Red, White and a Splash of Community

If your drink of choice at the end of the day is a nice glass of sauvignon blanc or merlot and you enjoy experiencing new varietals, Keene now has a club designed to quench your thirst for wine knowledge. Wine enthusiasts gathered recently at Granita Enoteca, located at 51 Railroad St. in Keene, for the Italian restaurant's November meeting of its monthly wine club. The club, crafted for those who appreciate the artistry of wine, is an opportunity to savor samples of curated wines from vineyards around the world. Each month also features a theme around which the wines are centered. The November meeting of the club was focused on wines to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner and offered a selection of wines from Kiona Vineyards and Winery of Benton City, Washington. As the club guests trickled in to fill the restaurant on a blustery Sunday afternoon, each was greeted by Granita General Manager Moe Kelly and presented at their seat with a small packet of information about the vineyard and the wines being presented, as well as a tasting menu of pairing options. The club meets together at a number of community tables, meaning a party of two such as ours was seated with another two-person party at a four-person table. "You can take your time, and you don't have to rush," Kelly said while visiting the table to explain the system of colored cards that indicate to the servers which wine is currently being sampled at each table. She added that tableside buckets are also available for disposing of wines that guests may choose to not finish. The event began with a short welcoming presentation by Kelly that detailed the club's inception and the warm reception it's received by the community since launching in January, adding that this November meeting had "maxed out" at an impressive 96 participants. Next, a Kiona representative spoke briefly to introduce the vineyard and each wine. Six wines were being offered that evening that progressed from a riesling with the autumn harvest salad of the first course to a reserve red blend with a pumpkin cheesecake dessert. Each course mimicked a flavor profile of a typical Thanksgiving dinner. Guests could order the full six-course food pairing menu for a set cost or choose any item from the restaurant's regular menu to enjoy with the wine. The cost for attending the club is only a $15 gratuity charge that is divided amongst the servers. Advanced reservation is required. While the laughter of friend groups rang out throughout the meal, the presentation of each course and its paired wine progressed over the span of two hours. At the conclusion of the meal, an order form was presented to allow guests an opportunity to order bottles of Kiona wine to take home for Thanksgiving. At our intimate table of four, the conversation with our dining companions flowed and we discussed our opinions of each wine. The friends, Sarah Davis and Wendy Prescott, were attending the club for the first time together, although Prescott had previously been with another friend. While they considered themselves to be relative wine novices, they viewed the club as an opportunity for socializing and meeting new people while also gaining a little more wine knowledge. During her prior club outing, Prescott shared that she sat with another local couple who were more experienced wine aficionados, and they all really enjoyed their time together despite different levels of expertise. "The opportunity to make community connections is amazing," Prescott said of her club experience. First-timer Davis agreed, adding, "The service is great, and the atmosphere is lovely." Granita Enoteca encourages anyone with an interest in global vitoculture to join the fun at an upcoming club experience. Your next night out awaits. The Granita Enoteca Wine Club will meet next on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 4 p.m. and the monthly theme will be wines to pair for the holiday. Reservations are required at granitakeene.com/monthly-wine-club.