‘Share & Pair Sunday’ Is the Weekly Wine Ritual We Can Get Behind

Sundays get a bad rap for being scary, but a new campaign aims to turn the day into a cause for celebration. 

Officially launching this Sunday and running until June 1, Share & Pair Sundays is all about the art of pairing food with the perfect glass of wine—along with good company, of course. The campaign was created by industry pros Karen MacNeil, Kimberly Noelle Charles and Gino Colangelo, who launched Come Over October last fall as a counterpoint to Sober October. 

“I often wonder why friends always gravitate to the kitchen,” says MacNeil. “Somehow, the simple acts of cooking, opening bottles and sharing wine remind us that food and wine represent generosity and togetherness. From the earliest times, food and wine have sustained us, not only physically, but emotionally and even spiritually.” 

Share & Pair Sundays encourages wine lovers to gather on Sundays for some delicious food and wine match-ups. “Over the years, I’ve come to see that it doesn’t matter if I get out the ‘good’ silverware or use the fancy dishes,” says MacNeil. “It’s the reminder that we are connected to each other that counts most.”

Bubbles to Barolo and Beyond

Low-brow pairings are absolutely welcome. Samantha Capaldi, a certified sommelier and wine influencer, always loves a good old-fashioned Cheez-it and Pinot Noir pairing, enjoyed with her best friend on the couch. But this weekend, Capaldi plans to elevate things for Share & Pair Sunday. “I’m especially excited to pop open some bubbles and enjoy burgers and fries with my husband in our new home,” she says. 

Christy Nakada, of the California wine blog Christy on the Vine, is planning on enjoying her favorite snack pairing: traditional method brut sparkling wine with truffle salt popcorn cooked in duck fat. “Share & Pair Sundays has also inspired me to try different food and wine pairings and to get out of my comfort zone with new-to-me recipes,” she says. “I grew up in Tokyo, Japan, and cook a lot of Japanese food, so I’ve been trying to pair different wines with the dishes I cook.”

To commemorate the campaign, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is kicking off a Share & Pair Sundays series at both their J. Lohr San Jose and Paso Robles Wine Centers, offering sweet and savory pairings through the spring. 

“A dear friend once told me that Sundays were for the soul. I couldn’t agree more,” says co-owner Cynthia Lohr, who’s looking forward to pairing cool-climate 2023 J. Lohr Arroyo Vista Chardonnay with aromatic grilled artichokes. “Sundays are days to slow down and give time and love to your partner, family, friends and, above all, yourself. And there’s no better way to do that than over a glass or two of wine and delicious food.”

Dallas-based sommelier John Jackson, a k a the “Attorney Somm” on Instagram and YouTube, just found some inspiration at the Barolo Barbaresco World Opening in Austin, where he tasted fantastic Nebbiolo-based wines alongside Texas barbecue. “The match was absolute heaven, with the fatty, flavorful beef softening the grippy tannins and the high acidity for the wines cutting through the richness of the beef,” he says. “So, for Share & Pair Sunday, I’ll be hosting a small get-together at my house featuring Texas barbecue, Barolo and Barbaresco.”

Whichever food and wine pairing speaks to you, don’t forget to throw in some excellent company. “Drinking wine is about so much more than just alcohol,” says Capaldi. “It’s about the experience, the stories shared and the memories created.”