Since 1863 every American has been able to count on having something very important in common, Thanksgiving Day. It occurs on the fourth Thursday in November, and is a time to bring neighbors, friends, and family together to give thanks for the abundant lifestyle in which they live.

The traditional feast that takes place involves serving turkey, potatoes, corn, and all the trimmings. Similar to the times of the pilgrims, wine is also served, which reminds me of the very first Thanksgiving Day celebrations I attended with my wife's parents.

At the time my wife and I were simply dating. It was only the second time I had met her entire family, so there was a lot of pressure. While my future sister & brother in law prepared the turkey and side dishes, my mother in law asked me to open up three separate bottles of wine. She was told I knew a lot about wine, and wanted to do a taste test of the two bottles she purchased versus the bottle of wine I brought from home.

I almost couldn't believe this challenge was occurring, but what she didn't realize was that I had brought my Wine aerator. I knew that her wines didn't stand a chance when I asked for a wine decanter and she had no idea what I was talking about. While her wines were good selections, it was obvious that the amount of oxygen that would be helping bring out the best aroma and flavor of each wine was not enough.

I poured a glass for each person that wanted one, but made sure I used my wine aerator only with the pours of my wine. I watched the faces of my soon to be in-laws as they forced their way through their stale glass of wine, described as tasting like spoiled grade juice.

It was an absolute joy to see them appreciate the wine I had brought to the feast, even if I was getting far more credit than I deserved. Since I wanted to make a reasonable impression with them, I let them in on the secret of using a wine aerator, and used it on the remaining wine they purchased. The wine not only became more enjoyable, but they started to understand the importance of tannins and oxygenation to bring out the best in a glass of wine.

Until that day, I had never recognized the importance of a good wine on Thanksgiving Day. More importantly, a wine in which the wine aerator was used. It helped my new family bond with me on a subject that is very important in my life, and gave them a new perspective on the science and chemistry involved in the process of wine. While we don't discuss those events all too often, it has made each and every Thanksgiving Day since far more enjoyable. We also learned not to do a taste test challenge with our wine aerator.