DRINK

The Stanley Cup is back in Carolina, and few wines are more connected to this moment than Vineyard 36 Five Bands Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vineyard 36 is the passion project of former Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward, who backstopped the Canes to their historic 2006 Stanley Cup victory, and Tim Gleason, former Hurricanes defenseman and current assistant coach on this year's championship team. Their connection to Carolina hockey is woven into every bottle.

The Five Bands label pays tribute to the Stanley Cup itself. Like the Cup, it is understated, iconic, and instantly recognizable to those who understand what it represents. The simple silver label carries a deeper meaning, honoring the pursuit of excellence and the achievement of reaching the pinnacle of the sport.

The 2023 Five Bands Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from premier sites in Oakville and Rutherford, blending 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Cabernet Franc. Crafted by acclaimed Napa Valley winemaker Keith Emerson and aged 19 months in 100% new French oak, it delivers the power, structure, and elegance worthy of a championship celebration.

At DRINK, we love wines with a story, but only when the wine in the bottle lives up to the story on the label. Five Bands delivers on both counts.

And if you're looking for the ultimate keepsake from this championship season, our friends at Raleigh Custom Burn can personalize the bottle with custom laser engraving. Whether it's a Stanley Cup celebration, a gift for the Hurricanes fan in your life, or a bottle destined for the cellar, a personalized Five Bands becomes more than a great wine. It becomes a piece of Carolina hockey history.

With Hurricanes fans celebrating across the state, these wines have been moving quickly. If you'd like a bottle to commemorate a championship season, now is a good time to secure one before they disappear into collectors' cellars.

The Cup is in Carolina.
The wine is at DRINK.
The memory can last forever.

Last night was a reminder that the best dinners are never just about what is on the table. They are about the people gathered around it.

At Maximillians, glasses were filled, stories were shared, and conversations stretched long between courses as Erik Miller guided us through the wines of Kokomo Winery and Breaking Bread Wines. Old friends caught up. New friendships quietly took shape. By the end of the evening, the room felt a little smaller in the best possible way.

There is something special about nights like these. A table full of people arriving from different places and leaving feeling connected through a shared experience, a great bottle, and the simple act of slowing down together.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening what it was.

Until we meet again, DRINK with Curiosity!

An evening built around stories in the glass, thoughtful food, and the people gathered around the table.

Join us Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 pm at Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar for a special wine dinner featuring Winemaker Erik Miller of Kokomo Winery and Breaking Bread Wines alongside a beautifully curated menu from Executive Chef Margie Hennessee.

From Kokomo Sauvignon Blanc and Peters Vineyard Chardonnay to Breaking Bread Cabernet Franc and Kokomo Zinfandel, each course has been thoughtfully paired to create a night centered on flavor, connection, and curiosity.

A few seats remain.

Come share the table with us.
📍 Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar
🗓 Tuesday, May 12, 2026
⏰ 6:30 pm

Reserve your seat before we sell out. Ticket can be found at drinkraleigh.com or in DRINK’s bio. 🍷

"The month of May is the gateway to summer."

- Jean Hersey

May arrives the way it always does. Full.

Calendars crowd quickly. Mother’s Day, graduations, long dinners that stretch a little later than planned. It’s a season of showing up for the people who matter, of marking moments both big and small.

Busy, yes. But meaningful.

And if April reminded us of anything, it’s that even in the middle of it all, there is value in slowing down long enough to connect.

Through evenings with the winemakers from Lombardi Wines, Kobler Estate Winery, and Innumero Wine, you helped us create space for meaningful conversations around mental health while supporting Hilinski’s Hope and the Foundation of Hope. As proud sponsors, we were honored to further that commitment with contributions to both organizations and to participate events like the 13th Annual Sigma Phi Break the Silence Run. With May comes Mental Health Awareness Month, a reminder to stay connected and keep the conversation going.

Moments that have impact long after the last glass is finished.

Thank you for being part of that. You can see more from these evenings and their impact on our Instagram

Winemar Dinner with Erik Miller

Kokomo Winery & Breaking Bread Wines

Join us for a special evening where exceptional wine and thoughtful cuisine come together in an intimate, welcoming setting.

DRINK and Maximillians Grill & Wine Bar invite you to a curated wine dinner featuring Erik Miller of Kokomo Winery and Breaking Bread Wines.

On May 12, 2026 at 6:30 pm, guests will gather for a multi-course dinner paired with six distinctive wines, each selected to highlight the character and craftsmanship behind Erik’s portfolio. Known for expressive, terroir-driven wines across Sonoma County’s Russian River, Dry Creek, and Alexander Valleys, Erik will guide the evening, sharing the stories behind each bottle and the philosophy that has shaped Kokomo since 2004.

Alongside Kokomo, Erik’s Breaking Bread Wines reflect a more intimate, collaborative side of his work. Thoughtfully produced in small quantities, these wines are rooted in the idea of bringing people together. They are approachable yet nuanced, designed not just to be tasted, but to be shared across a table.

Perched on the east side of Dry Creek Valley, Kokomo Winery sits among the 120-acre Timber Crest Farms, where Erik partners with grower Randy Peters to produce a range of varietals and single-vineyard designates.

More than accolades, Kokomo is rooted in a sense of place and family. Named for Erik’s hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, and symbolized by the coastal cypress tree that reflects his move west, the winery carries a spirit that is both grounded and welcoming.

The evening will be hosted at Maximillians, where Chef Margie Hennessee brings her signature approach. Seasonal, thoughtful cuisine designed to let both food and wine speak clearly.

The night begins with a reception before guests are seated, followed by an evening shaped by great wine, thoughtful cuisine, and conversation that lingers.

Tickets are $125 per person, inclusive of tax and gratuity.

New Wines For the Moments Worth Marking

This is the time of year when the right bottle matters. Not just for what’s in the glass, but for what it brings to the table.

🌸 Champagne Bernard Gaucher Rosé (only 500 cases produced)
Fine bubbles with red currant, rose petal, and a clean mineral edge. Elegant, precise, and quietly celebratory.

🌸 Domaine Jocelyn Raoux Tavel
Ripe raspberry, subtle spice, and a savory backbone. A rosé with depth, equally at home at the table or on its own.

🌸 Illahe Vineyards “Cap Fizz”
Sparkling. Bright, lively, and easy. Orchard fruit and citrus with a clean finish that keeps things moving.

🌸 Jolie-Laide Rosé “The Lovers”
Wild strawberry, citrus peel, and a soft, unfolding texture. Thoughtful, balanced, and built for lingering conversations.

🌸 Moreau-Naudet Chablis 1er Cru “Vaillons”
From 1.7 hectares across Roncière, Séchet, and Epinottes, anchored by beautiful old vines. Native yeast, time on the lees, and stainless that allows clarity and detail to shine. A bottle that pulls people closer, slows the table down, and reminds us why we gather in the first place.

🌸 Elio Perrone “Tasmorcan” Barbera d’Asti
Dark cherry and plum with lifted acidity. Generous, energetic, and made for sharing.

Community Corner

Even in a full season, there are opportunities to show up in a different way.

This month also brings a few personal moments worth sharing.

We are excited to introduce the newest member of the DRINK family, Remi, our wine dog in training. We’ll let the photo speak for itself.

And closer to home, we could not be more proud to share that Rory and Broughton Vocal Music swept the awards at competition last weekend in NYC. A reminder of what happens when passion, discipline, and community come together.

Thank you, as always, for your support and for understanding that as a small business, we sometimes have to go where the family is but we always come back to help you find your new favorite.

May moves quickly. But somewhere in the middle of it, there is still time to pause. To gather. To open something worth sharing.

We hope to see you soon.
Cameron & Sandy Bridger
The Somm & The Mom
DRINK Raleigh

DRINK | A Busy May (and a New Wine Dog) Click here for an update from DRINK!

12 days away.

May 12, 2026 | More than a wine dinner, it’s connection.

Join Erik Miller (Kokomo Winery & Breaking Bread Wines) at Maximillians for a night of shared tables, stories, and wines that speak. From why Dry Creek is a true “Goldilocks” valley to the moments behind the bottle. This is one you’ll feel.

Good wine connects people. Great nights do too.

Tickets via link in bio.

DRINK with Curiosity. Let us take you there. 🍷