DEAR ABBY: There is a nice couple we know who make their own wine. They give us a couple of bottles a year and ask us to return the empties, which we are happy to do.
We love good wine of all kinds. In years past, we have appreciated their wine gifts, although, to be honest, they have been of marginal quality. I usually end up using it for cooking.
We just opened their last gift, Abby, and it is so awful I won't use it even in cooking. My husband and I are now having a disagreement: He says, "Dump it and return the bottle with a thank-you." I say, "Return the leftover wine (minus a 1/4 glass), and say how much we appreciate the thought, but that it just wasn't the flavor we drink." I just don't want them to waste their wine on us and give us any more, as they work hard to make it. Please advise. -- NOT A LIAR IN COLORADO
DEAR NOT A LIAR: It might be kinder to return the empty bottle with a note thanking them and asking them to please not send you more because you are trying to cut back on your alcohol consumption. It's the truth. The alcohol you're trying to cut back on is theirs.