This text is a part of an interview sequence referred to as Instruments of the Commerce, a column that includes expert-approved suggestions, methods, and product suggestions. Food52 earns an affiliate fee on qualifying purchases of the merchandise we hyperlink to.
For those who consider that boxed wine cannot be prime quality, Woody Hambrecht and Ross Dawkins are right here to alter that. Profession winemakers and decades-long mates, the pair are the co-owners of Ami Ami, a direct-to-consumer model centered on offering high-quality, eco-conscious, and scrumptious boxed (sure, boxed) French wine.
“Most wine manufacturers are hyperfocused on the wine, within the phrases of ‘Let’s lead with which [vine] row it got here from or what brix it was picked at,‘ however that is not the core focus for us” Ross defined. “We’ve three a long time of expertise making high-quality wines all over the world. You may belief us. We need not clarify the nuances of each single factor to you. We’re making an attempt to interrupt down these boundaries of pretension round wine and make it extra inclusive and accessible.”
When the duo determined to create the model—named after their daughters who’re each named Sophie and are greatest mates, as ami is French for “a buddy”—they knew they needed to create a top quality, high-end product that will be handy, accessible, and memorable, whatever the event. Most significantly, they needed to package deal their wine in a means that was sustainable. “Greater than two-thirds of glass in the USA will not be recycled and leads to a landfill,” they write on their website. Not solely that, the carbon footprint of manufacturing and transporting glass is immense. This impressed the shift from extra conventional glass packaging to boxed. In spite of everything, it creates half of the carbon footprint and is extra environment friendly and simpler to move.
Primarily based in Healdsburg, Calif., the pair are deep within the coronary heart of wine nation. With this, and their apparent roles within the wine group, comes a schedule filled with wine tastings, winery visits, and limitless internet hosting—whether or not it is a yard barbecue, feast, or yard glad hour. “I like internet hosting,” Woody mentioned. “I have been internet hosting for so long as I can keep in mind; it’s very in-built my household tradition. I stay on this lovely ranch, we develop a whole lot of our personal meals, we elevate pigs and chickens, and we’ve orchards. So, we’re in a position to make the most of a whole lot of the stuff that we develop and it is simply considered one of my nice joys in life to have the ability to share that with folks.”
Dwelling amongst numerous vineyards undeniably comes with its perks. “For those who’re a winemaker, you are additionally most likely a reasonably good cook dinner—these two issues go hand in hand,” Ross mentioned. “So with our mates, we’re all competing to host as a result of all of us need to be the host and are all tremendous treasured about our wine, we’re tremendous snobs about our meals, so all of us compete for the title.” Spend a warm-weather day in Healdsburg and also you simply may end up at an off-the-cuff yard barbecue stocked with a number of the greatest wines within the nation. “It is type of ridiculous going round Healdsburg to a little bit barbecue since you’ll discover distinctive wine and distinctive meals that the chef simply whipped up.”
All of this thought of, once I started my hunt for consultants on internet hosting outside gatherings centered round nice drinks, nice meals, and nice mates, Woody and Ross felt like an apparent alternative. So, we sat down and talked all issues Ami Ami, yard barbecues, internet hosting suggestions and methods, and extra. Hold studying for 10 of the pair’s necessities for an ideal yard bash, whatever the season.
Photograph by Ami Ami
1. Ami Ami Summer time Duo, $60
“Who would not need this once you’re internet hosting people at your private home?,” Ross asks. “There are two bottles in every field, so it goes additional [than a typical bottle] and it appears to be like nice on the desk. It actually is ideal—and that is not simply us making an attempt to oversell this—particularly for an outside barbecue. It may be utilized in spritzes or loved as-is, and it is so handy.” The comfort of the packaging goes additional than simply for entertaining, Woody provides. “It is nice if you wish to come residence and similar to have one glass of wine,” he says. ”Fairly than having to open a bottle, you possibly can have that one glass of wine with out the stress to complete the bottle so it does not go unhealthy in a few days in case you do not.”
Photograph by Repurpose
2. Compostable Stemless Wine Cups, $14+
The pair loves these compostable cups for his or her mix of being eco-friendly and nicely designed. “So many plastic cups or different compostable cups haven’t got a pleasant design. These have a stupendous form and are sustainable—they’re a terrific different to plastic,” Woody says.
Photograph by Polaroid
3. Polaroid Go On the spot Digital camera, $100 $90
“This one comes from my spouse,” Ross says. “We bought married in 2017, she needed a Polaroid at our wedding ceremony, and I needed to Google what it was. I’ve by no means seen something at an occasion or celebration get extra consideration than a Polaroid—it is an absolute no-brainer. There’s one thing so particular about them and it is a good way to make recollections with out it being one of many 3,000 iPhone photographs that get taken all through the day.”
Photograph by MJ Kroeger
4. OXO Good Grips Coiled Grill Brush, $40
“Remember the necessities, proper?” Ross says. “Gotta have a pleasant, clear grill.” Woody has an entire system to get his grill good and clear. “First I get my fireplace going. As soon as it is at a reasonably excessive warmth, I take advantage of a brush to interrupt down no matter is leftover from our final barbecue. Then I take a paper towel, throw a bunch of olive oil on it, and wipe the grill. However, you want that brush to interrupt down the carbon out of your final cookout—you are solely nearly as good as your instruments,” he says.
Photograph by Graza
5. “Sizzle” Further Virgin Olive Oil, $14+
“I’ve a very curated residence, the bottle sits subsequent to my range, and that is what I cook dinner with mainly day-after-day,” Woody explains. ”I feel it is a terrific product and it is a terrific package deal.” Ross, additionally a Graza lover, agrees. “I’ve bought a month-to-month subscription that arrives at my doorstep each single month,” he says. “Cool packaging, unimaginable olive oil, and tremendous instructional [about where it comes from, how it’s harvested, why Picula olives are used, and more].”
Photograph by Rocky Luten
6. French Oak Serving Boards, $74+
“After I host I all the time have a cheese and charcuterie board,” Woody says. “I have been doing it for over a decade and so they’re simply lovely.” Bubbles and charcuterie are customary in Healdsburg, Ross confirms. “If persons are arriving and there isn’t any charcuterie served after they arrive…are you even internet hosting?” he jokes.
Photograph by Yeti
7. Yeti Tundra, $325
“The period of time I’ve spent, earlier than getting a Yeti, strolling to and from the fridge to get folks drinks is ridiculous,” Ross says. “I can not consider it took me this lengthy.” Now, no extra working backwards and forwards from the yard to the kitchen for chilly drinks. The pair depends on a Yeti Tundra to maintain drinks close by and ice-cold, even when it is sitting outdoors, proper underneath the solar. “I do not even know the way they really make these, however I’ve had ice sit in them for like two weeks and never soften.”
Photograph by James Ransom
8. Emile Henry French Ceramic Pizza Stone, $70
“My child is in a pizza section,” Woody says. “We eat pizza virtually each evening and this makes for a greater high quality frozen pizza. It additionally faucets into my chef fantasies—it makes me really feel a little bit extra critical within the kitchen.” Ross, whose daughter can also be in a pizza section, has used the stone for cooking flatbreads on the grill, too.
Photograph by Lazzari
9. Lazzari Mesquite Charcoal Lump, $19
“That is the true stuff. If you are going to do one thing, do it correctly,” Ross says. “Fuel grilling is tremendous handy and tremendous helpful, however coming from South Africa—we name grilling over coals a Braai—and you’ll be canceled in South Africa in case you invite folks over and crack on the fuel. Previous winery wooden is definitely a number of the greatest wooden for grilling, however I like this model for coals. I am truly standing outdoors now an enormous bag within the nook,” he provides.
Photograph by Ty Mecham
10. KHEM Studios Easy Meat Board, $90
“What’s nice about this slicing board is it has the trough to seize the juices,” Woody says. “Say you throw a steak on the grill, you let it repose for 10 minutes, begin slicing that steak and it is nonetheless going to launch some juices and people juices are taste, so you have to seize it.”
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