New Year, New (Wine) Habits, New YOU!

Welcome to 2026 — the year of choosing boldly, sipping intentionally, and trusting yourself more than ever.

There’s something delicious about a blank new year. I think you can always make a big life change on a random Tuesday in July — but ringing in a fresh January just carries that global energy, a giant wave of possibility, like pulling the cork on something promising.

Last year was a whirlwind of Flux (at least for me, but I don't think I was alone), and so much of that swirl created some momentum that is just going to explode forth in 2026. This year, we’re not just gonna ride the wave — we’re going to make quantum leaps. And wine is coming along for the ride (or, driving the boat!)

'Cause I've always said: If you can gain the confidence to choose a wine you love, you can choose a LIFE you love, too.

So let’s set the tone for a spectacular year with a few new (wine) habits that just might transform more than your palate.

1. Say Yes to What You Don’t Know (Yet)

This year, pick up a bottle that intimidates you. A grape you can’t pronounce. A region you’ve never explored. The wine equivalent of taking the scenic route instead of the shortcut.

It’s not just about discovery — it’s about reminding yourself you’re capable of trying something new... and liking it. If you can walk out of a shop proudly holding a Blaufränkisch you’ve never heard of, what else might you dare to choose next?

Small risks build big courage. Start in the wine aisle.

2. Create Rituals That Support You

Wine is not (just) a reward — it’s a relationship. And relationships thrive on intention.

This year, find a little ritual that grounds you: the glass you reach for, the corner of your home where you savor, the moment you pause before the first sip. You’re teaching your mind that celebration doesn’t require an occasion — just presence and mindfulness.

These tiny habits matter. Whether it’s organizing your creative life with index cards (my new system!) or mapping your month on a wall calendar, rituals build momentum. Wine can be one of them, and deliciously so.

3. Curate Your Surroundings — Including Your Bottle Squad

Let 2026 be the year you stop drinking what you think you should love and start embracing what you actually enjoy.

Build a short list of bottles, regions, and producers that make you feel something. Surround yourself with wines and spirits that expand you, not shrink you — just like the people in your life. Level up your game with some fancy glassware, even for the $10 bottles. Or a new set of bar tools that give every mix an upgrade.

Don't be afraid to step away from sips, experiences, and people that don't allow you to live a joyful, supported life. In 2026, you do you — elevated.

4. Learn One New Skill (Wine or Otherwise)

This year, commit to learning one small, confidence-boosting wine-y skill. It could be:

• Describing flavors without self-judging.

• Navigating a wine list without breaking into a sweat.

• Storing bottles properly.

• Or mastering a killer cocktail like the Penicillin or Jungle Bird.

The point isn’t the skill itself — it’s the momentum it creates. When you practice learning in small, joyful ways (like with wine), you strengthen the muscle you need for bigger goals, deeper work, and braver choices.

5. Drop the Pretension. Amp Up the Curiosity.

Wine is supposed to bring joy, not judgment.

This year, release the pressure to “know everything.” Or even anything! Release the comparison to match with what someone else likes. Release the idea that developing your palate is some sort of test you need to pass.

Curiosity expands. Pretension contracts. Let 2026 be the year you taste with freedom, and live with it, too. I try to curate a No Snob Zone — you should as well.

6. Set One Bold Wine Goal for 2026

Choose a goal that feels fun, daring, or delightfully self-indulgent. For example:

• Visit a wine region you’ve dreamed of.

• Host a tasting for friends.

• Open that bottle you’ve been saving “for the perfect moment.”

• Start a wine journal — even one sentence per bottle counts.

• Or embark on your own “Minx Mixes" quest and try one new cocktail a month.

All major transformations start with one intentional choice. Each step (or sip) will inch you closer to the big, bold goal.

Your 2026 New Year "Permission Sip"

Here it is, officially granted:

You’re allowed to trust your taste — in wine, in people, in possibilities. You’re allowed to choose boldly and joyfully. You’re allowed to explore without fear. You’re allowed to become the version of you that’s been waiting for a signal to explode with an exciting, powerful trajectory.

(Ahem, consider this that signal.)

Here's to 2026 — the year of new wine habits and a new YOU. May your glass — and your life — alwasy be full of adventure, pleasure, and possibility.

Cheers!