Along with Come Over October, Share & Pair Sundays is a campaign founded by Karen MacNeil, Gino Colangelo, and Kimberly Charles as a movement to share wine’s positive, communal story. In this blog post, their project manager offers a personal reflection on why that mission feels more urgent than ever. For a deeper dive into the advocacy work of Come Together – a Community for Wine and to learn how wine brands across the value chain can get involved, tune in to this episode of Masterclass US Wine Market on Italian Wine Podcast or email info@cometogetherforwine.com.
A few summers ago, I was visiting my family in Lucca, Italy—a nearly annual pilgrimage since early childhood. But this trip was especially meaningful: my sister’s young daughters joined for the first time, marking four generations gathered at a long and casual table under one Tuscan sky. There was nothing in particular to celebrate—just the profoundly simple bliss of being together.
My relatives have been farmers for as long as we can trace—even those who emigrated to California became professional grape growers. In Italy, they still grow wine grapes, though not commercially. They make wine in garages and basements, bottling it in repurposed 2-liter soda bottles. My husband, a California winemaker, naturally couldn’t resist. He poured a splash from a Pepsi-labeled carafe and asked, “What is this?” My uncle shrugged: “Red.”
You see, it’s not about what’s in the bottle—it’s the invitation it extends. My uncle doesn’t even know exactly which grapes he grows. “Probably some Sangiovese,” he guesses. And yet, as we sat around the table talking, connecting, feeding our bodies and our spirits, I couldn’t tell what felt warmer—the Mediterranean summer air or the sense of togetherness.
The children squealed with joy, playing football (soccer) in the driveway, effortlessly connecting despite the language barrier. Wine and food colored the table and kept us fully present with one another. The evening stretched into the wee hours of the morning, anchored by what was on the table, but imprinted to my memory by what we felt being together around it.
Photos by Barbara Fitzgerald
I could tell you dozens of versions of this story. It’s the lived philosophy I was raised on: coming together around a table is nourishment for the soul. On holidays, we often hosted “imports,” and I don’t just mean wine and food. Friends without family, neighbors in need, those with nowhere else to go—there was always a seat at our table, no questions asked. Why aren’t stories like these being shared more often—especially when the need for them is so great?
For me, sharing and pairing isn’t just a lifestyle—it’s a way to find joy in everyday moments. In a world full of noise, stress, and division, gathering around a table is a timeless vehicle for experiencing the very essence of humanity. As the English poet John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.” We are social creatures—we need each other.
I’ve gotten too good at being “busy.” During the pandemic, I even excelled at being alone—a dangerous combination for a species wired for connection and a habit that’s been oddly hard to break. Social media and news cycles don’t help, attempting to indoctrinate us to see people with different opinions as enemies. More than ever, I need the table. That’s why I believe so deeply in the Share & Pair Sundays campaign and the broader advocacy work founded and led by Karen MacNeil, Gino Colangelo, and Kimberly Charles.
If this resonates with you, too, getting involved is easy. The campaign runs for ten Sundays, from March 23 to May 25, followed later in the year by the second annual Come Over October. We’ve built a robust library of free marketing assets you can use however it best fits your brand—whether that’s a simple social media post or a full-scale retail activation. You can explore all our consumer and trade resources at www.shareandpairsundays.com, and join the conversation on Instagram @shareandpairsundays.
If you have room in your budget to support the movement as a sponsor, we’d be honored to discuss partnership opportunities with you. But know this: every action—big or small, monetary or otherwise—helps us keep the spirit alive.
This isn’t just for the industry; it’s for the people—for a world that needs more connection. On any given Sunday (or Monday through Saturday), may food and wine bring you closer to the ones you love. And if you’re unsure where to find them, know there’s always a seat (and a glass) waiting at my table. Truly.
By Barbara Fitzgerald
Project Manager, Come Together – A Community for Wine
