Tweeting and Drinking: Pour Cafe & Wine Bar Hosts 'Sip & Twit' Evening

As social networking technology changes, so do some social gatherings, even wine tastings. On Tuesday Pour Cafe & Wine Bar in Mount Kisco held its first event for patrons to share their tasting notes using Twitter.

Pour's dark, soft lighting was accompanied by the weak glow from Blackberrys synched for the evening's event, which was hosted by WineTwits, the social forum devoted to wine and run by Steve Gilberg. Gilberg specializes in creating software applications for companies in the wine industry. Although his company is based in New Jersey, Gilbert said WineTwits has nearly 50,000 followers.

Thirty or so guests came for an evening out. A few were interested in using Twitter, while others discussed the wine with each other, or with the gentlemen who had chosen the wines.

Wines from France and Spain came from Mount Kisco Wines & Spirits. During the evening a "tweet" gave a shout out to the Mas Donis Old Vines red from Spain. Jessica Haddad Coleman, a field producer for ABC News, proclaimed the 2007 vintage her favorite red; she goes by the Twitter name JessicaWendi. Haddad Coleman and her husband, who enjoy drinking and learning about wine, came for a Tuesday night date.

Mary Tartarian of Pleasantville came with a friend, and no smart phone. Tartarian was drinking a white wine from Italy selected by Tom Lancaster from Winebow importers. Tartarian was content to discuss the no-tech manner. Others had come prepared to tweet. David Harmon, also known as dph33 on Twitter, declared the 2008 Zenato Lugana San Benedetto "nice on a hot afternoon, maybe on Sanibel."

Kate Molina, Pour's bartender and go-to gal was amused by the fascination with Twitter. She is not anti-technology, but is perplexed at the need for people to keep the world posted with what they are doing every minute.

As for myself, when it was time to put my pen and camera away, I asked John Bueti of Mount Kisco Wines & Spirits for his recommendation. He handed me a Muga rioja blanca 2008 from Spain. I found it fruity, slightly acidic,  and having a nice finish. If I get technologically bold, I may post an update on Facebook –how '09 of me.

For more information on the wines of the evening, check out the following sites:

Winetwits.com - WineTwits 

Mtkiscowines.com - Mount Kisco Wines & Spirites

Pourmtkisco.com - Pour Cafe & Wine Bar

Editor's Note: Steven Gilberg, founder of WineTwits, was initially referred to in the story as "Steven Gilbert." This has since been corrected.