Wine Dinner Bust
Oh where, oh where have all the wine dinners gone? Long time
passing, but the economy has shifted the trends on how we explore and sample
wine these days. For those of you who love to seek out a great wine dinner at a
fabulous restaurant, or just your neighborhood joint, you might notice a trend
of slim pickings. Blame it on the economy. The pressure is on for Obama in 2013
to put the rubber on the road. But regardless of positive possibilities, most
restaurants may be reluctant to forge ahead with costly, time-consuming
endeavors, such as the proverbial wine dinner. And don't get me wrong, I love wine dinners and seek them out. Just went to Taberna del Alabardero for a fabulous wine dinner hosted by @ArrowinesInc, hence the pics to decorate this column. But the wine dinner breed is becoming scarce.
So, what alternatives are left
to food and wine hounds looking for a bargain and the services offered at
exclusive wine dinners? Educational wine classes (usually accompanied with
food).
Even though a wine dinner is the perfect venue for a
restaurant to strut its stuff with cool food art, inspired wine and food
pairings, and perhaps a chance to meet
the celebrity wine maker, trendy “small-batch” wine tastings are
sprouting up in its place. More casual settings with less emphasis on $$$ allow
retail shops and restaurants more elbow room to showcase 4-8 wines in a more
fast-paced setting. When you nix elaborate food courses upwards of five or
more, fine cutlery, white table cloths, massive amounts of glassware, and heavy
wait staff, you can become more creative with the idea “less is more.”
What to look for around Arlington/Falls Church:
Red, White and Bleu in Falls Church launches SAVE-HOUR
Monday, February 4
th. This play on words for savor is all about
informed wine tastings led by an official sommelier and captivating themes that
vary each month. The tastings only cost
$10, and the best part is the $10 is applied to your wine purchase that
evening. Featured foods sold in the shop add highlights to the tastings while
also adding the food pairing factor.
Arlington Cinema Draft House may not be reinventing the
wheel for 2013, but you can’t beat this deal of $1 wine tastings presented by
the Washington Wine Academy while you enjoy a movie and some chilled out pub
food. Some people buy up to 10 tickets and still walk out remembering the
flick.
Arrowines in Arlington offers top-notch classes and wine
tastings that are always sponsored by experts. Here’s your chance to meet the
winemaker, the dude (or gal) that actually sourced the wine, or the nerdy wine
salesman that can lay on the facts till you snore. Trick is you need to sign up for their
newsletter and inquire of their private tastings, which are all FREE!
Northside Social is the place for eclectic food, chef-taught
classes, pig roasts, open mic nights with wine tastings, and a whole lot of
funkified flavorful events. Usually $35 or less, this is a steal for those wine
dinner seekers out there. A broad, diversified wine list makes this such a cozy
hide out, and you can feast your eyes on locally sourced art.
Twisted Vines on Columbia Pike is still a well kept secret.
Finally, someone thought to throw in an open area kids’ playground while Moms
and Dads can partake of Happy Hour. Once a month, stroller mania takes over at
Twisted Vines and parents can take a break from 10am-3pm for FREE while
enjoying happy hour wine specials. And better yet, this joint offers private wine
classes with a Certified Wine Educator and unique themes. Prices vary based on
wine themes, but usually run less than $35. Call to inquire.
Screwtop Wine Bar and sister wine shop, Grateful Red, also
add to the Clarendon wine scene with chocolate & wine pairings this
Valentine’s and more educational wine classes usually under $50 a pop. Wendy
Buckler has a knack for whipping up wine grandeur in tiny spaces with stunning
cheese selections.
Hope this trot around town helps diversify your wine tasting
palettes.
