Right now, I’m exhausted. I’ve been playing My Little Ponies and Barbies with my girls for a week while on vacation. We also painted, watched movies and played dress up. Luckily, my husband Josh is not tired of my extra kisses, but I must say my lips are chapped. Did I tell you I’m tired? While having fun with all these activities, I’ve also been trying to define happiness since that was my number one New Year’s resolution. Its especially important to define since I want to bring our customers happiness as well. But what is the definition of happiness? According to Webster’s dictionary, it is “a state of well-being and contentment.” Well, that sounds like something Sip…a wine store can offer and actually I think the right bottle of wine can definitely enhance someone’s state of well being or contentment. So, I want to present you with a few options to introduce more happiness into your life.                                            

Most of you know that we offer four different Wine of the Month clubs. Well, due to popular demand, we are starting our first Beer of the Month club on February 1^st. If you join, each month you will be presented with an assorted selection of fascinating brewskies. Some months it will be a 4 pack and sometimes a 6 pack. Each beer will be either certified Organic, produced locally or from a small independent brewery. Each beer will come with information on the brewery and the beer. Everyone that joins will be allowed to attend our beer tastings free of charge and we will offer special discounts through out the year. The beer of the month club is $25 a month. Can we say Happiness in a bottle, or two?

I know we are mainly a wine store, so what kind of happiness will we present to our wine fans. What about a season of wine classes, an Austrian Wine Dinner, the start of our very own Tasting Group, or how about all three? I see smiles…

To start, our wine classes will run one Thursday of each month. These classes are structured to allow each person an opportunity to learn, taste, and enjoy. We will feature one producer, wine region, or grape variety a month. At each event, every guest will be greeted with an aperitif, four to five glasses of wine to taste, additional educational materials, and some light snacks. The class will be taught by an expert and/or wine educator. At the end of each class, you will be able to order or purchase the featured wines at a discount. Registration is required for each class. Pre-pay for 4 classes and receive one class free.

Our first class is Thursday January 27^th , 7-9:30pm. We will be featuring Loire Wines with wine importer and Loire native Thomas Meunier of Authentique Vin. Thomas will taste us on 6 distinctive Loire wines, and teach us about the region’s rich wine history and farming practices. Regional cheeses will be served and each of the wines will be available to order following the class. The class is limited to 20 people and is $30 per person. Special Discount – If you are a Wine of the Month Club Member, the class is only $20 per person

If for some reason you are unable to attend, please feel free to click here to see our current class schedule.

Now, last month I mentioned how much I’m enjoying Martin’s Curry Rice, a new restaurant located in the Food Lion shopping center at the intersection of Chapel Hill Road and Cary Parkway. They serve amazing Samosas and you can create your own curry dish. Well, we thought it would be fun to host an Austrian Wine Dinner with them. This is not the usual stuffy wine dinner that will cost you an arm and leg. No, this is more like being at home with your best friends, enjoying some yummy comfort food and a few great bottles of wine. The wine dinner will be held January 19th at 7pm. Sip... a wine store and Sour Grapes Distributing will bring 5 Austrian winemakers, each of which will have an assortment of tasty wines. This is your chance to share a meal and ask plenty of questions about this amazing wine growing country. The dinner will feature 6 courses and is only $20 per person. That’s right, $20. This should definitely make a few people smile. Please note, reservation are required and you can reserve your spot by calling Sip...a wine store at 919-467-7880 or Martin’s Curry Rice at 919-380-7799

Are you happy yet? No, well aren’t we hard to please?! Would joining a Tasting Club make you happy? Sip…a wine store would like to invite you to join our private tasting club. This is our version of a monthly wine group, but you don’t have to worry about messing up your own house. Once a month Sip…a wine store will host a private tasting group in the store. We will sample 6 wines. Some months they will be blind, sometimes they won’t. We will be focusing on the appearance, aromas and taste of the wine. This group is perfect for the wine connoisseur and the novice that wants to learn something. Our first group will meet January 28^th at 7:30pm. The cost is $20 per person. Wine of the month club members pay only $15. This group is limited to 15 customers each month so call to reserve your spot now.

Finally I see some smiles and maybe, just maybe, some Happiness.