Nea Fane – Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US

This wasn’t just any bottle of wine; it was a 2013 vintage from my father’s collection, a prized possession that made the long journey from Romania seven years ago. We’d been saving it for a special occasion, joyous or otherwise. Stored meticulously at the perfect temperature and on its side, it awaited its moment to shine.

After much deliberation two nights ago, we decided to uncork it. As I prepared the glasses and decanter, disaster struck. I heard the whine of the wine fridge opening, and before I could gently retrieve the bottle, my wife emerged, holding it aloft, gently swirling the bottle upside down, much like you would coax the good stuff out of a kombucha bottle.

“There’s some sediment at the bottom,” she announced.

My heart sank. As (almost) any wine enthusiast knows, swirling like that can cloud the liquid and affect the taste.

Tears welling up, I poured the now-cloudy potion into the decanter. The moment of truth arrived. The taste? Indiscernible. The sediment, once carefully settled, now marred the experience. I finished the bottle over the next few days, each sip a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.