10th Anniversary of Opening a Bottle
What started as a simple wine blog in 2014 has become ... well, I'm not sure exactly what. A magazine? A wine school? A stock photography repository? A wine club (shhh ... I'm working on it).
Yes, yes and yes.
But more than any one thing, Opening a Bottle has become my passion and my creative life. I've known since high school that I was a writer. I've known since college that I was a photographer. But it wasn't until my a-ha moment with wine that I found the perfect place for the two creative pursuits to play together.
That I have been able to turn these two pursuits into a publication that has influenced hundreds of thousands of wine drinkers and become a leading authority (particularly on Italian wine), is perhaps the greatest honor of my professional life.
On May 14, 2024, Opening a Bottle turns 10 years old. Below, you can track the evolution of this site from its blog-like beginnings to its present-day form. Soon, I will share some thoughts on where all of this is headed in the next year, because big changes are on the way.
A special thank you to my subscribers — both individual and professional — for funding this site. Your support inspires me each day to make this the most compelling, most informative, and most visually appealing place on the internet for lovers of Italian and other European wines. –Kevin Day
Where It Began: 2014
Early articles that are still worth reading (for the most part)
Early Wine Travels: 2015–2016
Hitting the road and finding my footing
The Turning Point: 2017
A singular moment in the world's most famous cellar, and everything that followed from it
Getting Educated: 2018-2019
How becoming a certified Italian and French Wine Scholar through the Wine Scholar Guild set the course for this publication's niche future ...
Winemaker Stories: 2018-2019
... As did the compelling personal stories I encountered from the people behind the scenes.
The Pandemic: 2020-2021
Zero travel + a lot of bottles at home leads to the advent of online wine classes via Zoom, and the launch of a paywall for subscribers to gain access. Videos below are for those good folks who support this site.
Returning to Europe: 2022-2024
Refining my craft and exploring the deeper stories that AI could never write. Support Opening a Bottle.
View the Opening a Bottle Photo Archive
Hang an original work on your office, dining room or wine cellar wall. More than 10 years worth of wine photography from Italy, France, Oregon, California and Germany is available for royalty-free licensing and print-product purchase via Photoshelter.