A New Vintage

People just love new stuff. That new car smell, a new car, new clothes...and of course new wine! So people just line up, place orders, and can't wait to get their hands on the 2010 Beaujolais Nouveau that is released the 3rd Thursday of November, which happens to be this Thursday November 18th.

Beaujolais Nouveau is sometimes considered young and immature to many a 'seasoned' wine drinker, but it's fruity, jammy flavors make it approachable to many and also a possible gateway into some of the wines of France. It's also the perfect wine for Thanksgiving which is next week.

According to Wikipedia, Beaujolais Nouveau, made from the Gamay grape, always had a huge event to celebrate its end of harvest but not until the end of WWII were the wines available to the public. Negociant Georges Dubouef saw the marketing potential of this wine and worked with the UIVB to promoting this 'new Beaujolais'. Not only was it a way to clear lots of wine for a great profit, but selling wine within weeks of the harvest was great for cash flow. Hence the idea was born of a race to Paris carrying the first bottles of the new vintage. This attracted a lot of media coverage, and by the 1970s had become a national event. The races spread to neighbouring countries in Europe in the 1980s, followed by North America, and in the 1990s to Asia. In 1985, the date was changed to the third Thursday in November to take best advantage of marketing in the following weekend.

This "Beaujolais Day" is accompanied by publicity events and heavy advertising. The traditional slogan, even in English-speaking countries, was “Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé!” (literally, "The new Beaujolais has arrived!"), but in 2005 this was changed to "It's Beaujolais Nouveau Time!".
So this Thursday, visit the French Embassy, or your local wine shop for fun, friends, and free wine because 'It's Beaujolais Nouveau Time!'

The Weekend In Wine

What a weekend to be a wino! So read this quick, pick an event, and have a great time! Be sure to report back about where you went.Wine & Arts Festival of Manassas
Saturday 9/18 - 11 am - 4pm
$10 to drink wine
Historic Manassas Inc., will feature the first annual Manassas Wine & Arts Festival at Old Town Manassas. Attendees can taste the fare from local Old Town Manassas restaurants, while local artists showcase their work! Live entertainment by local entertainer, Jason Paul Curtis will headline the event with The Fabulous Bob Meyers Trio
Old Town Manassas
Battle Street
Manassas, VA 20110
http://historicmanassas.mymediaroom.com/wire/events/viewevent.aspx?id=10059

2010 MARYLAND WINE FESTIVAL
Saturday 9/18 & Sunday 9/19
$25 Admission
Carroll County Farm Museum
Westminster, Carroll County
www.marylandwinefestival.org

2010 Virginia Wine Festival
Saturday 9/18 & Sunday 9/19
$30 admission
Bull Run Regional Park
7700 Bull Run Drive
Centreville, VA 20121
www.virginiawinefest.org

Vintage Crystal
Sunday 9/19 - 2:00pm - 6:00 pm
$20 admission
Come spend a Sunday afternoon in Crystal City tasting some of the world's finest wines. Sample pleasurable eats from noteworthy restaurants and gourmet eateries. The afternoon will feature talented jazz artists from the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.
Crystal City
2200 Crystal Drive, Between 20th & 23rd Street
Arlington, VA 22216
http://www.crystalcity.org/do/vintage-crystal1

The GrapeVine Digest

Give It A Swirl
Try a cool glass of wine for those hot summer days. Enjoy!

White – Las Colinas del Ebro Garnacha Blanca (Spain)
Made from 100-year-old vines and fermented and raised in stainless steel. Medium straw-colored, it displays a perfume of mineral, candle wax, baking spices, nutmeg, and pit fruits. On the palate it has plenty of spicy fruit, good depth and concentration, and medium length. Drink this very good value over the next 1-2 years.

Rose – Albermarle Rose 2009 (VA)
The round, crisp wine offers flavor reminiscent of sweet candy and cherries, delivering excitement more than just simple fruit. The nose is complex and floral with an essence of candied rose petal and fresh, peach hints.

Red – Hope Estate Shiraz 2007 (Australia)
A smooth, juicy palate with intense berry fruit. Rich mocha and spicy plums lead to an earthy finish. Soft, defined oak characters combined with silky tannins give the wine complexity and great length.


Wine Festivals
With the cooler weather, it’s time to get out and enjoy the great outdoors with some wine!

Saturday & Sunday September 11th & 12th – 12pm - 6pm
Great Grapes
With over 20 Virginia wineries participating, this is an inexpensive way to see Virginia Wine Country right in your own backyard. Take your sample glass and enjoy samples from all your favorite wineries. Tix only $25 onsite.
Great Grapes 11811 Freedom Drive Reston, VA
www.uncorkthefun.com

Saturday & Sunday September 11th & 12th – 11am - 6pm
Arts on Foot!
Sample wine from around the world including award-winning selections from New Zealand, Argentina, and Cellar No. 8 of California. Also enjoy numerous arts and fun activities at the festival. Fun and excitement for the whole family!

Arts on Foot 7th & F St NW Washington, DC
www.artsonfoot.org

Wednesday September 15th – 6:30pm
Look, Swirl, Smell, Taste, Savor
We ask that each lady bring a bottle of wine for tasting or a snack. We will taste, experience, and learn about each wine while enjoying good company and snacks that pair perfectly.

Little Black Dress Club Annapolis, MD (443) 333-7689
www.lbdclub.com

The GrapeVine Digest

Give It A Swirl

The weatherman calls for a warm sunny weekend, pull out the grill and enjoy a glass (or two) of wine!

White – Fair Valley (South Africa) Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Pale straw color with a greenish tinge. Fresh lime and mineral aromas with a zesty mouthfeel. Hints of capsicum on the nose with pear fruit flavors and good acidity.

Rose – Red Bicyclette French Rose (France) 2009
Light-bodied, with a clean, crisp finish and the delicious scents of fresh raspberry, strawberry and plum.

Red – Casillero del Diablo (Chile) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

Bright, dark plum in color. Appealing ripe cherries, black currant and dark plums with a touch of vanilla and toasted oak. Medium bodied with smooth and friendly tannins. Hints of plums and cherries and a generous touch of toasted American oak.

Wine Tastings

Venturing out to taste a few wines at these tastings is a great way to find out way you like (and don't like!)

Friday April 30th 3pm – 7pm; Saturday, May 1^st – 1pm – 6pm
We're tasting wine from 2 of the West Coast's Big Hitters. From Clos Pegase Winery in Napa we'll be sampling their Chardonnay and Merlot and from Lemelson Vineyards in Oregon, you'll enjoy their Pinot and Dry Riesling. It's a combination that can't be beaten and it's free!

Howard County's finest store for wine, beer or spirits - we cater to the seasoned collector as well as the value seeker, located less than 30 minutes from downtown DC.

i.mWine 8180 Maple Lawn Blvd. Fulton, MD 20759

Sunday May 2nd – 12:30pm - 4 pm
The Washington, DC Street Performance Festival returns to La Maison Française at the Embassy of France! See more than 40 shows throughout the day, with performance acts by jugglers, stilt walkers, clowns, acrobats, aerialists, comedians, magicians, puppets and much, much more.

In addition, amateur regional performers, live music, dancing, and workshops with the visiting "street performance" artists will add to the ambiance!

Relax at the Embassy's terrace-style café, savor specialties from the grill, and enjoy pastries, crêpes, quiches, croissants, cheese, coffee, bloody marys, beer, wine, and mimosas! (food and beverages sold separately)
Tickets / More Information: http://www.houseoffrancedc.org/

La Maison Française at the Embassy of France 4101 Reservoir Rd, NW Washington, DC

Thursday May 6^th – 7:30 PM
A Chocolate Feast in Spain: 12 exquisite Chocolates and Truffles masterfully pared with Cava, Red, and White Wines from Spain. Start your evening with a refreshing glass of Cava Rosé, and then enjoy a flight of cava, white and red wines from Spain, while learning about how to choose your next bottle of Spanish wine. The evening would not be complete without the usual pairing of Biagio's masterful selection of 9 premium fine chocolates for tasting, as well as 3 world class filled chocolates made by local artisan chocolatiers.

Tickets / More Information:
http://www.internationalclubdc.com/Events/EventDetails.aspx?EventGUID=1B9A4ECE-619E-4FE8-8EEE-CC9759AFAC4C

Biagio's Fine Chocolate Studio B 1904 18th Street NW Washington DC 2009

Save the Date

An upcoming exciting wine event of note
May 14^th & 15^th – Drink Well Do Good Tour DC

Drink Well DC is an evening reception, featuring wines produced by indigenous African vintners, courtesy of official tour sponsor Heritage Link Brands. Wines will be paired with delicious Afro-centric cuisine prepared by nationally renowned chefs. Drink Well DC will also feature Afrobeat music by local sensation DJ Underdog, along with an art exhibition and silent auction. Guests will have the opportunity to bid on artwork, wine tastings, and other unique items.

www.toastafrica.com

May 15^th – 16^th – Wine in the Woods
Sample Maryland's finest wines from a souvenir glass; make food purchases from an abundance of high quality, distinctive restaurants and caterers; sharpen your palate by attending wine education seminars; enjoy exceptional works offered by invited artists and crafts persons; and revel in continuous live entertainment on the Main and Vignette stages.

www.wineinthewoods.com

Wine News
Is Drinking Wine the Key to Anti Aging?

The latest antiaging weapon is not an injection or a wonder cream, and it doesn't involve any nipping or tucking either.

It's a glass of red wine a day for women and two for men, according to Richard A. Baxter, MD, a plastic surgeon in Seattle and the author of Age Gets Better with Wine. Baxter gave a talk on wine and beauty at the annual meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Washington, D.C.

Click here to read more.