Wine in the South: Arrington Vineyards

"I think that was the turn."
"There wasn't any sign, but I will check the map. Yup, that was it!"

Hidden in the hills 30 miles south of Nashville, TN, our family took us to Arrington Vineyards on a recent visit. Putting together a picnic dinner and packing the kids into the car, it seemed a great way to spend our last vacation night together. And apparently we weren't the only ones with this clever idea. Short of the Wine and Balloon Festival in Virginia last year, we have never seen so many people gathered together to drink wine. A large parking lot, across from the vineyard was mostly full, and the  sprawling field in front of the tasting room was packed with families sitting among their picnic spreads. Children read and played, while families and friends shared bottles of wine.

We spread our for our dinner, and enjoyed the warm summer evening, enjoying time with our family. Once the children wandered off to play, making new friends, a few of us adults ventured up the hill to seek a glass or two of wine, on the basis that Tina and I are obligated to share our adventures with you readers. Unfortunately, we were stopped at the door when we asked for details, and were told that there was a three hour waiting list for the free tasting, and, since they closed in two hours, it was unlikely that we would get in. But there was the wine shop back down the hill, where we could buy some wine. There, we were stopped short when we learned that they could sell us a bottle, open it, and provide us with some plastic cups, but since they were selling under an "agricultural" license--not a liquor license--they couldn't serve us a glass of wine.

We struggled with the decision, since our hosts weren't really wine drinkers, but the wine list was too interesting to pass up. Of course they offer Chardonnay and Merlot, but there was Viognier and Gewurtztraminer, Roses of Chambourcin, and even a Port. Given the warm weather, we agreed on the dry rose. Grabbing a bottle, we settled back on our picnic blankets, we shared our bottle of wine while we watched the kids play while the sun set.

While we wish we could have tried more of their wines, it was still a great evening. Those who were more in the know seemed to make a day of it, large groups sharing the picnic tables and a number of bottles of wine. It seemed a great way for families and friends to spend a wonderful day outside.

QUICK REVIEW: Two Virginia Wines

At Blue Duck Tavern, we enjoyed a glass of wine each with brunch.

Nate's Choice:
VA, Middleburg, Boxwood Winery, Cabernet Franc 2010 
+ // Fruity // Green Apple // Apple // Light

 Tina's Choice: 
VA, Huntly, Rappahannock Cellars, Seyval Blanc 2009
/ // Crisp // Green Apple // Apple // Light

 

Washington D.C. Restaurants and Museums (cont.)

And now, the stunning conclusion for our 3-part series on our trip to Washington, D.C.!
Sunday ended up being another early morning. We woke well before our planned brunch with the foodie cousin who’d recommended Casa Oaxaca, and ventured into Georgetown to enjoy the morning sun. The fall colors on the tree-lined streets made for a gorgeous walk, highlighting the historic buildings and artfully restored canal. 

 

 

The sun glistened on the river, as we made our way to Blue Duck Tavern for our brunch.

We joined our friends for brunch, and waited for a few minutes for our table to open up. The dining room was quiet, and our waiters were quick and attentive. We chatted for a while, and on their recommendation, ordered some Virginian wines, on the assurance that it was some of the best in the region. The food was seemingly simple fare, but created with unique twists that showed real skill. The wine proved to be perfect for the early meal, and the company made the time fly by, even though we lingered over our meal. And for a special treat, we ordered some dessert--a dutch apple pie large enough to serve four (yes an entire pie), crafted in the front window of the restaurant so that we watched it being prepared as we waited for our table. We had it served with ice cream, of course.

Soon, it was time for everyone to part. Tina left for New York; I’d be staying an extra night for work obligations the next day. Since I had the evening to myself, I wandered the neighborhood around Dupont Circle. I passed by Kramer’s Books and Cafe, but decided to press on, despite the allure of sipping wine will perusing a book store. I love the idea, but I knew that I would end up with a few books to take home, and I didn’t really have space in my bags for that sort of souvenir. Instead, I wandered down further afield and ended up at Veritas Wine Bar. I pulled up a seat at the half empty bar, and order up a glass of Shiraz and a meat plate. Sitting at the bar, watching football on the TV and listening to classic rock on the loudspeakers, I was content. But I wasn’t full, so I ordered a glass of Zinfandel, and a cheese plate. Of course, it was a bachelor’s night out, so I chose the stinkiest cheeses I could get off the menu. There was no way even the strongest of wines could hold up to those cheeses. Yet, the ambiance of the bar, and a casual evening, more than made up for my imperfect pairing.

In all, it was a wonderful weekend. We got to enjoy a bit of our nation’s history, set in the beautiful fall atmosphere of an architecturally beautiful city. We enjoyed good food and drink, good friends, and had a chance to relax before the holidays 

Washington D.C. Restaurants and Museums (cont.)

We recently took a trip to Washington, D.C., and left readers after having a delicious lunch at the National Museum of American History.

After rushing down to the Mall, and shuffling through the museum for hours, we wanted to get off our feet for a bit, so we headed back to the hotel, to take advantage of the free happy hour, a perk of the Kimpton hotel chain that we have enjoyed elsewhere. It was a delicious house wine, and a great way to relax for a few minutes, before our dinner reservation. 

Tina enjoys the house wine at Topaz Bar.

At the recommendation of a cousin local to the area, we had plans to enjoydinner at Casa Oaxaca. Casa Oaxaca is a small restaurant on the outskirts of a busy neighborhood. We arrived for a fairly early dinner, and the place was already full, a mixture of young families, couples, and groups of friends populating the tables. We’ve enjoyed Oaxacan cuisine elsewhere, so we were looking forward to the range of molés and other traditional dishes. 

I started with a cocktail on special for the evening, another concoction of tequila and jalapeno, the balance of heat and flavor of which put the drink at the Topaz to shame. We ordered Ravioli de Huitlacoche. Huitlacoche is a Mexican delicacy, a fungus that grows on ears of corn and which is often compared to truffle. It has a mild, earthy flavor and was a great start to the meal. Tina enjoyed their famous cheese enchiladas, drenched in molé sauce, while I had the filet mignon. To continue with the theme for the evening, we decided to pair it with Mexican wines. It was no surprise that both wines, being from such a warm climate, were light and tart. My Cabernet Sauvignon was a good compliment to my meal; the hints of leather and spice balanced well with the hearty meat. Even though we were exceedingly full, we were convinced through some joking with our waiter to order churros for dessert. It was one of his favorite dishes, and, after we managed to stuff ourselves, he came over to notify us that it normally comes with six pieces, but he couldn’t resist, and helped himself to one of them, knowing I was so full. All told, this was one of the best Mexican meals we’ve had to date, for a great price, and in such a wonderfully casual atmosphere.

To be continued . . . !

Washington D.C. Restaurants and Museums

Despite the early blizzard in the Northeast this year, it was still a beautiful fall . After our trip to the Longbranch Balloon & Wine Festival in VA, we wanted to visit the area again, and set aside a weekend to visit Washington DC. We could not have picked a better weekend than the one we did: warm sunny days bringing out the hues in the changing leaves, we wandered around our nation’s capital, enjoying the sights. It also happened to be my birthday weekend. After arriving late on Friday, we went straight to our hotel--the Kimpton’s Topaz Hotel just southeast of Dupont Circle. Dropping our bags, we rushed back down to the eclectic bar to enjoy a drink and snack before the end of our evening. 

The Topaz Bar has recently been revamped as a "Moroccan-inspired retreat."

The bar’s signature cocktail menu features drinks based on the astrological signs. I tried the Aries, a spicy mix of jalepeno-infused tequila and orange juice, while Tina went with the Aquarius. Mine was well balanced, the heat playing off the sweetness of the juice and alcohol without being bitter. Tina’s Aquarius, on the otherhand, was not altogether unpleasant, but required getting the brain to ignore the drink’s strange, neon blue color. I stuck with my drink, but Tina decided to ordered the Gemini - a sweet cocktail made with pomegranate juice and sparkling. It was a good 2nd choice. We shut the bar down (at 10:30, mind you, but still!) and decided to call it an early night to prepare for the busy day ahead.

Saturday was our tourist day. We had mid-morning plans to tour the Capitol, so lept out of bed to enjoy breakfast before making the 2 mile hike down there. It was a short tour, packed with interesting tidbits of info (you get to see where John Quincy Adams sat when in the House of Reps and walk right by the Speaker’s office chambers). Nate took dozens of photos of the area around the Mall.

More interesting to us was the National Museum of American History. We stomped through for hours, exploring different bits of our national history. Tina was enthralled by the Star Spangled Banner, but was appalled that the original owners cut pieces away to give as gifts. It’s still in pretty good shape after more than 200 years. I enjoyed an historic house, which the museum has tracked through 200 years of owners and renovations. But the best part was lunch. Apparently the Smithsonian has made a point of bringing good food into their cafeterias, and we took advantage of the fresh BBQ and craft beer during a casual meal. Both the pulled pork and North Carolina style chicken were juicy and flavorful, the sweet potatoes were crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside, and the coleslaw was juicy, but not too runny. For a simple meal, convenient to the Museum, we couldn’t really ask for more.

To be continued. . . .!

Palate Press article

Tina's published another article in Palate Press, this time on a quirky little vineyard based out of Charlottesville, VA. Thanks to Amy Steers for a great interview as prep for the piece. Enjoy!

http://palatepress.com/2011/11/wine/well-hung-vineyard-humor-as-a-business-model/

Did You Know? . . . Virginia Wine Region

Grapes have been grown in Virginia since the earliest days of this nation. Our founding fathers planted vinifera vines on their plantations, but neither George Washington or Thomas Jefferson managed to produce a bottle of wine from their vineyards. Native varieties fared better in our cooler climate, winning international awards in the 1800s, but Prohibition decimated Virginia's grape growers. In the 1970s, vintners started returning to the state, and now, nearly 200 wineries call the state home.

QUICK REVIEW: Long Branch Wine Festival

While we didn’t have a chance to really keep track of our tastings, with the quick pace and dense crowds, we still noted a few wines that really grabbed our attention as excellent. Included are the tasting notes provided by the wineries.

VA, Rebec Winery, Sweet Sofia
“Our ‘niche’ wine, and authentic Bulgarian recipe, made with a combination of herbs.”
A wine, strongly flavored with savory herbs from a Bulgarian recipe, creating a unique flavor.

VA, North Mountain Vineyard, 2009 Cabernet Franc
“Harvested after an early October frost, yielding a spicy, medium bodied, dry red wine. 100% varietal and Estate grown; aged in French oak barrels for 9 months before bottling. Gold Medal at Virginia Governor's Cup and NY Finger Lakes.”

VA, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Chardonnay Reserve
“Barrel fermentation produces a rich wine with wide midpalate and long memorable finish with a hint of smokiness.”

VA, Stone Mountain Vineyards, Cabernet Franc Reserve
“Cedar undertones are highlighted by plum and raspberry in the rich supple wine.”

Wine and Wind in Long Branch, Virginia

Our friends at Nod 'n' Smile invited us to the Long Branch Balloon and Wine Fest in Virginia. A trip with friends on a beautiful fall weekend to enjoy a different wine region, it couldn't be passed up. We rushed down to Virginia on Friday night, and collapsed into bed late, to prepare ourselves for a fun filled Saturday. It was a beautiful fall day, with bright sun and just a hint of crispness in the air to complement colorful fall foliage, but we were subjected to a very strong wind that grounded the balloons all day.

While many visitors may have been deterred, we decided to focus on the wine, as we’ve never really had a chance to try Virginian wineries.