Riesling is one of the noble grapes and to many is the best white wine grape. No other white grape can produce the astonishing variety of delicate and persistent aromas and flavors or keep its freshness and develop for years and decades with such modest alcohol levels. Riesling is a hardy grape and will grow Read more about This Week at the Shop: Aging Riesling[…]
This Week’s Schedule: Wine Dinner Tuesday, 7p: Wine Dinner with Alphonse Mellot at Del Ray Cafe Beer Thursday, 5-7p: Belgium Beer Tasting with Jonathan Wine Friday, 5-7p: Wines for Spring with Rocky Staff Pick Saturday, 2-6p: Staff Pick Tasting Upcoming Producer Events: Tomorrow we have another great wine dinner at Del Ray Cafe, this time with Alphonse Mellot Read more about This Week at the Shop: Fun Producer Events![…]
*** A Note About Weather: Just like with previous snow storms, the Crystal City Wine Shop is going to attempt to be open normal hours during the inclement weather. For the most up-to-date information, please check out our Facebook and Twitter feeds. *** This Week’s Schedule: Cider Tuesday, 5-7p: Blue Toad Hard Cider Beer Thursday, Read more about This Week at the Shop: It’s a Busy Week but Snow Threatens[…]
I am going to relay a story from a friend of mine who got his PhD in the life sciences: My PhD advisers always had champagne in the laboratory fridge. When I joined their lab, I said “Why is there always bubbles in the fridge?” They explained that in science, the vast majority of the time Read more about Always Keep Champagne in the Fridge[…]
According to Jancis Robinson and her book, Wine Grapes, there are 1368 grape varieties that are used to make wine around the world commercially. Yet, when you walk into any wine shop, including here, six varieties dominate the selection and they have become known as The Noble Grapes! […]
This Week’s Schedule: Beer Thursday, 5-7p: 3 Stars Brewing Company Wine Friday, 5-7p: A Special Selection with Blair from M. Touton Staff Pick Saturday, 2-6p: Check out Facebook & Twitter for more details! Buying Wine for Storage: Most of us think that keeping a cellar full of wine is an aristocratic throwback or an investment banker’s Read more about This Week at the Shop: The Long Haul, aka Buying Wine for Storage[…]
Hush Heath is a 400-acre family owned Tudor estate in the heart of the Garden of England with vast ancient oak woodlands, vineyards, Kentish apple orchards and wildflower meadows. In its heart lies Hush Heath Manor, built in 1503, home to the Balfour-Lynn family. The estate is dedicated to producing England’s finest still and sparkling Read more about Featured Producer: Hush Heath Estate[…]
Here is a quick-and-dirty guide to some of the words and logos that you will see on wine labels at the Crystal City Wine Shop: Organic: The U.S. government regulates use of the term “organic,” and they are labelled according to very specific guidelines. You will see two types of organic wines: those made from certified organically Read more about What’s the difference? Organic? Natural? Biodynamic? Sustainable?[…]
So, you bought a couple of special bottles and you think you may want to age them?
Before thinking about laying them down in the cellar, it’s useful to remember that most wine is meant to be drunk soon after it is released. […]
Gamay is a purple-colored grape variety that is used to make red wines, sparkling wines, and rose. It is most notable grown in Beaujolais, the Loire Valley, and the Willamette Valley. […]