Recap: The Capital Grille's Fourth Annual Artist Series Wine Event

By Melinda Contreras

Last fall, The Capital Grille held a contest for artists to submit original pieces of artwork to become the label of the 2009 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year's winning artwork is "Golden Moments" by North Carolina artist Sherry McAdams.

The original painting featured on the label of this exclusive 2009 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon went on tour, beginning in Los Angeles and arriving in Chevy Chase, MD for the finale event. Though the Artist Series Wine Event is in its fourth year, for the first time, art enthusiasts were able to take a chance at owning the beautiful piece of art that adorns the wine bottles by participating in the silent auction benefitting Share Our Strength. Bids were accepeted at each one of the six tour stops and were also accepted online. In addition to the proceeds received from the silent auction, Share Our Strength received additional funds to aid in their mission to end childhood hunger through Capital Grille's generous donation of $25 per bottle of Arrowwood Cabernet Saivignon sold between March 15 and April 28 (a few more than 11,000 bottles of the Arrowood Caberbet were produced). To date, The Capital Grille's Artist Series Program has raised more than $1,000,000 for Share Our Strength.

I stopped by the tour's final stop in Friendship Heights, where I was able to meet the artist Sherry McAdams, and enjoy a glass of the 2009 Arrowood Sauvignon. Winemaker Heidi von der collaborated with The Capital Grille's George Miliotes to blend a wine with layers of flavor that begin with a deep instensity and end with a soft, rich finish. The Arrowwood Sauvignon was intensely purple in color, presenting aromas of ripe, dark fruits with notes of blackberry, plum and blueberry.

While sipping the Arrowood Cabernet Sauivignon, guests were treated to bites of several styles of open faced sandwiches, including one made with tenderloin and blue cheese and one made caprese style.

For more information about how you can use your strength to aid in ending childhood hunger, visit www.nokidhungry.org. For Capital Grille's menu and wine list, visit www.thecapitalgrille.com.