Beers and Wines & Soccer & Gay Pride & The U.S. Versus England & More ...
We had it all this past Friday ( June 11th, 2010 ) and Saturday ( June 12ith, 2010 ) here at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( and Beers! ) : let's not forget everything that was going on here with a wonderful roster of people pouring from Jody Jackman of Winebow Imports ( pouring the dry sparkling Jura Valley French FRANCOIS MONTAND Pinot Noir, the MACULAN Pinot Y Toi ( a dry Italian white blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Tocai ), and both pouring the DOW'S white port ( $13.49 ) and also making drinks with it with a splash of lime, orange curacao and tonic water. Tim was up at the front of the store from Legends Imports pouring some of the Southern Tier beers ( three in all ). Both Tim and Jody were here with us on Friday night from 5-8 PM.
Here's Jody above pouring some of her three wines on Friday evening.
This is a montage that follows of the pictures that I took on both Friday evening and Saturday afternoon into Saturday's evening. Not all the pictures will make it here. This is what I have so far. I want very much to add the pictures later of the three young ladies that came to the store late Saturday night after leaving the Gay Pride parade and wanting some ANDRE sparkling American bubbly. They were dressed so colorfully to the hilt and so I will have to add those pictures to complete the weekend.
I have mixed the pictures up to give some added sense of excitement and urgency and fatigue and joy to this weekend's events here in our nation's capitol. I love taking pictures of people coming and gong through our front door : both the frame and the light offer a great backdrop for those coming and going.
One of our customers above had just been supporting our American soccer team either in the peace and quiet of her home or apartment or at the Cleveland Park Sports Bar and Grill next door ( or at Nanny O'Brien's or at the old Four P's - even at Yanni's Greek restaurant? ) with her American flag. I liked that : meant to say something and forgot so I say it here/now in this blog : good touch. She's tasting with Chris Bartha the CHATEAU d'ANGLES French dry rose which was my pick if I was just going to sit around enjoying a wine on this hot and exciting Saturday afternoon when our U.S. team had just tied the British team ( favored to wine this match ) by 1 to 1! Wow, this is big news for us here.
Oh, I forgot to say that she could have been down at Dupont Circle where two large screens had been set up to show the three soccer games that started earlier in the day between Argentina and Nigeria I believe and two other teams? I may have this wrong so excuse e. I heard that the only team that won so far is Argentina. All the other games on both Friday and Saturday have ended up in ties.
On Saturday afternoon and early evening we had both Chris Bartha of Cobblestone Selections pouring some selections of both Italian and French wines : two reds, one dry rose and two dry whites. He had three vineyards that he was pouring and I will include their names shortly. He had a dry Barbera D'Asti, three from the French producer CHATEAU d'ANGLES Coteaux Du Languedoc in the southwest of France ( had made wine at Chateau Lafite Rothschild for eight years previously and decided to buy some of his own land to plant vines and make his own wines ).
The CHATEAU d'ANGLES wines from the Coteaux Du Languedoc region of France were all made from the Rhone grapes : 1) the dry white was a blend of Bourboulenc, Rousanne and Grenache, the 2) dry rose was made from Mourvedre, and the 3) dry red was a blend of Syrah, Mourvedre and Grenache. I loved the dry red blend at the end of the evening as it opened really nicely with some time and was very drinkable and flavorful and smooth all-in-one from 7-9 PM.
We also had Renee of both PYRAMID and MAGIC HAT beers/ales/lagers pouring on this Saturday the Seattle, Washington State PYRAMID selections of both a wheat and an apricot selection. I loved the wheat beer as it was smooth and very easy to enjoy without any bite or burn and I just enjoyed sipping it. The apricot selection was just a bit too fruity and light for me : perfect for many on this really hot and sticky Saturday afternoon.
I like this picture above that I got on Friday evening because it shows two South Africans all dressed up to the tee in their bright yellow and green jerseys coming into Cleveland Park Wines and Spirits in search of beer? Did they stop and taste first with Tim the Southern Tier lineup of three beers/ales/IPA'S/ etc? They are passing by Jody Jackman as she pours for our customers.
Here Jody is pouring above the sparkling French dry Pinot Noir rose. It sells for $13.49 and is a regular and favorite item of ours that does really well. Many people love it that shop with us.
Love that American flag above! Back to Saturday afternoon and as we closed the store Ravinder Sharma that buys all our spirits told me that Saturday was a record day of beer sales for the store. I guess congratulations are in line to us, the Soccer World Cup and out tie with the Brits and to all of you - our valued and essential- to- our- continued -health customers! Thanks!
Decisions, decisions above : after tasting Chris' wines what else to buy?!?
As the two South African soccer fans passed me once again now heading for the cash register at the front of the store I stopped them to chat and find out some more about the games that they had just seen? They were more than happy to fill me in abut the games so far ( on Friday all ending in ties ) : and I was delighted to capture images of them in their bright jerseys of greens and yellows to add here to this post later. It made it hard for me to concentrate on all that they were saying as I wanted to get some interesting angles and images here. It's quandary but one that I love and rise to the occasion each and every time that I am able...
Here Jody Jackman pours more sparkling French Jura rose for our Friday crowd.
Chris Bartha holds the dry French bottle of wine up so that I can get both he and it here in digital format. Thanks Chris.
Here Jane and Tim are talking about beer and the Southern Tier line as our customers slowly approach the cash register.
Jane, which of the SOUTHERN TIER beers above from Tim did you prefer?
I love how I captured with the help of my Canon digital camera ( a bit of luck always ) the light shining through the American flag from the ceiling lights above.
Jody has done a wonderful job keeping the DOW line of ports alive and healthy at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and always makes her mixed drinks with the white port each year for our customers. We almost always sell out of every bottle in the store a these weekend tastings and immediately have to order more!
Love the expression on the gentleman above. I should have asked his name. Oh well, maybe we will see him again as the Soccer World Cup continues ? I'd like that : I'd add more here about it, too. History in the making, gotta love it ...
Aaah, Jody's famous mixed DOW white port drink ( we were thinking what to call it and came up with many names but not one that was perfect. What would you all call it? ) : a blend of DOW'S white port ( $13.49 a bottle ) and a splash of orange curacao and lime and some tonic water, too. This time she added the orange curacao : before she had left it out.
I liked this image above that I included it twice. oops, hope you like it, too.
Mother and child deciding what white wine to drink in this hot and sticky Saturday afternoon weather? The child already has her mid ...
I'm glad that I got this picture above of the second South African gentleman all dressed up n his colorful and bright soccer yellow and green jerseys. Great expression/focus.
One of our " new " customers above. This may have been her very first visit to our store.
Got the American flag almost perfectly with the ceiling light behind it almost lighting it up completely. Great contrast. A happy customer, too and one that I bet was happy with our 1-1 tie between the U.S. and England?
Bye to you two above as you go on your way and enjoy later more of the soccer World Cup games over the next few days ... Thanks for shopping with us, too.
Our customers were a happy lot on this Saturday afternoon here in Cleveland Park N.W. Washington D.C.
We agree : we here in Cleveland Park love this dry and rich and opulent and wonderful bottle of VIETTI Arneis indigenous white from Italy's Piemonte region of north-west by Switzerland and France. It's pretty much a wonderful liquid dream/cream/bright-sunshine and warmth of flavors that massage and caress and tickle and please one's palate.
The 2008 CHATEAU d'ANGLES dry 100% Mourvedre French rose from the Coteaux Du Languedoc sure is great : but somehow I think this smile is coming from something that either Chris Bartha or I said?
Always good to welcome new customers to our store here in Cleveland Park. Have some rose my dear. Later perhaps some madeira, too? Remember that old drinking song about madeira? It's a classic.
We even have our " new " arrivals that visit our store with their happy, beaming parents. I like the smile here in our store in this picture above. A proud papa indeed I would venture to say. Just beer for this hot Saturday, no wine : Moma is waiting patiently outside now I am told.
Jim likes the dry red blend of the CHATEAU D'ANGLES ( Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blended here ) enough to purchase some. I agree Jim, it's a winner.
I'm glad that I had a Barbera D'Asti for Warren in this last picture. He loves Italian wines and this should be no exception. I should have asked him to hold a bottle for me to take a picture. It would have been a fitting ending to this blog. Next time Warren?
Cheers and enjoy these photos and the continuing activities as on Sunday there is more soccer and the Gay Pride festival, too I am told. You have your purchases from today and yesterday to carry you through Sunday now and so relax and enjoy and come again really soon.
On this Wednesday June 16th, 2010 ( 5:30-8:30 PM ) we have our California " Big Theme " In-Store/Wine-Tasting and there is no charge and everyone is welcome. Come join us and learn and have a grand time : and to show your support for these events please purchase a bottle. Thanks, TONY
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