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!