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!
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
Give It A Swirl Try a cool glass of wine for those hot summer days. Enjoy!
White – Mouton Cadet Blanc (France)
The wine has a fine, light, straw colour with pale gold highlights and a refined fresh nose on which distinctive floral aromas combine with fresh apples and citrus fruits and a tiny hint of toast on the finish. The Sauvignon Blanc in the blend brings refinement and texture, while Semillon and Muscadelle give substance and the impression of roundness in the mouth. The long finish, expressive and harmonious on ripe fruit with a slightly mineral tinge, is entirely typical of the appellation.
Rosé – Crios de Susana Balbo Rosé of Malbec (Argentina)
A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. Has a surprising amount of glycerin and body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of fresh, ripe wild strawberries. On the palate, the flavors of strawberries and cherries come rushing in, accompanied by some spice notes and a clean, dry finish.
Red – Tarara Wild River Red (Virginia)
Blackberry, cherry and raspberry on the nose lead to a fruity soft palate with smooth tannins and a sweet, lingering finish. This is a medium bodied wine meant to be enjoyed now. Serve this wine lightly chilled with a rich chocolate dessert.
Wine Tastings You don't know if you like it until you try it!
Saturday August 14th – 12pm – 4pm
French for Barbecue is….BARBECUE
With Labor Day fast approaching we thought it would be a good time to show off some well-priced reds from France that will pair nicely with a variety of food off the grill. Come join us this Saturday, August 14th, from 12PM until 4PM to sample these tasty values! and pick some up at discounted prices.
The Longest Running Wine Tasting This is the longest running wine tasting in DC beginning in 1971. 10 Different Wines Every Week, including 1 Mystery / Blind Tasting Wine
Bell Wine & Spirits | 1821 M St NW | Washington, DC
www.bellwineshop.com
Save the Date Upcoming exciting wines events that may be of interest
Wednesday August 18th – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Forgotten Grapes Wine Tasting
Lock up your Pinot, hide away your Chardonnay, and keep your Merlot on the down low, because wine expert, culinary entrepreneur, and creator of ForgottenGrapes.com Chris Kern is bringing his fun, irreverent, interactive and pop-culture-filled "Getting Friendly with Forgotten Grapes" wine tasting event to Twisted Vines Bottleshop & Bistro in Arlington on Wednesday, August 1th.
Chris will introduce you to five lesser-known wine varietals – Semillon, Gruner Veltliner, Carmenere, Mourvedre, and Brachetto D’Acqui – that you’ll learn to love (or at least want to get more friendly with) while entertaining you with stories, songs, jokes, and interactive challenges centered around these uncommon Forgotten Grapes. It’s a wine tasting event unlike any other you’ve ever attended: irreverent, interactive, educational, completely unpretentious, and totally off-the-wall!
Join us for this very special one-night-only wine tasting event on Wednesday, August 18th at Twisted Vines Bottleshop & Bistro in Arlington. The first wine pours at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are only $35 per person, which includes the show and pours of all five Forgotten Grapes varietals (the best bargain in D.C. wine going!).
Twisted Vines Bottleshop & Bistro | 2803 Columbia Pike | Arlington, VA
571-482-8581 or twisted@twisted-vines.com
Restaurant Week 2010 -- The insanity begins.
Over 200 of metropolitan Washington, DC's finest restaurants offer multi-course meals prepared especially for this summer event. Destination DC and the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington presents the 16th biannual Washington, DC Restaurant Week from August 16-22, 2010. At participating restaurants lunch will be $20.10 for a three-course fixed-price meal and dinner will be $35.10 for a three-course fixed-price meal.
Happenings with The GrapeVine We made it through over 150 wines, over 6 days at 2 wine conferences! Boy were we pooped! At 8:30 in the morning, we’re sitting in front of 10 wines that we needed to assess and take notes on. It’s a hard job people, but somebody’s got to do it! J The French Wine Society conference kicked off our ‘wine week’ but we had a different view of that one since we volunteered. At 7am we showed up at the French Embassy to set up glassware, placemats, handouts, etc. Then throughout each presentation we poured wines…one 2 hour seminar had 27 wines! At the end of it all, we had a Champagne toast and received kudos and thanks from the French Wine Society President, Education Director, and Conference Chairperson. A great time was had by all! Next we were off to the Society of Wine Educators Conference. No apron here, we sat and enjoyed the wines and listened to the presenters. And what amazing sessions! Some favs were New Zealand: France of the New World, Hot New Aromatic White Varietals, and the Iron Sommelier Competition. Blog recaps will be posted on The GrapeVine Blog as soon as we can slow down over here!
The GrapeVine Tasting Club is on vacation for the summer. We’ll be back in the fall with some very exciting events: Live Chef Demo with Wine Pairings, Cognac vs Armagnac, Wine Cocktails…you don’t want to miss it! You can stay in touch with us by checking us out on Twitter, Facebook, and The GrapeVine Blog. We love hearing from you!
For additional information on anything seen, or if there is anything you'd like to see in The Grapevine Digest, please email us at thegrapevinellc@gmail.com
Give It A Swirl Try a chilled glass of wine for those hot summer days. Enjoy!
White – Carafe WineMakers Cabana Breezin’ (VA)
A Viognier with fresh tropical fruit aromas and lively pineapple and mango on the palate. Pale lemon in color, the crisp acidity of this wine and rich fruit balance perfectly leading to a soft lingering finish.
Rose – Gardo Besciano DOC Chiaretto (Italy)
Light pink in color with an intense fragrance of flowers and ripe red berries. Delicate in body and bright strawberries on the palate this wine is perfect for that quiet evening on the patio.
Red – Jacob’s Creek Grenache Shiraz (Australia)
A bouquet of fresh, juicy raspberry and cherry fruit aromas, with hints of rose petal, white pepper and spice. Lively and fruit-driven in the mouth, with a clean finish. Delicious on its own on a warm summer's day or as a partner for anything you pull off the grill.
Local Wine Tastings You don't know if you like it until you try it!
Saturday July 24th – 1pm – 4pm Budget Friendly Summer Quenchers An in-store tasting and sale on 6 terrific wines at equally outstanding prices. On the tasting table, Verace Pinot Grigio 2009, Strele Soave, Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Pierre Chermette, Monte La Sarda Garnacha Viñas Viejos, Simone Scaletta Barbera d'Alba Sarsera DOC.
Saturday July 24th & Sunday July 25th – 12pm - 6pm
Great Grapes Uncork The Wine, Uncork The Flavor, Uncork the Fun…
Join us for our 5th year in Annapolis.Travel around the world in two days! Try your favorites from California, France, Italy, South America, Australia, Maryland, Virginia and elsewhere in the world. Also try exciting beer and hard ciders at the event.
$25 on-site includes a souvenir wine glass, unlimited samples, all performances and cooking demonstrations.
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds | 1450 Generals Highway (Route 178) | Crownsville, MD
Sunday July 25th -- 12pm – 4pmMCLEAN GRAND RE-OPENING CELEBRATION! Please join us in our McLean store for a Wine Tasting Extravaganza (and Beer Tastings, too) to help celebrate our newly remodeled store!
* Terlato Wines International “Down Under vs Napa Valley Taste-off,” Two Hands Gnarly Dudes and Bella’s Garden Shiraz vs Chimney Rock Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon and Chimney Rock Elevage
* Cruz Alta Malbecs from Argentina with Export Director Peter Roessler
* Join Jaime Vargas of VC Family Estates of Chile for a great tasting of Chilean wines from the exciting Bio Bio Valley, the new hot spot for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir featuring the outstanding wines of Veranda Winery
* Meet Klaus Wittauer of KW “Fine Wines from Austria” and his fabulous selections from Austria including Anton Bauer Gruner Veltliner Gmork
Total Wine & More | 1451 Chain Bridge Rd | McLean, VA
www.totalwine.com
Save the Date
Upcoming exciting wines events that may be of interest
Monday July 26th – 6pm – 9pm Cork’d Unveils Octavin Wines Come thirsty, hungry and ready for an experience! Cork'd and Octavin head to our nation's capital to showcase these wines. Lima, located in Washington D.C., will be a great atmosphere to highlight Octavin's unique product. Octavin will be pouring all night and Lima will be sure to satisfy your appetite - there will be music and dance! Tix only $15.
Lima Restaurant & Lounge | 1401 K Street NW | Washington, DChttp://octavindc.eventbrite.com/
Wednesday July 28th – 5pm - 8pm Bell Wine & Spirits presents the Pinot Envy Grand Tasting! This event includes anything 'PINOT', including pinot noir, grigio/gris, pinot blanc, pinot meunier, etc. Featuring 35+ wines, there is something for everyone at this tasting and the cost is only $5! Special discounts apply on Grand Tasting purchases.
Bell Wine & Spirits | 1821 M St NW | Washington, DCwww.bellwineshop.com
Happenings with The GrapeVine
This is turning out to be one of the hottest summers ever! Good thing The GrapeVine’s wine fridge is stocked. We benefit from cooling off with amazing wines and you can benefit from the wine reviews featured in Digest and the wine blog. Next week will definitely be ‘Wine Week’ with two mega wine events in Washington, DC. The annual French Wine Society (FWS) conference starts on Sunday, then the Society of Wine Educators (SWE) conference for the rest of the week. My brain and taste buds will surely get a workout next week and I’m excited about the people I will meet, the seminars I’ll attend, and clearly…the wines I will drink! Be sure to follow on Twitter www.twitter.com/grapevine4wine for live FWS and SWE updates.
The GrapeVine Tasting Club is on vacation for the summer. For summer wine tips and suggestions, be sure to visit The GrapeVine Blog. We’ll be back in the fall with some very exciting events: Live Chef Demo with Wine Pairings, Cognac vs Armagnac, Wine Cocktails…you don’t want to miss it!
For additional information on anything seen, or if there is anything you'd like to see in The Grapevine Digest, please email us at thegrapevinellc@gmail.com
Give It A Swirl Try a cool glass of wine for those hot summer days. Enjoy!
White – El Fogon Torrontes (Argentina) Greenish yellow shades, flower and tropical fruit aromas. Pair with seafood, fish, poultry, Asian cuisine, salads and soft cheese. An ideal aperitif.
Rose – Tegernseerhof Zweigelt (Austria) Bright redcurrant, tart raspberry, and strawberry wrapped in delicious wave of mouth-tingling acidity.
Red – Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages (France) Not to be confused with Beaujolais Nouveau, this fruity red exhibits a ruby-purple color, red berry perfume and floral bouquet, and bursts on the palate with gobs of dark cherry and cassis fruit. Soft, lush and ready to drink now, serve slightly chilled at your next picnic or BBQ.
Wine Festivals Summer is here, and so are wine festivals! For admission, you get a commemorative glass and unlimited tasting.
Saturday & Sunday June 5th & 6th – 11am – 6pmVintage Virginia In its 29th year this event is a cornerstone of the East Coast wine festival season, featuring a one-stop shopping environment for wine collectors and enthusiasts, as well as a unique opportunity to interact with winemakers, movers and shakers, cultivating your own understanding of what makes a quality vintage.
Bull Run Regional Park | 7700 Bull Run Drive | Centreville, VA www.vintagevirginia.com
Saturday & Sunday June 5th & 6th – 11am – 6pmChesapeake Bay Wine Festival An opportunity to sample wines from 20 Maryland wineries, the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival offers a little something for everyone. A variety of fine food vendors will please any palate! Bring a blanket or lawn chair, sit back, listen to the sounds of great musicians and spend a wonderful afternoon at the Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival.
Terrapin Park | 191 Log Canoe Circle | Stevensville, MDwww.chesapeakebaywinefestival.org
Save the Date Upcoming exciting wines event of note
Sunday, June 6th – 1pm – 4pm Exclusive California Wine Tasting Join us for an afternoon exploring twenty-five of California’s finest wines in the Dean & DeLuca Cafe.
Dean & DeLuca | 3276 M Street NW | Washington, DC 20007
June 10th – Smithsonian Presents "An Evening with Bonny Doon Vineyard’s Randall Grahm"
Participants have the opportunity to share the fruits of this vinous journey as he leads a guided tasting of Bonny Doon vineyard wines, including winery flagship red Rhone-style blend Le Cigare Volant; the white Le Cigare Blanc; the dry rose Vin Gris de Cigare; estate/single vineyard representations of Albarino and Syrah Le Pousseur; and Vinferno, a vin de paille-style dessert wine made from a single vineyard blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. Grahm’s book, “Been Doon So Long: A Randall Grahm Vinthology” (University of California Press), is available for signing after the program. $75 per person
http://residentassociates.org/
June 12th & 13th – The Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor Experience Flavor with a View: a world-class event, will celebrate distinctive cuisine, fine wine, beer and spirits. Guests will have the opportunity to learn about the latest culinary and varietal trends.
www.foodandwinenh.com
June 12th & 13th – Great Grapes Uncork The Wine, Uncork The Flavor, Uncork the Fun… Join us for the 8th ANNUAL year for Baltimore's favorite wine festival. Thousands of wine lovers have been visiting us over the years and this year will be bigger and better than ever. Think Global but Wine Local and this show has it all. $20 advance online or $25 on-site includes a souvenir wine glass, unlimited samples, all performances and cooking demonstrations.
http://www.uncorkthefun.com/cockeysville-maryland/site-infoOregon Ridge Park | 13401 Beaver Dam Road | Cockeysville, MD
The Latest with The GrapeVine
For those of you that have missed The GrapeVine Digest, my apologies! I just recently returned from an amazing trip to France where I attended the International Malbec Days event in Cahors. Cahors is in Southern France and is actually the original home to the Malbec grape. I sat in seminars and attended tastings while overlooking some of the most beautiful vineyards and landscapes. Cahors is also known for foie gras, a fav of mine! I definitely got my fill of it on this trip. Boy it took a lot to get me to board the plane to return home!
A much different style than the Argentine Malbec, France's style has a dry, earthy characteristic with dark fruit flavors on the palate which expresses the terroir of the region. As an experiment, why not visit your local wine shop and try the Argentine and the French style of Malbec. You may find something new! Also, be sure to visit The GrapeVine Blog for trip recaps and pictures.
With the warm weather being here for good, it is now time for my summer winery visits! There are so many great wineries right here in our backyards in Maryland and Virginia, I can't wait to share my visits and the wines with you. I may start this weekend :-)
Need an idea for Mother’s Day, maybe Mom will like these. Enjoy!
Sparkling – Cavit Lunetta (Italy) Prosecco
Fine bubbles with enticing aromas of peach and apples. A refreshing dry wine that finishes crisp and clean with wonderful fruit.
White – Paco & Lola (Spain) Albarino
A brilliant yellow straw color and a highly diverse aroma with a floral base aroma, fine notes of fruit such as citrus and green apples and touches of herbs such as basil.
Red – Bogle (California) Petite Sirah
Luscious boysenberry with touches of black pepper and herbs, and has an inky color that fills the mouth with rich ripe berries.
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 May 7th – 5pm – 8pm
Join us in celebration of Mother's Day for our free wine tasting this Friday featuring Sparklers, Rose and other surprises sure to please any mom this Mother's Day! Try before you buy! Bell Wine & Spirits also carries an assortment of gift bags and will gladly wrap up your gift purchases for those much deserving mothers.
Bell Wine & Spirits | 1821 M Street NW | Washington, DC 20036
Saturday May 8th- 2pm – 4pm
A complimentary rosé wine tasting where guests will have the opportunity to compare rosés made in different methods from various regions and grape varieties. Butcher’s Block store manager, Salena Zellers and BRABO wine and beverage manager, Leah Dedmon will be on hand to lead the tasting and help guests pick out the perfect rosé to share with mom on Mother’s Day.
Butcher’s Block | 1600 King Street | Alexandria, Virginia
Save the Date
Upcoming Wines Event of Note
May 15th – 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 16th – The GrapeVine Tasting Club – Battle of the Americas
Who has the best wines, North America or South America? This month’s tasting will pair up wines from the good ole USA against some of the best wines coming out of South America. This will be a blind tasting and guests will vote for the best wines of the afternoon. Any bets on who will reign supreme?? $30 per person
The Intown Uptown Inn | 4907 14th St NW | Washington, DC
Wine News
Female wine drinkers overtake men — who still get the wine list
Only 13 women are certified as master sommeliers out of 130 worldwide.
Bloomberg News
By John Mariani
I was surprised to read that 53 percent of wine drinkers in the United States are women, according to the Wine Market Council. And last year, women matched men as "core drinkers," those who drink wine at least once a week.
That trend may accelerate if women heed the results of a recent survey of 20,000 women over 13 years by Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital. The poll showed that women who regularly drink a moderate amount of alcohol, particularly red wine, are less likely to have long-term weight gain than non-drinkers.
Nevertheless, when a man and a woman sit down to dinner in a restaurant, it's usually the guy who grabs or is handed the wine list and chooses the bottle.
