Wine Occasions: Open That Bottle Night - What Wine Should You Open?
Angelica Nohra
Wine Importer | Wine List Consultant | Speaker
Angelica Nohra is a seasoned Wine Importer, Consultant, and WSET Diploma graduate, with a passion for fine food and wine. As the owner of Direct Wine Cellars, Star Beverages, and The Blue Door Surry Hills, she brings years of industry expertise to wine lovers. On the In the Bottle blog at Direct Wine Cellars, Angelica shares trusted insights on wine trends, pairing tips, and more.
It's interesting you know... I have hundreds of bottles of wine sitting in my cellar and yet, I don't want to drink them on my own. The wines that cost me the most, the wines I travelled furthest to get are the wines I want to share with like-minded friends. Friends who get it.
Friends who:
1) I can share the story of the wine with.
2) I can do a little brag about.
3) I can compare notes with.
I also know if I'm bringing a good bottle of wines to a friend's place, my friend is also bringing a good bottle of wine so its definitely worth it.
There is an exceptional day during the year where I make an effort to pull something really good out of the cellar...or multiple really good things. I look for something I've been saving for a special occasion but that occasion doesn't seem to be coming around so any excuse will do.
The best night to do it is Open That Bottle Night. It happens once a year (or you can make a few more up if you really want to) and it's a night where, around the world, you are encouraged to open a bottle of wine you have been saving.
Over the years, I've always had Open that Bottle Night with Friends and it starts with Champagne, moves onto white, then rosé, red before finishing on a sticky of some sort.
The Champagne is always Vintage. A 1995 Charles Heidsiek Blanc de Millionaires for instance or a Magnum of 1997 Henri Abelé (amazing).
The whites are usually a really old Australian Chardonnay (a real highlight and treat was the 1981 Lakes Folly Chardonnay from the Hunter. Unbelievably fresh for it's age) or something European, like a Marrenon Grand Marrenon Blanc. Something a little special that has some history.
The rosé sits in the middle as a palate cleanser before the reds. They aren't particularly old but they will be something a little unusual like the Simon Gilbert Saignee from Mudgee or Tenuta Mara Sangiovese Rosato (strange, skin contact 'white' sang that is actually pink in colour).
The reds are the usually the highlights of the evening. People bring over the big guns. The 20-30 year old Barossa Valley Shiraz's, the 20 year old Red Burgundy, the 20 year old Barolo and Brunello. There are some doozys that come out. One of the best experiences I've had was a 2000 Chateau Musar from Lebanon which I thought would be vinegar but it was had still retained some fruit even though it was most tertiary characters (cigar box, leather, prune etc). Another awesome find was a 2000 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino (drank WAY too young...needed another 5 years but was such a treat) and a Tenuta San Guido Guildalberto Supertuscan. Not forgetting Seghesio's Venom from Sonoma, USA. Wow. What an awesome Sangiovese.... Obviously you can tell I'm a big fan of Sangiovese because I was also pleasantly surprised by the 2006 Sensi Brunello di Montalcino as well last year. Outstanding for a 12 year old Brunello.
There are more of course but these are some of the highlights I've had over the years at Open that Bottle Night.
So my question to you is, what will you be opening on OTBN?
Our Top Picks for " Open That Bottle Night"

Henri Abelé NV Brut
Maison Abelé has two kilometres of underground cellars dug out of solid chalk in the heart of Reims. Devotion to excellence is natural in these ancient vaulted cellars.
Made from the best crus in Champagne, Brut Traditionnel is ready to drink after three years of ageing under ideal conditions, away from light and variations in temperature.
Grand Marrenon AOC Luberon White
TASTING NOTES
Straw-yellow with silver reflects. The nose expresses floral and fruity aromas with white flowers overtone (hawthorn, acacia) completed by yellow peaches.
SOMMELIER ADVICE
To be served at 12°C. This wine will ideally accompany a truffle omelette or spiny lobster. Wine for ageing to drink within 5 years.
AWARDS
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate 90/100
Gault&Millau 17/20
Le Guide Hachette des vins

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dr.miami.male.enhancement
https://www.facebook.com/Dr.Miami.Male.Enhancement/
https://drmiamiflorida.omeka.net/
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1FbvDTDLI19Dpmu6LFTJ9X5RtW4wtwaXU
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/18AL5brhYhjBiHLYsnkWgMtosjh1dCE4U
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1ly2kl5mPu6GXN8e0YGho85i4vYRgp9zh
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1MXZ643n_suMoqv_wBtsE7oQMX71pbb0H
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1teQzrd68iNfcYmJCo3jt3Mx-zYfICt0v
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1aWmx_d_LMN7_FWyeseS-WthB76Eg8vh3
https://groups.google.com/g/dr-miami-florida/c/MQh3RJnWXBo
https://groups.google.com/g/dr-miami-florida/c/tZfwD0L1X00
https://github.com/DrMiamii/Dr-Miami-Penile-Implant-Reviews
https://github.com/DrMiamii/Dr-Miami-Penis-Extention
https://github.com/DrMiamii/Dr-Miami-Male-Enhancement
https://www.italki.com/en/post/ElihG6wB74WFM5M8p39ZDU
https://www.italki.com/en/post/Jhl0QkJvJ84Amqiz8ENzuq
https://www.italki.com/en/post/ElihG6wB74WFM5M8p39ZWa
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1E_YHpDEO9w4Ci5yaYDLhjIbrjx66ABMl
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/19XMClbasVp5bIW22E1kXOsJdajK3U6F3
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/18ZJpFc1mfM830JRW9KK-yElOOAUKcTMy
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1P26NGU8hM0-3mt1H0jNLA-FzytqtMJ1S
https://whoherbs.com/beast-force-male-enhancement/
https://whoherbs.com/life-gold-farms-cbd-gummies/
https://whoherbs.com/endurox-prime-male-enhancement-enhance-your-erection-with-satisfaction/
https://whoherbs.com/alphastride-male-enhance-fully-loaded-with-stamina-erection/
https://whoherbs.com/biozenetics-cbd-gummies-reviews-2025-tried-and-tested/
https://www.facebook.com/EagleHempCbdGummiesShop/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/eaglehempcbdgummiess/
https://sites.google.com/view/unlockingwellnesswitheaglehemp/home
https://groups.google.com/g/eaglehempcbdgummies-/c/dZNQZPDOjhk
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/15dKKbniQQWiRNlfZWHQj2okXpVd_QaGc
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1_x-BymeGVZ-F2lSzd1642vx51jub66qe
https://www.italki.com/en/post/iO8iTWd3Oqm3nwFGe5svsy
https://www.italki.com/en/post/2cwXjAhP99zTZSaOvWQwH6
https://www.facebook.com/DrCharlieTeoGummiesAustralia/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/drcharlieteogummiesaustralia
https://sites.google.com/view/dr-charlie-teo-gummies-austral/home
https://groups.google.com/g/dr-charlie-teo-gummies-australia
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1BD3jn17Mj6Q7fmMygq9ZLER4E7Xkh77f
https://colab.research.google.com/drive/1C4wWKOCndYZQZ4HhlB3w8jWC-qXSbjzV
https://www.italki.com/en/post/chwKoJ6Wuf6KUsWFhLwK3V
https://www.italki.com/en/post/2cwXjAhP99zTZSaOvWQxNN