When I blogged about ODV yesterday, it was my first I'd heard of the wine group. I was intrigued enough by its Web site to stop by The Drop and find out what this self-proclaimed "unpretentious" wine group was about.
A hundred or so people turned out last night, but that's where the similarities to a normal wine event ended. Not one sommelier or wannabe sommelier was present and nobody seemed particularly zealous about discussing wine. It turns out ODV has little to do with wine and lots to do with connecting to new people.
I asked ODV president Jen Schulte why that is.
"This is a group for people who enjoy drinking wine but more than that,
it's a very sociable group," she told me. "We do it for each other's company. Nobody is making money. It's totally non-profit."
Once-a-month, group members pick a different
venue to taste four wines -- two
reds and two whites -- in an event that's open to anyone. Once you attend, you automatically become a member. There's no cost to join, but each event is $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
The
group claims to have 2,000 plus people on its mailing list, with a
turnout ranging from 60 to 120 people depending on the venue. Of those,
Vice President Cheryl Blackmoore estimates it's "one-third regulars,
one-third people who come sporadically and one-third new people."
ODV board member Sean Anderson later elaborated: "Sometimes it's 40 percent newcomers. A
lot of newcomers we get are co-workers of members more than friends.
When people go out with their friends they tend to stick together but this is about socializing ... when people come with a co-worker, they're more willing to go outside their bubble than they are with their friends."
As
ODV's educator, Anderson is responsible for knowing the most about wine
-- but even he tries to play down wine's importance to the event.
"These are easy-to-drink wines that people will hopefully
enjoy ... The goal is to slowly get people going towards more complex
wines."
Last night's wines included an Argentine malbec, a Californian cab sauv and a Columbia Valley (in Washington state) chardonanny. The most popular seemed to be Lunetta Prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy. It was the sweetest and lightest and fit the mood of having something in your hand while you network.
If the main goal is networking, then member Jules Boosberg says ODV is
doing a great job. "I moved here from Chicago and this is a great way
to meet people. There's always a topic of conversation."
ODV
treasurer Robert Henderson said he understands people may be
apprehensive about wine but that he's a novice and nobody cares. "At least
come and check it out. It's a nice social setting and you'll meet new people."
ODV's next event is January 22 at The Phoenix. -- Owen Morris
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