Open That Bottle Night
February 28, 2026 | Global Celebration
What is Open That Bottle Night?
“Whether it’s the only bottle in the house or one bottle among thousands, just about all wine lovers have that very special wine that they always mean to open but never do. This is why ‘Tastings’ columnists Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher invented Open That Bottle Night, the worldwide celebration of friends, family, and memories during which all of us finally drink that wine that is otherwise simply too special to open.” – Wall Street Journal
Pepper Bridge Winery celebrates #OTBN every year by re-releasing a special offering from our private library. Make sure you are subscribed to our emails to receive notice!
Celebrate in Person
Missed the email offer or just prefer in person to taste the 2017 Seven Hills Vineyard Blend, a club exclusive!
These wines will only be available for tasting on February 28th at the tasting rooms—make your reservations to ensure you have a spot waiting for you! *Purchase the wine online for shipping, we will only have enough on hand for tasting.
Free the Good Memories
This year, Dorothy J. Gaiter & John Brecher, Senior Editors at Grape Collective, are connecting with wineries and wine enthusiasts around the world (ourselves included!) about how they plan to participate in the 2026 celebration.
“We often hear our guests say they’re saving these wines for special occasions like X, Y, or Z. This event is a perfect way to encourage them to start creating those cherished memories now,” Marelina Wilford, the tastings room operations manager of Bien Nacido Vineyard, shared. (read the full article here)
The time is now! Open That Bottle and "free the good memories."
Why We Celebrate
In 2020, Gaiter & Brecher revisited the OTBN event for its 21st birthday. Enjoy the reflection, and bonus points if you read through to the quote from Pepper Bridge Winery's former Director of DTC sales, Jennifer Clapp.
"We invented OTBN in 1999 for a simple reason. When we began our column in The Wall Street Journal, the most common question we received was: I have a bottle that is very dear to me -- when should I open it? And it’s not just us. Many wine writers tell us it’s their most-asked question, too. Our answer was always the same: Make a great meal and open your special wine this weekend. That’s still our best advice. But we soon realized it wasn’t that easy. So we created a kind of global support group of like-minded people who, on one extraordinary night, would open that bottle and celebrate the wine, the memories and the friendships that flow." – Dorothy J. Gaiter & John Brecher (Read the full article here)
