What is a Wineaux?

Very simply, a Wineaux is a lover of wine. Not the stereotypical wino, staggering around with a brown bag in hand, rather a person dedicated to a life style centered around good food, wine, good people. The Wineauxs started in Charleston, SC... just a small group of girlfriends gathered together to drink wine and just be. Someone would host, open her home to the rest of us, prepare some food, and everyone else would show up with a bottle of wine in hand. The rest of the evening would involve good wine and conversation...and any wine left over (open or unopen) would stay with the host as a thank you and offset the cost of what she put out for food.

Over time, word about our gatherings spread, friends would bring friends, and soon we needed to expand our horizons and find bigger venues to have our Wineaux nights. We soon discovered that a lot of the women in our group owned their own businesses, and so we started having Wineaux events there. It was a great way to support each other, and build business, and continue to have fun at the same time. 

When I left Charleston and moved to Rochester, NY, I decided to revive the Wineaxus and add another "chapter"... so I started meeting women everywhere I went and would ask the same question: "You seem cool... wanna hang out and drink wine with me?" Now, we have a facebook page, and a large group of women who belong. Although the group activity has quieted down for a while (it seemed like getting together was becoming more and more difficult)... the desire and the attitude are still the same.

I guess you could sum up being a Wineaux as this... 
Living in a world that has become largely digital, it becomes more and more difficult to connect with each other... on a personal, human level. Facebook and other social media make it very easy to keep up with your friends, but in a voyeuristic sort of way. It's easy to get caught up in your own cocoon and forget about just hanging out.

So... how do you become a Wineaux?
1. Like wine.
2. Be sociable.
3. Do items 1 and 2 at the same time.

What do I like most about being a Wineaux?
It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are, what you do for a living, how much money you make, or what circles you run around with. All that matters is that you are an individual. Whatever you have done, wherever you come from, you are unique, and that makes you a valuable member of the group. Your life experience is interesting, and your story needs to be heard. At the end of the day... we all put our pants on the same way. We all are born, and we will all die. I've been very lucky in the group of women that have become Wineauxs... I've been involved with groups that are clicky... something that I've never understood, and frankly, just don't don't have the time or patience for. What right does anyone have to exclude another person from their social circle? I like the fact that I can get together with my Wineauxs, and talk about anything... without judgement.

The other cool thing about being a Wineaux is that when you run into another Wineaux, you instantly have something to talk about. I will randomly run into women who recognize me from past events, and will universally thank me for starting the group, mostly because its a way to get them out of the house and meet new people. I think that's very cool.

SO... wanna be a Wineaux? 
Guess what... You already are :)