While France may know a thing or two about Champagne, the good ol’ U S of A produces some of the best sparkling wines for the money in the world. So, I thought with the Fourth of July just around the corner, what better way to celebrate the founding of our country than with a few all American Sparklers!
Click HERE to listen to this week’s WTOP Radio’s Wine of the Week segment
Summer is here and the debate about which wine to tame the high temperatures with is a constant source of heat in our household. She likes white wines that are crisp and dry, he prefers wines that are off-dry and refreshing. Since both styles definitely have a place in the wine bucket and on the palate, we will each share our favorite picks so you can decide which wine style will help you keep your cool this summer.
Back in Black, Interlude, Corruption, Breakaway, Noble Rot, Kismet Saison, Kalifornia Kolsch, Total Domination, Rahr’s Ugly Pug, Good Samaritan, Raisin Apollo, Grumpy Monk, Velvet Rooster, DumpsterDog, Troegenator, Gilgamesh, and Razor Wit. Great names for rock bands? Maybe. But these are actually names of some of the wonderful beers I tasted at Savor, “an American craft beer and food experience.”
Savor connected 75 craft breweries with avid beer enthusiasts over a two-day affair. Brewery owners, brewers and representatives were on hand to pour beer, meet customers and share their stories. Over 125-plus craft beers were poured and savored. Here are a few of my favorites.
I was recently in San Francisco for the International Wine Competition and I wanted to try something a little off the beaten path fro dinner. My wife suggested that I try The Broken Record (she had recently seen it featured on an episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives). I called an old college friend and we made plans to try it out.
From the moment my buddy and I walked in until we stumbled out, we had a blast. This is the kind of bar-come-gastropub that I wish we had in DC! The bar is just dive-ish enough to be hip for the not-so-hip and the restaurant is tasty enough to be taken seriously.
We got to the bar at 5:30 pm on a Saturday and at first thought we were at the wrong spot. It was empty. We asked the bar tender – a genuinely nice guy bespeckled with tattoos – what the deal was. He told us that we were “just early enough.” Suggested that we order something to drink and grab a table in the back while there were still tables to be had. The beer selection – both on tap and in bottle – was impressive. But even more impressive was the whiskey selection… on tap! I have never seen whiskey on tap. But now I have. I opted for one of their exceptionally wonderful local brews and headed down the hallway to the back of the bar were the restaurant is located.
We grabbed a table and checked out the menu (chalk) board while we waited for the kitchen to open (it usually opens right at 6:15 pm) and went into paralysis from all of the amazing choices we were facing.
At 6:00 pm, the restaurant was filling up quickly and we noticed a few people starting to queue up at the order window (you have to place your order and PAY CASH ONLY at the window – but they will bring your dinner to your table).
We decided to jump in line and use the time to try to decide between the Crawfish and Grits, the Lobster Mac and Cheese, the Short Rib Dip Sandwich and the Crispy Pork Loin Sandwich. Then we noticed that the prices were – and I am NOT making this up – only $10 per item, so we said, f-it and ordered all four items. Silly? Maybe. Worth it? Ab-so-f’ing-lute-ly!
The food came out as it was ready. The first dish to hit the table was the Lobster Mac and Cheese. There were huge chunks of lobster meat tucked among the bowtie pasta. The sauce was rich without being too cloying – a perfect balance that let the delicate flavor of the lobster shine through.
Next came the Crispy Pork Loin sandwich and the Crayfish and Grits. The pork was crispy and tender, but the spicy mayo sauce and the brioche-style bun made the sandwich sing. The Crayfish and Grits was very good (and plentiful), but the butter-laden grits were just too rich to have more than a few bites (alright – I had more than a few bites, but I paid the price later…).
Last up was the Pièce de résistance: The short rib dip. Ahhhhh, now this is a sandwich. The short ribs were lean and cooked to perfection and served on a toasted roll that brought a smile to my tongue. It was served with a ramekin of au jus and a ramekin of horseradish cream sauce. Both were perfect accompaniments.
The only thing I wished we had ordered were the sweet potato tots. But not to worry. The wonderful thing about the Broken Record is the communal atmosphere that infuses the place. We had soooo much food on our table that we started to share it with other tables around us – and they shared their orders with us as well. After a few more beers, it felt like family dining! Two young women who were visiting from Louisiana came over to our table to sample a little bit of everything we had before they placed their order. You got to love a place that brings that kind of community out in a dining experience.
Only one tale of caution – bring cash. The Broken Record doesn’t take credit cards.
This week, the Vine Gal blissfully sips her way through the northern end of Italy on a white wine tour. From Pinot Grigio to Sauvignon Blanc, the broad assortment of whites gives consumers the luxury of selecting wines that pair with a plethora of cuisines and taste preferences.
Click here to read the Vine Gal’s recommendations in the Washington, DC Examiner Newspaper
Click here to listen to the Vine Guy’s recap on WTOP radio’s Wine of the Week segment
I have a difficult time keeping Italian wine regions and their varietals straight. Part of the reason for my confusion is the labyrinth of vineyard designations and the complex regulatory governance that defines and enforces the various levels of quality from each region.
But recently, I had the pleasure of sampling a variety of wines from across Italy. And thanks to Deena of Vias Imports, my personal wine tour guide, I finally started to get a grasp on what goes where.
Click here to listen to WTOP radio’s Wine of the Week segment, featuring two great Italian red wines
While the summer solstice may mark the official start of summer as June 20th this year, Memorial Day weekend kicks off the psychological beginning of the season. And while I drink white wines just about any time of year – because I really like white wines – the arrival of the summer season just gives me a great excuse to pretend to be vogue.
So if you’re firing up the barbeque this weekend and you’re looking for some fun wines to share with family, friends and neighbors this weekend, here are several really delicious and affordable white wines to consider putting in your frig or on ice.
There are a few wines in Bordeaux that are actually a good value from the remarkable 2009 vintage.
Click here to listen in to this week’s Wine of the Week segment on WTOP radio
Click here to check out the Wine of the Week blog on WTOP radio’s website
One of the things that really sunk in about the past decade in Bordeaux is that for the first time in recent memory, Bordeaux did not experience any “off” vintages. Not a single one. And of all the good-to-great vintages, 2009 seems to be the best of the bunch, with a perfect combination of a gentle, cool winter, a warm spring and an even rise in temperature throughout the summer months.
As a result, both red and white grapes developed beautiful flavors that made spectacular wines. But are the prices beyond most consumer’s reach?
I am excited about summer because it signals the beginning of the grilling season, and I love to grill. I also love red wine – and there is a red wine out there to pair with every grilling option and every budget. From burgers to filet mignon and everything in between, there is a red wine to suit every palate and paycheck.
