DATE NIGHT

One of my favorite traditions with my husband is our wine nights. We’d pick a theme—maybe a grape we’d never tried, a country we were dreaming of visiting or just a wine that caught our eye at the store. The wine shop chats with knowledgeable staff members were half the fun. (Pro tip: wine people love talking wine. Don’t be shy—they’ll steer you to something awesome.)

Once we chose our bottle, the next big decision was: what do we pair with it? Should we keep it simple with cheese and crackers? Order Thai takeout or wood-fired pizza? Go full MasterChef and cook a dish inspired by the wine’s origin? Sometimes we went big. Sometimes we didn’t even turn on the stove. There was no wrong answer, and that’s what made it so fun.

Here’s the thing: you can read about wine all day, but it really clicks when you're sipping it alongside something tasty. Wine and food bring out the best in each other. They’re a total power couple.

Whether you’re a kitchen pro or more of a “what’s-left-in-the-fridge” type, there are tons of easy, budget-friendly ways to create a great wine night. I've pulled together some no-fuss, no-fluff ideas to help you plan your own perfect night in—whether it’s chill or a little extra.

So go ahead—call up your people, pick a wine and make it a date.
Saúde!