Vino & Venus: A Reflection on a Year’s REflection
This feature highlights an event that took place at Vinorama in November 2024. For more information about upcoming events at Vinorama, please follow their Instagram (@vinoramamtl), visit their website, or subscribe to their newsletter. Learn more about the event host and local Montreal author, Kiara Blanchette, by following her on Instagram (@kiarablanchette).
It was a chilly evening when I braved the typical November cold. I left my cozy couch to walk to a wine bar I had not yet heard of in Beaubien. I was meeting my friend, Karina. We had met in a screenwriting class six months prior and usually gathered with our other screenwriting classmates every other Tuesday for a writing group of our own. This time, however, the session had been skipped. It’s funny how what started as a cozy escape from the cold turned into one of the warmest evenings.
Wine, Words, and Warmth
When I arrived at the venue of the evening, Vinorama, I was instantly struck by the warm, welcoming atmosphere. We sat at a four-person table, the kind of high bench and cool stools you find in a wine bar–the type that invites casual conversation and easy sipping. At first, we weren’t sure if anyone would join us, but before long, the room filled up. Maybe 20 or so of us gathered, the clinking of glasses punctuating the quiet hum of conversation. I ordered a sparkling red—not quite a Lambrusco, but a similar Italian variety that I promptly forgot the name of by the time I got home. Still, it was delightful.
The event was led by Kiara Blanchette, a Montreal-based writer and poet whose energy was as inviting as her work. She was celebrating the launch of her new poetry collection, Venus in Pisces, a deeply personal exploration of love, self-reflection, and the cosmos. Kiara’s warmth, openness, and genuine kindness set the tone for the evening—hence, the perfect match for a night of wine and words.
We were welcomed into the evening with a meditation led by Kiara. While I’m not usually one to meditate (but trying dearly!), in that moment, it felt like the perfect way to ground the evening before diving into what was to come.
And then, we began to write.
A Night to Pause and Reflect
The wine and words were flowing; the room was lit by candlelight as we settled into the rhythm of the evening. Kiara guided us through short, reflective writing prompts—five-minute bursts to put pen to paper. While we were provided with a multitude of thoughtful questions, one in particular lingered:
“Who have I become since January 1st?”
What a question that was! And one I had entirely wanted to avoid. But that was not the point of this night; it was quite the opposite. The true intention of the soirée was to reflect on the year as we welcome the next one. As December soon comes its way, it gave me a reason to reflect on the past eleven months of the soon to be gone year, and my anticipations for the next one.
I used to journal—I truly did. Now I find myself reaching for my notes app more than I’d like, leaving myself voice memos or jotting fragmented ideas. Maybe this is sheer laziness, or or the fact that I no longer carry small books in my bag to fill up with words that will soon flee. Either way, I don’t journal as much as I used to. Yet every time I do, I’m reminded how much I love it. This evening reminded us to pause, to truly reflect. And while I came into it hesitantly, by the end, I was grateful for the space to take stock of what had been and what could still be.
Finding Connection Through Reflection
Toward the end of the night, Kiara asked us to reflect on what we were most proud of this year. We went around the room, sharing our thoughts, while the rest of us listened with quiet attention. This is where the sense of community truly happened. We were proud of one another, and it felt cathartic to hear those stories. Each moment of sharing brought a sense of connection, whether you came solo or with a small group.
As we closed our notebooks, Kiara closed off with a simple yet powerful toast: “To us; there are no better people.” It was a sentiment that perfectly encapsulated the night—an acknowledgment of our shared humanity and the strength we find in moments of vulnerability.
The Catharsis of it All
As I walked home that evening, I carried more than just the memory of good wine and candlelight. I carried a sense of connection and catharsis that lingered long after the night had ended.
I have bought a new journal since that night, with pages slightly blurred and aspirations extended from the night spent at Vinorama. I will continue to write. I will keep this silly little mushroom journal at the bottom of my bag. I have treated myself to a new blue-ink gel pen in anticipation of the random prose and points throughout the day that will cross my mind. Thank you, Kiara, for reminding me the importance of keeping up with myself, and the habit of doing so.
Though journaling is often a solitary act, Vino&Venus reminded me of its power to bring people together. The evening was cozy, cathartic, and deeply human—proof that even the most personal acts can create community.
So, for those who write, those who want to write, and those who have just picked up a fresh pen - to us - there are no better people!
