The headline finishes below after all these pictures I just added, so catch it as you scroll down. Sorry for any confusion... What great weather we are enjoying again today ...
Texas Vodka, ERRAZURIZ Wild Ferment Chilean Chardonnay, DOMAINE SAINT-EUGENIE Red Corbieres From Robert Kacher Selections , SANTA EMA Sauv. Blanc & HUGH HAMILTON McLaren Vale South Australia Wines - that's how my headline above should finish.
It was a great day and a great event. It could not have been better suited the weather being warm and bright and clear and filled with crisp blue skies and not a cloud to be seen with a gentle, pleasing, welcoming breeze at times - gorgeous.
People just smiled and felt good to be here in our two blocks of activity on Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. in our Cleveland Park neighborhood. That's really good. We had not done one of these Cleveland Park Days in years. It had been many years since husband and wife Judy and Richard Hubbard had walked into our store Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel:202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com, on Facebook at : clevelandparkwinesandspirits ) dressed as the major and wife. I still have the pictures to prove it, too. Unfortunately Richard passed away awhile ago and so he was not with us though in spirit he was and I for one definitely thought about him when Judy passed through again this past Saturday dressed beautifully as she had years ago and in full costume, too.
I think a lot of us retailers pulled out all the stops this year for Cleveland Park Day. I know that we certainly did and we sure are thrilled that we did. Seems that our customers are thrilled that we did.
We had as our special guest for Cleveland Park Day Hugh Hamilton himself of the HUGH HAMILTON Winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia from 2-5 PM. He came and we had all his wines in stock except for the JEKYL & HYDE Shiraz red blend which was out of stock at Country Vintners wholesalers in Ashland , Virginia ( home of my alma mater Randolph-Macon College where I spent four glorious years learning, absorbing, delving and doting and obsessing and fantasizing and marvelling and wondering and being awed and blessed and off-feet-mine-swept - and more ) ; but all the other wines were there for you Hugh, old friend to talk about and sell and sign bottles. You focused this time on pouring two of your wines : 1" the Ratbag 2007 HUGH HAMILTON Merlot ( $18.99 ) that was quite forward, bright, focused , fleshy with great accents of toasted berries and bing cherries and strawberry overtones - it would work with so many meals , great by itself as with food : and the 2) unoaked Scallywag 2010 HUGH HAMILTON Chardonnay ( $18.99 ) that was again really well-balanced, focused, firm and yet with good body and flesh, bright and rounded and just an all-round pleaser that could be just as easily enjoyed by itself as well as in the context of a meal with family and friends.
Jennifer of Monument Wines also came to pour and she had a fabulous " wild ferment " Chilean Chardonnay from ERRAZURIZ ( it had so many amazing things going on here and was never still and always filled with energy and purpose ) as well as an equally intriguing Roussanne FRench Rhone varietal that was used here to great advantage at the ZACA MESA winery in California. It was not quite as open, not quite as free or evolved perhaps as the ERRAZURIZ " wild ferment " and in need of a bit more coaxing to draw it all out to it's furthest extensions.
However, with a meal and some time for this to happen it was pretty amazing as were all the ZACA MESA California wines that I recently announced to the president and CEO of ZACA MESA that I was really completely caught-off-guard when I tried them all and liked them all. I said that this has rarely ever happened for me when trying a California winery's wines : that I like each and every one of them - and I did. That's really big for me and I was happy to share that. I told Chris Barker at the time that I would like to include one of them here on Cleveland Park Day and to pick one because I was so very impressed. It was a good choice Chris, it sold quite well right along with the ERRAZURIZ " wild ferment " Chardonnay.
WE also had Shawn tasting the TITO'S Texas corn vodka pictured here above. It's been selling really well for us now for the last six months or so as people come to us asking for it by name.
We also tasted the really popular CANTON ginger liqueur that has been a favorite in the store now for going-on two years or more now.
Above is pictured the Lions & Cougars ( Leinenkugel - I called it the other here with customers with our proximity to the National Zoo a couple of blocks away and the children that they might have as they came or went there ) : we had two of them poured from 1-5PM up in the front of the store.
Can't ever get enough CANTON ginger liqueur in our lives can we?
There was also lots of great cheeses and crackers provided by us here along with Firehook's sliced baguettes and both pate and cheese provided with owner Dean of Dino restauarant. Thanks Dean.
By the way manager Cheryl of the Firehook Bakery had the front of her bakery set up with projects for the children and friends of the National Zoo to do during this time.
Steven our favorite eye-doctor from across the street also had some things planned including lots of specials and " freebies ", too.
More Lions and Cougars please!
All up and own the two blocks there were things planned and activities inside and outside the stores from the Fitness Center in the other block with two Moon Bounces and one Dunking Booth up to Lavendou Restaurant on our block. It also was jamming across the street from us from Sorriso Italian restaurant to the parking lots next to the old Irish pub the 4 P's that has been renamed. There was supposed to have been live Irish music, too? Was there?
Hi Judy, it sure was fun to see you today here in the store all dressed up in your very best!
Now here's a happy customer with CANTON ginger Liqueur and two bottles of Hugh Hamilton's wines signed for gifts : the Scallywag unoaked 2010 Chardonnay ( $18.99 ) and the " Jim Jim " red Shiraz ( $11.99 ) : gotta love it.
We also tasted the the beers and ales of SAM ADAMS here in the back of the store to much success.
Lauren of Washington Wholesalers turned up later in the afternoon and by our office towards the back of the store she tasted the SANTA EMA Chilean 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and a number of the " current " releases of dry French reds from the Robert ( Bobby ) Kacher portfolio. That included one of our favorite and regular wines - Herve Gauntier's DOMAINE SAINT-EUGENIE dry red Corbieres from the southwest of France. Owner Herve is one of our favorite people along with Hugh Hamilton and each and every time that he visits us it is a pure joy. His DOMAINE SAINT EUGENIE is drinking beautifully now, too : and so affordable at $11 a bottle I believe. Thanks Lauren.
Here's Shawn talking about the TITO'S Texas corn vodka some more. It sold well considering how much competition there was with everything going on and so much good cheer and more.
It was a bright, colorful and really positive afternoon here in Cleveland Park on Cleveland Park Day.
I started off the day by offering my 2nd BEGINNER'S WINE-CLASS to eleven of our customers in the back of the store from 11:30-1PM ( six wines , $10 a person ) which included : 1) the AVALEDA Vinho Verde Alvarino ( $14.99), 2) owner Barbara Rendquist's DR.H.THANISCH " Classic " 2009 dry Riesling($19.99), 3) a Txokoli sparkling Spanish Basque white ( $23.49), 4) the ATLANTIS 2007 Santorini dry Greek red blend of two indigenous grapes like Mavrotragano and Mandelaria ($18.49), 5) Leo Hillinger's Zweigelt spicy and herbal and dry Burgenland Austrian red, and 6 ) the " Perlage " biodynamic Marche, Italian Sangiovese red ($16.49).
It was really fun and interesting and the wines all showed really well. If you are interested in signing up call me at the store at : 202-363-4265. We have one this Saturday, too : from now on - each and every Saturday from 11:30-1 PM. Join us.
Thanks everyone for making Cleveland Park Day the grand success that it was . It takes a village / a neighborhood to carry it off and we all stepped up to the plate and made this happen. Cheers to us all for a job well done. TONY
P.S : Restaurants like DINO, LAVANDOU, SORRISO, PALENA, and RIPPLE I know celebrated later when they opened for dinner.
I just added these additional photos now on Thursday, October 7th, 2010 at 11:22 AM on another beautiful day here in Cleveland Park N.W. Washington D.C. that promises to be in the 70's soon. Scroll down for the story that I have already written and enjoy these additional photos, too. Cheers, TONY
I recommend that we have a Cleveland Park Day now each and every year : it's a whole lotta fun and cheer and goodwill and positive vibes that we all could/can use a little more of here and everywhere.
Texas Vodka, ERRAZURIZ Wild Ferment Chilean Chardonnay, DOMAINE SAINT-EUGENIE Red Corbieres From Robert Kacher Selections , SANTA EMA Sauv. Blanc & HUGH HAMILTON McLaren Vale South Australia Wines - that's how my headline above should finish.
It was a great day and a great event. It could not have been better suited the weather being warm and bright and clear and filled with crisp blue skies and not a cloud to be seen with a gentle, pleasing, welcoming breeze at times - gorgeous.
People just smiled and felt good to be here in our two blocks of activity on Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. in our Cleveland Park neighborhood. That's really good. We had not done one of these Cleveland Park Days in years. It had been many years since husband and wife Judy and Richard Hubbard had walked into our store Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 Tel:202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com, on Facebook at : clevelandparkwinesandspirits ) dressed as the major and wife. I still have the pictures to prove it, too. Unfortunately Richard passed away awhile ago and so he was not with us though in spirit he was and I for one definitely thought about him when Judy passed through again this past Saturday dressed beautifully as she had years ago and in full costume, too.
I think a lot of us retailers pulled out all the stops this year for Cleveland Park Day. I know that we certainly did and we sure are thrilled that we did. Seems that our customers are thrilled that we did.
We had as our special guest for Cleveland Park Day Hugh Hamilton himself of the HUGH HAMILTON Winery in McLaren Vale, South Australia from 2-5 PM. He came and we had all his wines in stock except for the JEKYL & HYDE Shiraz red blend which was out of stock at Country Vintners wholesalers in Ashland , Virginia ( home of my alma mater Randolph-Macon College where I spent four glorious years learning, absorbing, delving and doting and obsessing and fantasizing and marvelling and wondering and being awed and blessed and off-feet-mine-swept - and more ) ; but all the other wines were there for you Hugh, old friend to talk about and sell and sign bottles. You focused this time on pouring two of your wines : 1" the Ratbag 2007 HUGH HAMILTON Merlot ( $18.99 ) that was quite forward, bright, focused , fleshy with great accents of toasted berries and bing cherries and strawberry overtones - it would work with so many meals , great by itself as with food : and the 2) unoaked Scallywag 2010 HUGH HAMILTON Chardonnay ( $18.99 ) that was again really well-balanced, focused, firm and yet with good body and flesh, bright and rounded and just an all-round pleaser that could be just as easily enjoyed by itself as well as in the context of a meal with family and friends.
Jennifer of Monument Wines also came to pour and she had a fabulous " wild ferment " Chilean Chardonnay from ERRAZURIZ ( it had so many amazing things going on here and was never still and always filled with energy and purpose ) as well as an equally intriguing Roussanne FRench Rhone varietal that was used here to great advantage at the ZACA MESA winery in California. It was not quite as open, not quite as free or evolved perhaps as the ERRAZURIZ " wild ferment " and in need of a bit more coaxing to draw it all out to it's furthest extensions.
However, with a meal and some time for this to happen it was pretty amazing as were all the ZACA MESA California wines that I recently announced to the president and CEO of ZACA MESA that I was really completely caught-off-guard when I tried them all and liked them all. I said that this has rarely ever happened for me when trying a California winery's wines : that I like each and every one of them - and I did. That's really big for me and I was happy to share that. I told Chris Barker at the time that I would like to include one of them here on Cleveland Park Day and to pick one because I was so very impressed. It was a good choice Chris, it sold quite well right along with the ERRAZURIZ " wild ferment " Chardonnay.
WE also had Shawn tasting the TITO'S Texas corn vodka pictured here above. It's been selling really well for us now for the last six months or so as people come to us asking for it by name.
We also tasted the really popular CANTON ginger liqueur that has been a favorite in the store now for going-on two years or more now.
Above is pictured the Lions & Cougars ( Leinenkugel - I called it the other here with customers with our proximity to the National Zoo a couple of blocks away and the children that they might have as they came or went there ) : we had two of them poured from 1-5PM up in the front of the store.
Can't ever get enough CANTON ginger liqueur in our lives can we?
There was also lots of great cheeses and crackers provided by us here along with Firehook's sliced baguettes and both pate and cheese provided with owner Dean of Dino restauarant. Thanks Dean.
By the way manager Cheryl of the Firehook Bakery had the front of her bakery set up with projects for the children and friends of the National Zoo to do during this time.
Steven our favorite eye-doctor from across the street also had some things planned including lots of specials and " freebies ", too.
More Lions and Cougars please!
All up and own the two blocks there were things planned and activities inside and outside the stores from the Fitness Center in the other block with two Moon Bounces and one Dunking Booth up to Lavendou Restaurant on our block. It also was jamming across the street from us from Sorriso Italian restaurant to the parking lots next to the old Irish pub the 4 P's that has been renamed. There was supposed to have been live Irish music, too? Was there?
Hi Judy, it sure was fun to see you today here in the store all dressed up in your very best!
Now here's a happy customer with CANTON ginger Liqueur and two bottles of Hugh Hamilton's wines signed for gifts : the Scallywag unoaked 2010 Chardonnay ( $18.99 ) and the " Jim Jim " red Shiraz ( $11.99 ) : gotta love it.
We also tasted the the beers and ales of SAM ADAMS here in the back of the store to much success.
Lauren of Washington Wholesalers turned up later in the afternoon and by our office towards the back of the store she tasted the SANTA EMA Chilean 2009 Sauvignon Blanc and a number of the " current " releases of dry French reds from the Robert ( Bobby ) Kacher portfolio. That included one of our favorite and regular wines - Herve Gauntier's DOMAINE SAINT-EUGENIE dry red Corbieres from the southwest of France. Owner Herve is one of our favorite people along with Hugh Hamilton and each and every time that he visits us it is a pure joy. His DOMAINE SAINT EUGENIE is drinking beautifully now, too : and so affordable at $11 a bottle I believe. Thanks Lauren.
Here's Shawn talking about the TITO'S Texas corn vodka some more. It sold well considering how much competition there was with everything going on and so much good cheer and more.
It was a bright, colorful and really positive afternoon here in Cleveland Park on Cleveland Park Day.
I started off the day by offering my 2nd BEGINNER'S WINE-CLASS to eleven of our customers in the back of the store from 11:30-1PM ( six wines , $10 a person ) which included : 1) the AVALEDA Vinho Verde Alvarino ( $14.99), 2) owner Barbara Rendquist's DR.H.THANISCH " Classic " 2009 dry Riesling($19.99), 3) a Txokoli sparkling Spanish Basque white ( $23.49), 4) the ATLANTIS 2007 Santorini dry Greek red blend of two indigenous grapes like Mavrotragano and Mandelaria ($18.49), 5) Leo Hillinger's Zweigelt spicy and herbal and dry Burgenland Austrian red, and 6 ) the " Perlage " biodynamic Marche, Italian Sangiovese red ($16.49).
It was really fun and interesting and the wines all showed really well. If you are interested in signing up call me at the store at : 202-363-4265. We have one this Saturday, too : from now on - each and every Saturday from 11:30-1 PM. Join us.
Thanks everyone for making Cleveland Park Day the grand success that it was . It takes a village / a neighborhood to carry it off and we all stepped up to the plate and made this happen. Cheers to us all for a job well done. TONY
P.S : Restaurants like DINO, LAVANDOU, SORRISO, PALENA, and RIPPLE I know celebrated later when they opened for dinner.
No comments:
Post a Comment