Flight Wine Bar

There are so many new wine bars popping up in DC that it's hard to keep up. This one, Flight, is located right near the Verizon Center! And they specialize in...wine flights!

The Wine

We ordered the Macedonian wine flight and the Rosé flight. Unfortunately, they were out of 2 of the 3 wines in the Macedonian flight and one of the wines in the Rosé flight, due what we were told was a "menu change over" in process. I'm not going to lie, it was a little frustrating but the hostess, who was very knowledgable about wines helped us select replacements based on our tastes. C'est la vie!

Rose Flight (modified)

Macedonian Flight (modified)

My favorite: The Château Prieuré-Lichine

Verdict: The wines were good, even the replacements, but only really stood out to me...and I'm still thinking about it. 

It came from their "Higher Altitude" portion of the menu, which generally has pricier wines that typically in the past have only been available by the bottle.

The 2005 Château Prieuré-Lichine Bordeaux is $12 for a one ounce pour, $60 for a glass and $200 for the bottle. This wine is so smooth and wonderful. Its a blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. It is complex with notes of blackberry and cocoa on the nose and a smooth and silky finish. 

The best part? I found it for about $70 retail!

The charcuterie and cheese was also excellent, and trust me, I try it at every wine bar.

Cheeses and Charcuterie

I hope the next time we pop in they have all of the wines in the Macedonian flight, but bottom line is this wine bar is definitely worth a visit. Cheers!

Quebec City Part Trois: I went to Canada and bought Mexican wine!

Out of all of the a-typical wines I've tried, this is one of my absolute favorites and probably the one that surprised me the most. We bought it in Quebec City on our honeymoon and brought it back, anxious to try our first wine from our neighboring country! 

Nebbiolo is typically an Italian grape, so I was surprised to find this is most prominent grape being grown currently in Mexico.

The Wine: L.A. Cetto 2010 Réserve Privée

Varietal, Region: Nebbiolo, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, México
Price: About $15

Where to buy: SAQ and Total Wine in California*
My Tasting Notes: A medium to full-bodied red. Hints of earthiness and notes of blackberry and plum with just a smidge of tobacco and ripe and juicy tannins, with a smooth finish.
My Verdict: I wish we had filled our suitcases with this wine. A definite winner, we served it at a dinner party we hosted after returning and it was a huge hit!

*Currently searching for where to get this locally, although both locations do ship to the DC area. 

Cheers!

Sunday Funday at the Winery at Bull Run

I absolutely loved the Winery at Bull Run. Maybe it was the fact that it was such a beautiful day and that we came on a bus with a huge group of great friends (and made some new ones, too), but we just had a fantastic time.

And the most important part... I really liked the wine!

It's one of the closest wineries to the DC area and they had a food truck, corn hole and a huge area outside with picnic tables and a porch with rocking chairs. On the day we went, the winery had live music, too! The tasting room itself was also pretty big and there was a separate area to buy bottles of wine, cheese and bread.

There are two vineyards on the winery property with over 8 acres of vines, mostly Norton grapes, a grape native to Virginia, with some Traminette, used in their Delaney, a white blend.

The Wines

I had two favorites, a sparkling and a red.

The Sparkling

Stonebridge Sparkling Wine

Stonebridge Sparkling Wine, 2012 

The grapes were aged in both stainless steel and French Oak barrels and the wine was made using the same method as Champagne, also known as méthode champenoise

Varietal, Region: 100% Chardonnay, Virginia

Where to Buy: At the Winery or online

Price: $36/bottle 

My Tasting Notes: Notes of pear and lemon meringue and a little lime, light, crisp and refreshing. Their website says it has "subtle hints of pastries." No wonder I loved it so much!

My Verdict: I have been very pleasantly surprised by the Virginia sparkling wines I have tried recently and this was one of them. This is highly drinkable and despite that I drank red wine that day too, not to mention sampling many others, my headache was only mild on Monday.

*Look for a future post on the other Virginia sparkling wines- a rose and a white, coming soon!

The Red

Meritage 2013

Meritage 2013

Varietal, Region: 29% Merlot, 29% Cab Sauv, 9% Petit Verdot, 25% Cab Franc, 8% Malbec

Where to Buy: At the Winery or online

Price: $34/bottle 

My Tasting Notes: Medium to full bodied, notes of tobacco, mocha and espresso on the palate. 

My Verdict: Just enough body to have a nice finish but not too heavy for a Fall daytime Sunday. This one's a win.

Cheers!

Quebec City Part Deux: A Serbian White

Image Credit: Francuska Vinarija

This is another notable wine from Quebec City, that we tried while on our honeymoon at a wonderful restaurant called Le Hobbit on Rue Saint-Jean.

It was the first time I ever tried a white from Serbia. Although I generally stay away from white wine, this one was excellent. According to our waiter at Le Hobbit, the wine is made by a French couple living in Serbia Estelle and Cyrille Bongiraud, using local grapes, which I have to say intrigued me even more. 

Poema 2010

The climate is mild where the vineyard is located. The wine is produced in small lots and is organic and bottled with little to no filtration. Several local villagers own the vines, and help the Bongirauds make the wines! 

Historical records indicate that the vines in this region were cultivated in the 3rd century AD, at the time of the Roman Empire. The region came back to life in the 19th century when a few hundred wine cellars were built to send the wine directly to France, because their grapes were suffering from a vine disease!

The Wine: Francuska Vinarija Poema, 2010*

Varietal: Mostly Riesling blended with white Tmjanika, Gracevina and Muscat Ottonel

Region: Rogljevo, Negation, Serbia

Where to buy: MacArthur Beverages in D.C., Doi Moi in D.C. and of course, at Le Hobbit in Quebec City 
My Tasting Notes: Slight minerality with notes of pear and other white fruits, with a slight taste of licorice and an elegant finish. 
My Verdict: Despite being mainly Riesling, this wine isn't sweet (which I was happy about), it's very refreshing and unique. For those of you who haven't tried a cloudy white wine, don't let it scare you off. This is one of the best whites I've ever had.

*Francuska Vinarija translates to French Winery!

If you're ever in QC I highly, highly recommend this place. The food was to-die-for!

duck wings

charcuterie, cheeses, nuts and pate

Read more history and more about the winemakers.

Živeli! (Cheers!)

Quebec City Part Un: A Lebanese Cab Sauv

Château KSara was one of the first wineries to follow me on Instagram when I first started my blog. 

When my husband and I were in Quebec City recently for our honeymoon, we paid a trip (or two) to the SAQ (their version of the ABC) to see what their selection was like. I was so excited to discover in the "Vins du Liban" section, which only had a few wines, that this wineries' Cab Sauv was one of them (and it gave me a good opportunity to practice my Français!)

The Wine: Château KSara
Varietal, Region: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cuvee Speciale, 2011, Bekka Valley
Price: About $15 (their other wines range from $11-25ish)
Where to buy: Potomac Wine and Spirits, Georgetown, or by the glass or bottle at Lebanese Taverna

My Tasting Notes: Medium to full bodied. A nice bouquet. Rich, smooth and dry with notes of currants, dates and mocha. According to my husband, the grapes taste very "old world" (a big complement). 

My Verdict: An excellent wine and a great price; perfect for Fall to Winter. I can't wait to try the rest of their wines!

The SAQ we visited in QC had an amazing wine tasting machine. Here I am, sampling away.

à votre santé!

An amazing 2006 Rioja under $20

This wine I found by accident when I stopped at liquor store in New Jersey, while visiting one of my best girlfriends Hillary for her baby shower.

Javier Bayona, whose family owns the winery was doing a tasting of the wines from Bodegas Larchago at Sandy's Wine and Liquors and was extremely nice and personable. I chose the medium bodied red, and when I got home and opened it after the trip, it was even better than I remembered. Wow!

The Wine: Bodegas Larchago Reserva, 2006, Rioja, Spain

Varietal: 100% Tempranillo

Price: $18.99

My Tasting Notes: Notes of vanilla, mocha, tobacco and plum. Slightly oaky with a slight touch of cinnamon. This is an elegant and velvety smooth red that is a fantastic standalone wine or it can be paired with foods (see below). Either way, I just want another glass!

My Verdict: An absolutely fantastic buy for the price, and one of the best Riojas I've had, if not the best. I hope to someday tour Javier's family's winery when I make it to Spain.

Foods to pair: With Tempranillo, anything tomato based or acidic, Mexican or Spanish food. And if you're going all out, Jamón Iberico would be perfect.


Cheers!

Greek Summer Wines

 

   

The Black Sheep 2013

Region: Pangeon, Greece

Varietal: 60% Syrah, 40% Merlot
Price: $23.99
Where to buy: Screwtop Wine Bar , Arlington VA
My Tasting Notes: A fruit forward wine with notes of violet and plum with a smooth, silky finish.
My Verdict: A dry red, but not too dry. A pleasant surprise! 

Assyrtiko Argyros
Region: Santorini, Greece 

Varietal: Assyrtiko

Price: $27.99
Where to buy: Screwtop Wine Bar
My Tasting Notes: This is a dry white and acidic yet balanced. Yellow in color, slightly citrusey tones and is crisp and fresh.
My Verdict: At first I was a little hesitant about Greek whites...but this is no Mediterranean table white. I've tried a white from Santorini before and this one is much better. This grape is different, but in a good way... It will impress anyone with a refined wine palate and makes an excellent summer drink.

Cheers!

Tarara & Hidden Brook Wineries

Despite the rainy weather on July 4th weekend we still visited two wineries on our weekend trip to Waterford. 

The Winery: Tarara Winery
Location: Leesburg, VA

Price: The general tasting is $10 to try 6 different wines. They also have a premier tasting, which I wish I could say we were able to do, but reservations are required and unfortunately they book up fast.  

The tasting room is located in what looks like the side of a cave. It's very chic. They also have an outdoor area, but unfortunately we weren't able to take advantage of that due to the weather. 

Tarara specializes in single vineyard blends and have won several awards for their wines including from Wine Enthusiast.

Notable: I really enjoyed their Killer Cluster Albariño. It's not on their normal tasting menu but fortunately they had a bottle open already so we were able to taste it. It was a little sweeter than other wines I've tasted of the same varietal but still clean and smooth and a great summer sipper.

Albariño is a grape derived from Riesling grapes and grows in Rías Baixas, in Galicia, Spain and...it thrives on rain (no, I'm not joking)!

The Winery: Hidden Brook
Location: Leesburg, VA

We actually found this winery by accident. We were looking for Lost Creek Winery and the two are located next door to each other. But I have to say I'm glad we did!

The tasting room is located in an adorable log cabin. They had live music (an awesome guy and his guitar who played old Green Day and Billy Joel) and a front porch to sit and drink wine after the tasting, and an indoor area also. 

Price: Tasting is $8, or $10 for a group of 10 or more.

Notable: Their 2011 Chambourcin, a unique medium bodied, dry and spicy red. I also liked their 2010 Cabernet.

Chambourcin is a French-American hybrid grape.

Leesburg also has the cutest antique shops! It was Anthony and I's first time going antiquing. If you're in the area, I suggest visiting Luckett's.

Cheers!

A Bordeaux-Style Maryland Vineyard

I recently visited my very first Maryland winery! Thanksgiving Farm Winery is a quaint boutique winery in Harwood, MD owned and operated by husband and wife Doug and Maureen Heimbuch.

Doug and Maureen were on hand to do our tasting themselves (and they absolutely could not have been any nicer) in an intimate tasting room, complete with pretzels. They also have an outside area to sit and drink more post-tasting.

Their wines are made exclusively from grapes found in the Bordeaux region of France, all grown onsite at the vineyard, not shipped in from elsewhere, which I really like.

We tasted a Meritage, a Franc Blanc, a Rose, a Port dessert wine and a Farmhouse Red table wine.

My favorite out of all we tried was the Meritage. The blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot is dry and medium bodied, reminiscent of the Bordeaux wines I've had.

The most unique wine I tried was definitely their Franc Blanc, a dry peach-pink colored wine made with the white juice of Cabernet Franc grapes. It's the only Franc Blanc in the country (and I just love the creative name).

We went home with several bottles of each, very drinkable wines, perfect for grilling with or just drinking and hanging out. This place is a gem! If you can't make it out to the Farm, here is more information on where to buy their wines.

Cheers!

Summer Champagne

I first had both of these wines by the glass at Lyon Hall in Arlington. Let me just pause for a moment to say how much I love the food and the wine selection at there. The steak frites and swordfish are excellent.


Now onto the wine...


The rosé champagne is considered low-dosage and the Cremant is zero-dosage, meaning they have little to no added residual sugars. I've found that this makes for a much more pleasant experience, (sans headache) the next morning. But, if you drink the whole bottle...well, you know.

Louis De Sacy Grand Cru Brut Rose Champagne

Varietal, Region: 90% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, Champagne, France

Price: $40-$50/bottle, $15/glass

Where to buy: Whole Foods or Lyon Hall, Clarendon

My Tasting Notes: Aromatic, hints of strawberry and orange. Dry and crisp.

My Verdict: Perfect for a hot summer day. Goes great with food.

Domaine Zinck, Cremant d'Alsace

Varietal, Region: Blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Alsace, France

Price: $26/bottle, $11/glass

Where to buy: Grateful Red, or Lyon Hall, Clarendon

My Tasting Notes: Notes of apricot, peaches and apple. Rich in taste, yet light.

My Verdict: This sparkler even stayed fresh after we re-corked it with a champagne cork; the bubbles were just as crisp. Perfect for a refreshing summer sipper with or without food.

The amazing steak frites.

*Also notable: Lyon Hall recently added another sparkling rosé to their menu, Benoit Badoz. Also low-dosage and excellent.

If you'd like to learn more about dosage and champagne, this article from Wine Enthusiast has more.


Cheers!

Red Cap Vineyards: A Near-Perfect Cabernet

I first connected with Red Cap Vineyards through Instagram about a year ago and fell in love instantly, despite the fact that I had yet to try even a single sip of their wine.

Maybe it was their adorable dog Roscoe who regularly appears on their Instagram feed, or the fact that everyone in their pictures is always smiling like they're drinking the best wine and having the best time. I had to get in on the fun!

Red Cap Vineyards 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon

This time we bought a bottle of the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon and took it on our lovely waterfront Memorial Day getaway.

This wine was just as fantastic as the 2010 Cab. We were on cloud nine the entire time we were drinking it. It's full bodied with notes of mocha and dark cherry with an smooth, silky finish. And as my husband said about the 2010 "you can taste the blades of grass." It's just so delicious! 

The 2010 and 2011 are the best Cabs I've ever had, and trust me- I'm extremely picky. I wish I could compare the two side by side, but I can't because the 2010 has sold out-but the 2011 is excellent.

While not every bottle of wine from Napa is worth the price tag, this one definitely is and more and the vineyard is family-owned.

Red Cap doesn't currently distribute on the East Coast but you can order online. I also plan to lobby hard in true DC form for the the whole vineyard to relocate to Arlington so I can drink their Cabs all of the time.

Whenever we're finally able to make the trip out to California wine country, this Howell Mountain gem will be our first stop. 

Next on my list is to try their Sauv Blanc, and hopefully a future interview with the vineyard owners (and Roscoe) that I will post here.

And a very special thank you to Red Cap's awesome marketing director Michael for helping facilitate the purchase!!

Our view from the cottage of the sunset beginning to set.

Cheers!

Cinco de Mayo: Organic Tequila

I'm no tequila connoisseur...in fact I much prefer wine or beer to any type of liquor. However, in honor of Cinco de Mayo, I just had to share my favorite tequila. I enjoy it as part of a freshly made margarita, and the best part is, no hangover!*


*assuming you don't drink the whole bottle in one sitting.


I first tried this organic tequila at Fuego Cocina y Tequileria in Clarendon, but it's also available at Virginia ABC stores, including several in Arlington.

If you don't want to make your own margaritas, Fuego is totally worth a visit...their food is fantastic!


If you do, this recipe is simple, natural and tasty. 

Cheers!

The Perfect Sip for Spring

Wine lovers who want to try something new, you've come to the right place.

I've never been a fan of ciders, they're always too sweet for my taste. But this one is made in Virginia and comes in a look-alike wine bottle, and it has won several awards...making it the perfect alternative to wine, and the perfect sipper for Spring.

Image Credit: Foggy Ridge Cellars

Image Credit: Foggy Ridge Cellars

Foggy Ridge Serious Cider
Dugspur, VA 7 | 25
Price: $7/glass, $25/bottle (Water & Wall)

Where to buy: A handy list from Foggy Ridge's website of local retailers, or you can buy online.
My Tasting Notes: Mild and slightly tart, aromatic with just the right balance of acidity. Notes of citrus and apple (of course).
My Verdict: While typically cider is a Fall drink, I maintain this is a perfect wine alternative for Spring. I hope to plan a trip to Foggy Ridge in the near future to try their other varieties and learn more about the process.

According to the website, Foggy Ridge grows their own cider apples, English, French and other varieties. 

Fun fact: I learned while apple picking in Shenandoah Valley a few years ago that there are over four-thousand varieties of apples grown in Virginia! And if you've never picked your own apples, its such a great experience. We went to Marker Miller Orchards in Winchester. I highly recommend it.

Cheers!

Portuguese Wine Dinner

Recently I attended my very first wine dinner, with a Portuguese theme. It was at the University Club in DC with renowned wine expert Bartholomew Broadbent. It was excellent!

The "cocktail" hour started with a Vinho Verde produced by the Broadbent family.

Broadbent Vinho Verde, Portugal
Varietal: 50% Loureiro, 40% Trajadura, 10% Pedernã
Price: Under $10
Where to buy: World Market, Arlington, VA (Pentagon City)

My Tasting Notes: A light wine, well balanced. Floral notes and a fresh taste, notes of lime and melon.
My Verdict: A good white for a great price. A great white for a pre-dinner drink or to sip outside during the Spring and summer seasons!

The amazing dinner was prepared to compliment and pair with the Portuguese wines.

Casa Ferrierinha, Quinta Da Leda
Varietal: Tinta Roriz (Aragonez) - Touriga
Region, Country: Douro, Portugal
Price: About $50
My Tasting Notes: Notes of plum, blueberry and blackberry. Intense and oaky, with firm tannins, full bodied with a nice finish.

My Verdict: A very nice red! Pairs very well with food. A little on the heavier side so I would save this one for the cooler seasons and pair it with rich food.

*Currently determining where to buy this in Arlington and will update soon!

A candid shot from the dinner.

Cheers!

Spring Wines

Spring is here!

And here are some excellent selections to start off the season just right.

Dona Paula Black Label, Red Blend (Estate Edition) 2012
Varietal, Region: 60% Malbec, 37% Cab Sauv and 3% Petit Verdot, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Where to buy: *
My Tasting Notes: Plum, black cherry and mocha, with hints of spice. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with an excellent finish. Balanced acidity.
My Verdict: I've always been a bigger fan of 100% Malbec wines as opposed to the blends but I think I've found my exception. You taste the undertones of the Malbec but it isn't overly dominating. It hails from the Lujan de Cuyo region, known for their excellent Malbec grapes.


*Dona Paula wines are distributed in the US by one of my favorite vineyards Trinchero Family Estate. I happened to have this wine at the Washington Club but it's been difficult to find elsewhere but I'm working on it and will post an update ASAP.

Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé, Cuvée de la Pompadour

Varietal, Region: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California

Price: $37

Where to buy: Domaine Carneros

My Tasting Notes: Juicy hints of strawberry and peach on the nose.Very refreshing and well balanced. Medium to fine sized bubbles. 

My Verdict: This wine comes from a vineyard owned by Taittinger. This sparkling rose is a cut above the rest. Maybe its refreshing aspect, and maybe its the fact that after a few glasses I didn't even have a headache the next day. A perfect way to welcome Spring.*

*Noteworthy: 95% of their fruit comes from estate vineyards "all certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)."

Happy Canyon, Goodland
Varietal, Region: Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Barbara, California

Price: $25

Where to buy: Grateful Red, Goodland Wines

My Tasting Notes: A light white wine, no oakiness, neutral barrels. Hints of pear, melon and granny smith apples. Slightly tart but just the right amount.

My Verdict: Normally I'm not a big fan of whites but this one is great. This white tastes like Spring in a bottle.

Cheers!