SAWIP Wine Sip!

On Thursday, May 14th, the South African Embassy will be hosting a Wine Tasting Event in support of South Africa - Washington Internship Program, a leadership program for university students. SAWIP seeks to empower and develop a new generation of leaders committed to building upon South Africa’s progress and growing a stronger and robust civic society.

The event will start at 6.30 PM at the Former South Africa Official Residence (3101 Massachusetts Avenue, NW) and feature South African cuisine and wine, with selections from KWV Cathedral Cellar, Nederburg, Neethlingshof, Savanha and Spier.

The cost is $100 for guests, or $1,000 for the benefactor level. For more information, please click here.

Spying the Best New Zealand Wines at Zola

Ordinarily you might not wear a deerstalker and hold a magnifying glass while looking for specific vintages right next to Penn Quarter’s Spy Museum. Yet I spied, with my little eye, many Kiwi brands at a March 31 event showcasing New Zealand wines at Zola. This event presented an ideal opportunity to take the current pulse of New Zealand varietals and wineries. The New Zealand wine industry has acquired a very strong reputation in a fairly short amount of time, considering that much of the country started creating wines in the 1970s, and had an uneven prior history of production. For more information about the ten main wine-growing regions, sub-regions, and the varietals represented, click here.

These vintages were complemented throughout the afternoon by a menu of hors d’oeuvres created by Zola’s executive chef Bryan Moscatello and a tasty center table of fruits, cheeses, flatbreads, vegetables, and sausage slices. The bottles were placed in the side room on long thin tables by region and variety, rather than producer. This arrangement gave attendees a better basis for comparison.

Starting out with a table of Rieslings, I found a few that pleased my palate. The Dry River Craighall Martinborough Amaranth Riesling 2008 was phenomenal, intense, and complex, with a hint of grapefruit and orange zest, and a great potential for aging. One of the rarely distributed and more expensive wines at $45 a bottle, it seemed well worth the expenditure. I also enjoyed the Neudorf Brightwater Riesling 2007. At $16, it won’t break your bank, but its floral aromas, acidity and subtle lime and mineral flavors will make this wine a worthwhile addition to your cellar.

These days New Zealand is known primarily for its Sauvignon Blanc, which seduces you with its paradoxical knock-down, drag-out subtlety. My first taste on this table turned out to be my favorite, the Mount Grey Estate Sauvignon Blank Waipara 2008. Unwooded and unoaked, it had aromas of lychee and kiwi, along with some spicy herbs. I went back for a slightly larger glass of this to accompany my plate of hors d’oeuvres, fruits and cheeses, and found that its acidity went well with my selections. I would certainly try it again at $19 a bottle. Unsurprisingly, I also heard it complimented by an oenophile wholesaler following in my wake.

One pleasant and easily available Chardonnay that struck me as I wandered was the Oyster Bay Chardonnay Marlborough 2007. Very affordable at $16, it has a slight richness with grapefruit and melon aromas. Fermented in oak barrels and tanks, this wine was soft and integrated. It is worth drinking in the near future.

After trying the Pinot Noirs, I also want to mention a particularly lovely example. The Wild Earth Pinot Noir Central Otago 2006, a full-bodied, oaked and spicy wine with plum and currant fruit flavors, leaves you wanting more. At $32, it is completely worth your investment. You may want to let it age a few years.

Lastly, I do not want to forget Chef Moscatello while remembering my taste treats. As we stopped here and there to take notes and make comparisons, we had our choice of an assortment of savory bites. Perhaps one of my favorites was the tiny pork, relish, and lettuce hors d’oeuvre that, interestingly, reminded me of a tiny BLT presented on a garlic pita round. The lamb with pecan relish on a garlic pita round was also wonderful, and I enjoyed the macadamia-crusted chicken dipped in mango sauce as well. In addition, the cream-cheese-and-chive puffs seemed to go particularly well with my Sauvignon Blanc. While not the focus, the savory items did nothing to distract from the wines themselves, and added to my enjoyment tremendously. So did the mound of vegetables, sausages, flatbreads, cheeses, dates and grapes that took center stage in the room.

So don’t forget New Zealand when you plan your next trip to the wine store! There are many wonderful New World options awaiting you and yours.

Zola
800 F St NW
Washington, DC 20004
www.zoladc.com

Wine About

Just like its sister property in Dupont Circle, the Hotel Palomar in Arlington has committed its public spaces to arts and wine, bringing warmth and life to what could otherwise have been just another hotel lobby overlooking the high rises on the Virginia side of Key Bridge. Last Monday, Australian wine makers took over the spacious lounge, and patrons could sample reds and whites. Though the phrase "wine and cheese" is often maligned, particularly for those of us who still have fresh memories of grad school entertaining, the fresh figs, grapes, prosciutto, peppered ham, salami, gorgonzola, goat cheese (kept wonderfully replenished by Domaso staff, who took the time to unfurl practically every piece), would make anyone reconsider. The muted tones of the lounge furniture were a great contrast to the vibrant colors of their art pieces (permanent as well as special exhibit for the evening) and light fixtures, and the couches are roomy enough to fit a gaggle of friends.

I sampled every wine at the event, and my favorite was West Cape Howe Two Steps Shiraz Viognier, from their Southern Range. Shiraz has long been the grape of choice for Australian wines and this mix features viognier, a white grape originally from the Rhone region in France. A peppery wine, with a subtle oak aroma, with berry flavors that make the palate soft and juicy. A wonderful wine at a great price (20.99 USD)

I bought my bottle at Domasoteca, a specialty store located at ground level, stacks the bottles upon a glass and steel cellar - a veritable library that, more than sell bottles, invites patrons to find new and different ways to experience all the possibilities grapes have to offer, without breaking the bank. Since you're already dare to meditate on the life and times of wine bottles that came from all over to find you in Virginia, you might want to partake on the chocolates and cheese. Domasoteca's kind and speedy staff will cheerfully ring you up, making sure you leave with a quip or two about the bottle you are taking with you.


Domasoteca at Hotel Palomar - Arlington
1121 North 19th Street
Arlington, VA 22209
Tel: 703.351.1211
www.domasotrattoria.com

West Cape Howe Wines
www.westcapehowewines.com.au

Australian Art & Wine Tasting at Domaso

A great opportunity to check out Domaso and Domasoteca at the Hotel Palomar in Arlington, just over Key Bridge.

Domasoteca, Domaso and the Hotel Palomar Arlington in conjunction with the Country Vintner, Gallery Sydney-East, and The Workhouse Arts Center present an 'Australian Walkabout,' where guests can indulge and taste 18 different Australian wines, have a rare opportunity to meet Australian winemakers and view a stunning collection of prized Aboriginal art.

For one night only, guests will enjoy an exclusive exhibition of contemporary Australian Aboriginal artwork displayed by Gallery Sydney-East and the Workhouse Arts Center. A total of 15 pieces will be exhibited, including featured works from famed Aboriginal artists Joey Helicopter Tjungurrayi, Eunice Napangardi, Napanangka Yukenbarri, Marika Patrick and Billy Duncan. Come and see what legendary art critic, Robert Hughes has called "the world's last great art movement."

The 'Australian Walkabout' includes a tasting of 18 wines, charcuterie and cheeses, and an exhibit of 15 featured art pieces, with an exclusive opportunity to purchase the art before unveiling at the Workhouse Arts Center**. Admission is $20 per person and reservations are recommended.

All guests will receive 20% off of mix and match case purchases of featured Australian wines from Domasoteca.

Great Wine Deals In The DC Area

Dining out is an enjoyable pasttime for most, but if you can do it more often and not overspend all the better. If you enjoy wine with your meals, that often can be the big ticket item on the bill. To that end, hopefully the list of wine deals in the area will be of use. Enjoy...

Great Wine Deals In and Around DC

Cafe Deluxe - Half-price bottles on Monday nights.

Caucus Room - Free corkage on Friday and Saturday nights.

Chef Geoff's - Half-price bottles on Monday nights.

Boulevard Woodgrill - half price bottles on Monday nights with purchase of an entree.

Iota - Half-price bottles and glasses on Monday night till 10pm.

Lavandou - Free corkage Monday and Tuesday nights.

Little Fountain Cafe - Half-price bottles on Wednesday nights.

Melrose Bar - Free corkage on Sunday nights.

Olazzo - Half-price bottles on Monday nights.

Peacock Cafe - Half-price bottles of wine under $60 on Monday andTuesday nights.

Skewers on P Street in Dupont - Half-price bottles on Monday nights.

Cafe Luna (below Skewers) - Half-price bottles on Tuesday nights.

Teatro Goldoni - Half-price bottles on weekdays until 7:30pm.

Rosemary's Thyme - Half-price bottles every day from 5pm (4pm on weekends) until 7:30pm.

Meze in Adams Morgan - Half-price bottles on Tuesday nights.

La Tasca - Half-price bottles on Sunday nights.

The Reef - Half-price bottles on Wednesdays with purchase of an entree and not available at the bar or on the roofdeck.

Sorisso - Half-price merlot on Monday.

Top of the Hill - Half-price bottles on Saturday nights.

Whitlows on Wilson - Half-price bottles on Wednesdays until 9pm.

Dino - Currently no corkage fee Mondays through Wednesdays.

Cafe Saint-Ex - $4 wine by the glass from 4 to 7pm on weekdays.

Piola - $3 wine by the glass from 4 to 8pm on weekdays.

Viridian - $5 house wines from 5 to 7pm on weekdays and all night on Tuesdays.

David Greggory - $4.75 house wines from 4:30 to 9:30pm on weekdays (4:30 to 6:30 on their patio).

Vidalia - Complimentary wine tasting, usually hosted by their esteemed sommelier, from 5 to 7pm on weekdays.

Bistro L'Epic - Complimentary wine tasting Tuesday evenings in the upstairs bar until 7pm.

Jack's Bar and Grill in Dupont - Half-price wine by the bottle on Thursday nights.

Lebanese Taverna - Half-price wine by the bottle on Monday nights.

Vapiano - Happy hour 7 days a week until 8pm with specials including $2.50 house wine by the glass.

Half-Price Wine at Whitlow's

Wednesday is half-price wine night at Whitlow's on Wilson. When we arrived, the restaurant was quite lively but not super crowded. The casual ambiance and friendly service always make for a nice experience there, but last night was an especially lovely evening, made even better by a fun dinner and great company. For wine, we had a crisp and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. Perfect for a summer evening. We also tried the Heron Merlot which was well-balanced and quite lush on the palate. Food orders included Spinach and Artichoke dip, which was actually quite a light version of the dish. The spinach and artichoke hearts were the star, and a good amount of seasoning and some gooey, melted mild cheese throughout made for a nice consistency and a bit of richness. The dip is served with thinly sliced toasted pita chips. I had the Wow Salad, which comes with grilled ranch chicken, baby greens, romaine lettuce, and diced tomatoes and cucumbers, all tossed in a BBQ bacon ranch dressing and garnished with fried onions. The salad was quite tasty and the various textures all combined for a nice variety of sensations in the mouth. The Crabcake Sandwich and Turkey Burger also got great reviews. If you are in the Clarendon area on a Wednesday, I would recommend popping in for an inexpensive yet enjoyable meal.

Whitlow's on Wilson

2854 Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon, VA

http://www.whitlows.com/

Wine and Cheese at Bar Pilar

I met a friend last night at Bar Pilar, a cozy spot just off 14th Street in the U Street neighborhood. The ambiance is somewhat relaxed when it isn't crazy crowded, and the bar is long and made of dark wood and there is a kitschy, nautical theme throughout the venue. Owned by the folks who own Cafe Saint Ex down the street, the menu features a variety of small plates featuring fresh, local ingredients and not too much in the way of sauces and spreads. Examples include Sauteed Arugula with anchovy, lemon, red onion, Beet Carpaccio with goat cheese, mint, pine nuts, Fava Beans with pecorino and mint, Seared King Salmon with basil puree and Smoked Pouisson Breast with fennel and orange zest. I enjoy the Tempranillo they offer and started with a glass of that. We decided to share a cheese plate which comes on a wooden board with the cheese and crostini as well as a very sweet and smooth apple sauce and a thick slice of quince. You can choose 3 or 5 cheeses. We did 5 - a blue, a goat (which was super creamy), a Porter cheddar, a goat/sheep/cow's milk combo and a creamy cow's milk cheese with a grape leaf running through it. My favorite was the creamy goat, which tasted lovely with a dab of the apple sauce on the thin, toasted crostini. My friend enjoyed all of the cheeses but favored the blue. At $17 I thought the amount of cheese could have been a little more, but it was a really nice selection and went very well with the Spanish Tempranillo on offering. I think next time I go back I will pair it with the Sauteed Mushrooms or perhaps one of the grilled fish options and make a meal out of it.

Bar Pilar

1833 14th Street in NW DC

www.barpilar.com

DC International Wine and Food Festival

Just a quick note regarding the DC International Wine and Food Festival, which took place at the Ronald Reagan Building downtown this past weekend. Certainly imbibing and spending time in a fun venue with friends is a great way to spend a weekend day or two, but I think the organizers can do better next year. Saturday's showcase was sold out, and I think everyone who bought at ticket showed up as it was quite crowded and a bit warm temperature-wise. The wine selection was great, with over 280 wineries in attendance, and a nice representation as far as Old World and New World goes. Not surprisingly, my favorites were the wineries from the Pacific Northwest (Sonoma not Napa in California), and also pretty much any spot that offered sliced cheese since, even though "Food" is in the name of the event, there essentially wasn't much to be found. All in all I think it is definitely an event worth spending time at and patronizing, but I think there are a few steps that easily could be taken to vastly improve the experience of attendees.

Tapas and Wine on Monday Night

My friend Steph and I had been meaning to catch up and ended up doing so yesterday evening at Jaleo in Penn Quarter. Always a favorite of mine, it was somewhat slow last night, and it was nice to have plenty or room to dine and chit chat at the bar. Service is almost always friendly and well-timed, and was no different last night. I started the evening with a glass of Higueruela, which was a really nice blend made mostly of granacha. The nose was of underripe cherries, or fruity but not too fruity, and the finish was velvety and delicious. An easy-drinking wine, this would go with most items on Jaleo's extensive menu. Steph got a glass of red sangria which comes with a nice amount of fruit but avoids being too sweet or syrupy. We started off with Tortilla con Calabacines y Queso, or a traditional Spanish omelet with squash, caramelized onions and cheese. The omelet was moist and the caramelized onions and creamy cheese gave it a really rich taste. The squash was zucchini which was finely slivered and gave the dish a bit of pretty green color throughout. For my main, I had Pollo al Ajillo con Salsa Verde, or grilled chicken with green sauce. The chicken was served in nice size chunks of breast meat, and was moist and well-seasoned. The green sauce was somewhat like a pesto but tasted like it had a bit of sherry or balsamic vinegar added to it. It went perfectly with the chicken. Steph had Vieiras con Romesco, or scallops with Romesco sauce. The scallops were tender and lightly browned on each side, and not at all chewy or overdone. Romesco sauce is usually made with made with tomatoes, chile, almonds and/or hazelnuts, and olive oil, and last night's version was slightly sweet and had a tanginess that matched nicely with the richness of the scallops. There were a couple of specials that I wanted to try as well, such as Melon con Jamon Y Vinegreta de Jerez, which is Serrano ham with cantaloupe and sherry vinegar, which makes sense if you read my blog regularly as I have a bit of a penchant for pairing wrappable meats such as prosciutto and ham with fruits and veggies. But, after sharing the omelet and enjoying our mains, we just finished up our drinks and called it an evening. A nice way to start the week for sure.

Jaleo (Penn Quarter location)
480 7th Street in NW DC
www.jaleo.com

Wine Lover's Pantry

If you are like me, you try to enjoy your meals with a nice glass (or two) of wine. Certain ingredients bring out the various flavors in wine, such as notes of butter, cinnamon, clove, earth, and spice. These ingredients are handy to have on-hand at home for both quick, weeknight meals as well as for more elaborate occasions. Simple dishes, such as Whole Wheat Linguini with Cauliflower Sauce, and Caramelized Shallots (recipes follow), that incorporate these ingredients, work perfectly with a range of wines. Enjoy.

Always Have On Hand

Kosher salt

Dijon mustard

Freshly ground black pepper

Butter

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Fresh lemons

Balsamic vinegar

Particularly Good with Red Wines

Dried thyme

Dried oregano

Dried rosemary

Magical Matches with Wine

Shallots

Caramelized onions with chopped, fresh sage

Manchego cheese

Pine nuts

Mushrooms

Corn (fresh, frozen - any variety)

Salmon

Dates or figs wrapped in prosciutto

Whole Wheat Linguini with Cauliflower Sauce
1 pound whole-wheat linguini

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced

1 red onion, finely chopped

1 head cauliflower, stem removed and chopped

3 cups chicken stock

4 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped

1 pinch of dried thyme

1 cup grated Romano

8 ounces of Manchego

Kosher salt
Black pepper
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 3 generous pinches of salt and pasta and cook to al dente. Drain. For the sauce, add the olive oil to a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 3 minutes, then remove (otherwise garlic may burn). Add onions and cook 5 minutes, and then add cauliflower, 1 cup of chicken stock and the rosemary and thyme. Cover the pan and cook 15 minutes. Uncover the sauce, add 1 to 2 cups of remaining chicken stock and mash the cauliflower with the back of a wooden spoon or potato masher. Add the pasta and Romano cheese to the cauliflower and toss to combine. Season the dish with salt and pepper, grate the Manchego over the dish and serve.

Caramelized Shallots

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1.5 pounds fresh shallots, peeled, with roots intact

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 bunch of fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a large, ovenproof saute pan, add the shallots and sugar, and toss. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shallots start to brown. Add the vinegar, salt, and pepper and toss to coat well. Place the saute pan in the oven and roast for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of the shallots, until they are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Pizza and Vino

Bread and butter, pita bread and hummus, beer and watching the game, chips and salsa - some things just go together right? Pizza and wine is one of my favorite combinations, and a nice red usually works fabulously. On a recent visit to Sette Osteria in Dupont, my friend Lisa and I enjoyed the Al Funghi pizza which features Sette's fabulous crust (born of the restaurant's wood-fired ovens) as well as tangy yet sweet tomato sauce with a nice balance of Italian herbs, mozzerella, and oven roasted seasonal wild mushrooms. The gooey cheese matches the woodiness of the mushrooms perfectly, and the sauce provides notes of oregano as well as a bit of acid to cut the luscious richness of the cheese. I enjoyed a couple of glasses of Sangiovese, which for me always works especially well with pizza. Having already been to happy hour and had a few drinks, my friend Lisa opted to just do a few sips of a Valpolicella, which I tried as well (and finished) and which also was a nice match with the pie.
Of note, I found out Sette Osteria does happy hour weekdays from 4 to 6pm. On offer are several options of house wine, including Sangiovese, Piedirossa, Negro Amaro, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, all for $4.50 a glass, as well as pizza for $7 and calamari for $6, can I say delicious deal? Yum!

Sette Osteria
1666 Connecticut Avenue at R Street in NW DC
http://www.setteosteria.com/