By: Laurie Wallin
Capital Cooking Contributor
Named by BizBash as one of “Washington’s
Top 100 Events,” the 15th annual DC International Food and Wine
Festival kicked off on Friday, February 14. The event featured three areas
which included Food, Wine, Cocktails, Beer, and Entertainment. More than 120 wines were showcased in the Wine
Tasting Room and over 20 Spirits and Beer in the Movers, Shakers, and
Beermakers Hall; the annual festival featured something for wine, beer, and spirits lovers alike.
I had the opportunity to taste a
number of wines in the wine tasting room; without a doubt, the Stags’ Leap
Petite Sirah and the Frog’s Leap Zinfandel stood out as two of my favorites. The
Petite Syrah featured notes of dark fruit and spices on the nose, and exploded
with intense fruit flavors and a smoothness that kept me wanting more. A
beautiful winter wine, it’s been a while since I’d had the pleasure of tasting
a wine from Stags’ Leap and reminded me why I like the winery so much.
The Frog’s Leap Zinfandel was
another wine that captured my attention that evening. Although as of late I’d been
leaning towards Zinfandels from Sonoma County, trying this wine again reminded
me of my trip to Frog’s Leap several years ago and reminded me how much I like
their zin! A blend of 85% zinfandel, 14.5% petite sirah, and .5% carignan, this
was a light, zesty wine with a lower alcohol content that really allows the
fruit to shine through. I also enjoyed wines from the Hess Family Wines
collection as well as Franciscan.
Wine wasn’t the only item the
festival had to offer. Featuring an entire room dedicated to spirits and beer, the
festival also catered to those who may not be as fond of wine. Featuring
several Beer Bars which included local beers (Devils Backbone from Richmond,
VA) to beers from around the U.S. and the world (Goose Island from Chicago,
IL), there was plenty for beer lovers to choose from. In addition, spirits were
also well-represented, including a number of vodkas, rum, whiskey, and sake.
Featuring an assortment of breads and cheeses,
grilled vegetables, a variety of salads, and finger sandwiches of all types
(tomato mozzarella, turkey and cheese to name a few) there were plenty of carbs
available to offset the featured beverages.
With unlimited tastings and musical
entertainment, the 15th Annual DC International Wine and Food
Festival offered a wonderful opportunity for participants to be exposed to a
variety of wine, beers, spirits, and foods, while offering the chance to speak
with representatives to learn more about the beverages being featured. With all
the festival had to offer, there’s no doubt that each participant left with a
new favorite!
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