally inserting visual aids like maps and photos.

“What I love about this chardonnay is it’s very clean, very fresh,” Koebley said once the tasting started. “The aromatics really pull you into the glass.”

And they described the malbec, one of the most important varietals for Argentina, in terms of blueberries and stewed plums.

Bopes and Koebley fielded both snarky comments and earnest questions from the group -- about sulfites, organic wine practices and pairing suggestions. One of the attendees wanted to make vegetarian food at home for the tasting. Koebley suggested a potato leek soup with the chardonnay and maybe a homemade black bean burger with smoked paprika for the malbec. Bopes offered pairing ideas for the chocolates he carries at the store.

Another virtual tasting is scheduled for Monday featuring two more of the wines that Koebley represents, Zuccardi Torrontes and Bonarda. He also said that this is something that can be replicated anywhere, so it’s something we may see more of as precautions against the coronavirus continue.

“I think this whole situation is going to encourage us to be more creative,” Koebley said.