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RMA Limousine's new app, version 2.808: for pickups and drop-offs, you can now enter names of places as well as street addresses; airport selection list is now sorted by proximity to your location. Download here. Fact: DC consumes more wine than anywhere else in the country: 25.7 liters per capita, according to Business Insider. Here's all the news you can use to up your sipping and swirling game. Grab a Glass at Four New Wine Bars Four new DC wine bars opened in the past 12 months: ENO Wine Bar, Flight Wine Bar, Sona Creamery & Wine Bar, and The Pursuit. ENO Wine Bar was first, back in October 2013. The Georgetown hotspot has all of the fine touches you'd expect from a bar adjacent to the Four Seasons. It's adorned with cozy brick and gorgeous fixtures, like a chandelier constructed out of charred oak barrels. But, what's most impressive is the education that you receive alongside your glass, or better yet, your flight of three wines.  On a recent trip to Eno Wine Bar, we joined the “Mile High Club.” (Get your mind out of the gutter.) The aptly named wine flight features three wines from high altitude regions in Italy, Spain, and Argentina. The other flights are equally clever. Then there's the “Bucket List” program—an opportunity to try once-in-a-lifetime bottled bliss like a 2003 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon ($32 for 3oz) or a 1998 Borgogno Barolo Reserva ($22 for 3oz) thanks to Coravin technology. Looking for a more of a deal? Here are three options: Best for: Wine drinkers who love learning more about what's in their glass.  Next came Flight Wine Bar steps away from the Verizon Center—which is Best for: Wine drinkers excited to try wines from new countries like Greece, Lebanon, Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia.  Sona Creamery & Wine Bar is a Capitol Hill wine bar, but also a lab of sorts to try different styles. The 30 wines by the glass run the gamut of Washington State (where owners Genevieve and Conan O'Sullivan hail from) to old world favorites from France and Spain. As an added bonus, Sona offers an extra-long happy hour. Wines by the glass are $2 off and beers are $1 off drafts from 4:00-8:00pm. Their cheese program is equally impressive, so arrive hungry. Best for: Wine drinkers who can't imagine wine without cheese.  The Pursuit is the freshest wine bar to open its doors. Located on H Street NE, co-owner Thomas Boisvert says he's bringing something new to the Atlas District. He and his partner, Kathleen Davis, built an impressive list of 56 wines in both Old World and New World styles, all available by the glass. In fact, you won't even see by-the-bottle pricing! One economical (and fun) way to test drive The Pursuit is to hop on a “Standby Flight.” Simply check the board (much like an actual airport) and select five wines from a list of about 10 to 15. You'll receive five 1.5oz pours for $15. Sound too good to be true? That's because they're cleverly putting last night's wine to good use—like next day bread at a bakery, only way better. Best for: Wine drinkers looking to try new and different varietals in a laid back setting (with no TVs, just real conversation). |
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Have a MAG-nificent CabWant to try wine responsible for putting Napa Valley on the map? Blue Duck Tavern within the Park Hyatt Washington is uncorking magnum bottles of California Cabernet Sauvignon from the 1980s on Tuesdays this month. A 1982 Special Select Cabernet Sauvignon from Caymus Vineyards is next up on Aug. 19. Others will be highlighted on Aug. 26 and finally on Sept. 2. We snapped general manager Joseph Cerione looking like a kid in a candy store surrounded by his remaining magnums. He'll be pouring 4oz tasters for $30. Not bad, considering the bottles retail for $650 to $1,600, according to Garrett Kaneshiro, director of food and beverage. |
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Not That Syrupy '70s Stuff For those who were of legal drinking age in the '70s, Lambrusco might seem like a sweet and bubbly blast from the past. The fizzy Italian red is making a comeback though, thanks in part to Neighborhood Restaurant Group wine savant Brent Kroll. We snapped him pouring at The Partisan as a part of the restaurant's Lambrusco Week (Aug. 11-18). Throughout the event, you can try seven varieties of Lambrusco paired perfectly with Nathan Anda's charcuterie ($18 for a flight of three). Lambrusco hails from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, but it doesn't have to be sweet. Dry wine drinkers will be smitten with one sip of “No. 6” on the pairings sheet—Chiarli “Vecchia Modena,” which is paired with mortadella. |
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Pimp My Wine Cellar!For the right price, Society Fair's soigné sommelier, Chris McCririe, will stock your dream wine cellar. The “cellar concierge” service is popular among Eat Good Food Group restaurant regulars (like Restaurant Eve), and is only advertised by word of mouth. “These customers are like family to us, so we treat them that way,” Chris tells us. It starts with a $100 consultation, where Chris takes you through a vigorous tasting to determine your preferred wine styles. Next, he visits your home for a base price of $1,000. Built into this is unparalleled access to the best distributors in the region. No wine cellar? No problem. Chris can also hook you up with a contractor to build a perfect, 55-degree, 75% humidity home for your newly acquired collection. |
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Calendar: Cool Wine Classes & Events Important dates for wine lovers: Aug. 22: Dine at a Winemaker Dinner Series at Virginia's Airlie featuring wine from Marterella Winery (6:00pm). Price: $110 |
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