The DC Traveler

“Here’s a bold Cabernet Sauvignon I created last season. Can you taste the raspberries and the hint of lavender?” That might be something you proudly state at your next wine tasting or dinner party. 
But even if you don’t own your own vineyard or winery in the South of France, Tuscany or the Napa Valley, you can still serve friends a personally created wine from the micro-winery, Carafe Wine Makers in suburban Alexandria, VA.
The concept of a boutique micro-winery or “brew on premise” winery is big in Canada, where over 600 micro-wineries are operating. Carafe Wine Makers, a franchise company with …read more

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One of most enjoyable things for many people to do on a beautiful spring evening is to listen to live music and enjoy a nice glass of wine while relaxing on a beautiful lawn.
And the annual Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon Estate is once such event.
The gardens at Mt. Vernon will be in full bloom and the views of the Potomac River from the lawn, accompanied by live jazz, should make for a perfect evening of relaxation.
An evening Candlelit Mansion tour is also available and includes a visit to the rarely-visited basement cellar. The …read more

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Similar to last year’s festival, the Washington Wine & Food Festival will bring together some great wineries, fun food, wine seminars and more.

It’s this one is sure to be well attended. Read about last year’s festival here.
And while you’re at the Reagan Building, check out the piece of the Berlin Wall that’s on display in the lobby. 
And if you are not the wine and cheese fan, you might enjoy this recent anti-wine-tasting party Super Bowl commercial from Bud Light.

Washington Wine & Food FestivalRonald Reagan Building and International Trade Center1300  Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington D.C. 20004  (map it)
Dates and …read more

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The Virginia Wine Showcase is this weekend in suburban Chantilly, Virginia.
Forty wineries will be serving, selling, and bragging about some of the 300 wines available for tasting.
The showcase also offers a series of fee-based wine seminars where you can learn about wine, winemaking, food pairings, and improving your enjoyment of the nectar of the gods.
Some of the more interesting seminars include:

It’s All About The Chocolate – Perfect for planning a Valentine’s Day celebration, how to pair wines with chocolate. 
Virginia Versus The World – Just how do Virginia wines compare to wines from other regions of the …read more

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While Virginia boasts 119 wineries, the East Coast is filled with several hundred more wine producers, from Long Island to Georgia.
Here’s a great chance to sample 50 East Coast wines, an assortment of artisan cheeses from Virginia, Maryland and Vermont and foods with a local flair prepared by ten DC area chefs at TasteDC’s first East Coast Food and Wine Festival.
Expect some exciting dishes from the chefs using local ingredients to match the local wines including Williamsburg Peanut Soup with Jalapeño Chicken Fritters, Sea Scallops with Truffled Parsnip Puree and Parsley Coulis and Prawn and Tangerine Soup Shooters.
East Coast Food …read more

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Live jazz, wine from 18 local Virginia wineries, views of the Potomac at sunset and candle lit tours of George Washington’s Mount Vernon home and the rarely seen wine cellars are part of the Spring Wine Festival and Tour.

Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour
George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway – 16 miles south of DC
Mount Vernon, VA, 22121
Dates and Times – Friday, May 18 – Sunday, May 20, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. nightly
Tickets – $30.00 and are available online. This event sells out quickly, so order your tickets ASAP.
Note – No outside food or beverage …read more

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