There was an episode of Seinfeld called “The Sponge,” during which Elaine, upon learning that her favorite form of birth control (the sponge) was going off the market, needed to make difficult decisions about whether her dates were “sponge worthy.”

ELAINE: So, you think you're sponge-worthy?
BILLY: Yes, I think I'm sponge-worthy. I think I'm very sponge-worthy.
ELAINE: Run down your case for me again...?
BILLY: Well, we've gone out several times, we obviously have a good rapport. I own a very profitable electronics distributing firm. I eat well. I exercise. Blood tests - immaculate. And if I can speak frankly, I'm actually quite good at it.
ELAINE: You going to do something about your sideburns?
BILLY: Yeah, I told you...I'm going to trim my sideburns.
ELAINE: And the bathroom in your apartment?
BILLY: Cleaned it this morning.
ELAINE: The sink, the tub, everything got cleaned?
BILLY: Everything, yeah. It's spotless.
ELAINE: Alright, let's go. <They head for the bedroom.>
 

It turns out, being “worthy” isn’t limited to birth control, it’s also a crucial question for wine.

Recently, as my wife and I prepared to leave for a first dinner at the house of some new friends, she asked what would appear to be a simple question, “What wine should we bring?”

We all bring wine to various occasions. We do this because – if nothing else – it’s the right thing to do. But, the fact is, the wine you choose to bring is a big an indicator of your feelings about the occasion as anything else. In short, just as Elaine wondered if her new boyfriend was “sponge worthy,” we often have to decide if our friends – or the occasion – are (insert you favorite wine here) worthy.

For this particular dinner, I told Lisa that I wanted to bring a bottle of Arista Longbow Pinot Noir (one of my absolutely favorite wines that I would serve over corn flakes for breakfast). “Yes,” she said, “I think they are Longbow worthy.” These were definitely people with whom we wanted to develop long, meaningful relationship. We were bringing wine to impress. No doubt about it!

There are plenty of times when we’re going to a party of some sort and we just grab whatever. Such occasions just don’t call for anything more than grape juice in a bottle. And, of course, there are those times when your friends come to your house – with a bottle of wine in hand. Are they REALLY good friends? Or did they bring you some obviously re-gifted bottle of Two-Buck Chuck?

Then there’s the other test. Perhaps the truest test of all:

ELAINE (smiling): Good morning.
BILLY: How'd you sleep?
ELAINE (stretches): Great. You?
BILLY: Fine, fine. Everything o.k.?
ELAINE: Yep.
BILLY: No regrets?
ELAINE: Nope. <Billy leans in to kiss her.> What are you doing?
BILLY: What do you mean?
ELAINE: Oh...I don't think so.
BILLY: Why not? I thought you said everything was fine.
ELAINE: I wish I could help you, but I can't afford two of 'em. <Pats Billy on the shoulder and gets out of bed.>

Are they worth the good stuff more than once? As the supply of your favorite wine gets low, would you bring them more than one bottle? Are they indeed wine worthy?