Cupid's Wine

I joined the wine of the month delivery service so I could be a member of a private singles wine club that was started by someone in my apartment complex. I liked wine but after going to a couple of meetings I was starting to really get into tasting wine. I loved learning about the vineyards and especially any juicy pieces of the history. Each member had to read up on the wine they brought and be prepared to answer any questions about it. I also enjoyed meeting new people in this new town I had started to really love. I had moved here upon graduation to take a great job but I was far from any friends or family, so the wine club seemed like a good idea to meet new people. Although the goal of the club was to mix and mingle, since we were in the middle of a pandemic it made things a little tough. The wines were set up in stations and only 2 people could be at a station at a time tasting and you had to maintain your social distance. We had to wear a mask while not tasting and walking to different tables.

I had walked up to the table that had my wine, a Chardonnay, and there was an interesting bottle of Merlot on the table. It had a unique label with a little angel-like cherub on it. After sanitizing my hands, I started to pour a glass of the Merlot because I was excited to try it. At that time a tall and sort of shy but totally handsome man asked if he could join me. “Of course,”, I said, “Let’s try it together and compare notes. My name’s Lauren.” “I’m Michael,” he replied, “very nice to meet you Lauren.”

We rolled the wine around in our glasses, sniffed it, then looked at each other and smiled big pleased smiles. We poured the sweetness onto our tongues and both immediately closed our eyes and moaned little satisfied sounds. The black cherry deliciousness and the total smoothness of the wine were a delight. The juicy flavor passed my tongue and made its way down my throat. My eyes flew open when I realized they were still closed, Michael was standing there smiling and staring at me. We just sat there and stared at each other for a couple of seconds with amusement, and curiosity. “What do you think?”, Michael asked. “I think it’s amazing! The flavors are wonderful and it’s not too dry. What about you, what do you think?”, I said. “I think we need to stay at this table and finish off this bottle before anyone else can come taste it,” he said with a naughty smile. “I don’t know about all that, but we can definitely pour a big glass and take it with us. Want to go outside and enjoy some fresh air and talk?”, I said. Michael smiled and looked at me, “I thought you’d never ask.”

We sat outside under the beautiful clear night sky, sipped on our wine and talked about ourselves for hours. Michael would go back in and get us more wine periodically and we’d talk about the wines too. When we left we made plans for brunch the next day at a local bakery. As I went home, all tingly from the wine and from the conversation with Michael, I felt like I had met someone special and I hoped he thought so too.

Michael and I have now been dating for two months, and we refer to the night at the wine club as our first date. We both laugh and say that the angel-like cherubim on the Merlot must have been Cupid and that it was a love potion because we have been love-struck ever since.