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Conviviality



Conviviality is a beautiful term. It is a term we have heard many times in the past few months from European people for whom English is not their first language.


To be convivial is to be social. Despite it being a word in English, it is a term that we don’t use a lot. 


Convivial drinks is a drinking experience that is shared, usually in the afternoon or early evening ie pre-dinner. The alcohol relaxes and thus enhances the conversation.  


When tasting wines at the cellar door or beers at a brewery, specific wines and beers have been described as “for conviviality”. They are to be drunk slowly and socially.  They are best described as inexpensive but good wine or full flavoured beer, often higher in alcohol.


In Belgium they are likely to be served with a mild cheese square or dry salami dipped in mustard. In Germany they may be served with a pretzel; and in Spain it is accompanied by Pintxos.


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