Grab some friends and sign up for this series of classes at Le Tastevin.  It sounds like a lot of fun!

Le Tastevin will be launching  Wine 101

Photo courtesy of Le Tastevin

with an exploration of the Vine-to-Wine process.  Subsequent classes will explore the nuances of grape varietals, geography, pairing and tasting!

The In-Depth Wine Appreciation classes will begin again on Thursday, November 3rd.  In the fall of 2011 we will focus on France, taking you from Bordeaux to Champagne.  Berets are optional but encouraged!

Instructor, Bryan Smith, has experience at Chateau de la Maltroye and extensive wine knowledge.

Each class features a detailed study guide complete with maps, other visual aids and, of course, an educational wine tasting!  Each major wine category will be punctuated by the chance to attend a cooking demonstration and wine dinner with a local Chef.

A week ago I posted about Cafe Caturra opening and last weekend I  had the chance to spend an entire evening there.  We arrived at 6:30 and the place was hopping. At first we thought there were no seats at the bar until we realized the bar is an oval and the whole back side was free. To my husband’s college football loving delight it turned out that the flat screens are also on that side of the bar. We were greeted immediately by friendly  and extremely attentive bartenders. Yes, multiple people were waiting on us so we were never without a glass of wine. We surmised that Cafe Caturra must have brought in personnel from Richmond to help with the opening. 

Hard to believe were in the Giant parking lot

You can taste anything on the wine list and then choose from a  3, 6 or 9 ounce pour. The bartenders were very encouraging about the tasting. Maybe a little too encouraging….We tasted quite a few wines and I decided to pace myself by sticking with the 3 ounce glasses. We ordered the charcuterie and cheese board and it was delicious. After about an hour of tasting, my brother, in town visiting from NY,  met us (he’s single by the way) and we continued the sampling. Note to myself:  3 ounce glasses add up quickly.

They have a great selection and the prices are reasonable. Most of the 3 oz glasses were only 4 dollars. We decided to try some small plates and shared the crab wraps, lamb meatballs and sliders. Everything was perfect but the sliders were really a standout. The three of us were in agreement that they were the best sliders we had ever tasted, perfectly cooked oozing with cheese  and a fat piece of bacon  between a soft buttery bun.

Cafe Caturra

Today I stopped by Le Tastevin Fine Wines to pick up a couple of bottles of wine. I was greeted by Brian who was extremely helpful and knowledgeable.  The wines in the front of the store were all reasonably priced under $20 and there were some slightly more expensive wines in the back.

I browsed for a bit and picked out two bottles -Bodegas Lan Rioja Crianza 2006 from Rioja, Spain ($13,99) and the Champteloup Sauvignon Blanc Touraine, Loire, France, 2010 ($12.99). I asked Brian for his opinion and he said they were both excellent choices, and in fact ,the Lan wass his favorite everyday red.

I couldn’t wait to try it out,  so as soon as my husband and I got home from work I poured two glasses. It was fresh and light with cherry hues and a hint of spice. It paired well with the Drunken Goat Cheese (Spain) I bought today at Cheesetique.

Lan Crianza

Le Tastevin is owned by Hannah Choi and Timothy Clune and opened earlier this year. From their website,”We taste, we critique and we choose the wines so that we have a wide range of styles, grape varieties (varietals, as we call them in the wine world) and the regions.”  We are so lucky to have a great selection of gourmet food shops, and fine wine shops in Old Town Alexandria!

1309 King St. Alexandria, Va (571) 970-6903

Great Selection of Wine and Cheese

If your evening commute ends with the Quaker Lane exit the Fern Street Gourmet is your go-to market. They have a nice selection of wines in all price ranges as well as a variety of gourmet beer.  they also sell gourmet snacks and have a counter in the back with specialty cheeses, French bread and charcuterie, olives, spreads, and a cool deli.  It’s on Fern–the back side of the little Fairlington strip of shops.

Nice selection of unique hostess-gift items, too (something I’m always looking out for) -  from wine coolers (the kind that cool your wine, not the Bartles & James kind) to bar accessories.

1708 Fern St. Alexandria, VA 22302