Photo By Adam Finkle
Tracey Thompson of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits – Entertaining Lessons Learned
As the President and CEO of Vine Lore Wine and Spirits, Tracey Thompson is involved with many events throughout the year. But that’s in her official capacity as a wine maven and spirit whisperer. She prefers her unofficial capacity during the holidays, focusing on creating relaxing and elegant gatherings for the people she loves the most.
Cook less, enjoy more
Tracey loves to cook and she spent her early hosting days, even with young children, laboring and fretting over complex, multi-course meals for formal sit-down dinner parties. “But I finally saw the light,” she says. “I look back now and go, ‘what was I thinking?'”
She still loves to cook, especially with her daughters, who have inherited their mother’s culinary entertaining genes, but she long ago dispensed with formality. “We always cook, but it’s something we can serve buffet style.” Tracey backstops her cooking by ordering items for the meal from “people who do things I would never attempt.” For example, last year for New Years Eve, she ordered a selection of buns from Romina Rassmussen’s Xao Bao Bao. “I bought four bags of buns and just we put a steamer on the stove. It was so easy and fun and everyone loved it.”
Don’t be a bartender
“I am not a mixologist,” she says.. “The point of holiday parties is being with the people I love the most and clinking glasses together.” To that end, she sets up a drink station with basic spirits and mixes and perhaps the makings for one special cocktail that’s easy to prepare, like a negroni. And of course, as a wine expert, she will curate a selection of whites and reds, and “always rose and bubbles.” Over the years, she says, non-alcoholic options are growing part of the beverages she offers. “So many people are moderating more or more conscious of drinking” and there are so many new non-alcoholic options out there.”
Guests: Come and go as you please
During the holidays (or any day it seems) it’s hard enough to get people together for a single event. Make it easier for everyone and just entertain with an open house format. “Want people to enjoy, come in and have a drink without the anxiety of popping into a seated dinner,” she says. “It lends itself to a much more relaxed atmosphere.”
Put your feet up
“If I’m not relaxed my guests aren’t relaxed,” she says. The day of the party she makes sure she has at least an hour before guests arrive to put her feet up. “I don’t do rushing to the finish line anymore.” sometimes things won’t be perfect, she says, it’s more important that the occasion is joyful and full of “love and light.”
