October is Virginia Wine Month, and Alexandria is the perfect place to celebrate. Sure, there are plenty of places to eat local in this city, but did you know that Alexandria also boasts a number of restaurants and pubs where you can sip wine from Virginia vineyards? This month, stop by one of these top Alexandria eateries serving locally-sourced wine for one more way to drink responsibly: drink local.
Sonoma Cellar
Image credit: Sonoma Cellar
First stop: newly opened wine tasting room Sonoma Cellar, which features varietals from over 20 Virginia vineyards, such as 868 Estate Vineyards,Barren Ridge Vineyards, Chatham Vineyards, and more. Pick your favorite vino or discover something new, and pair it with the California-inspired craft-food cuisine.
BRABO
Image credit: BRABO
Pair BRABO’s luxurious Belgian cuisine with one of their many Virginia wines: Linden Vineyard Hardscrabble Chardonnay, Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay, Jefferson Vineyards Monticello Reserve, and Barboursville Cabernet Franc Reserve. Celebrating a special event? Toast with artisanal Pinot Noir Burgundy wine from Virginia winemaker Michael Shaps, who employs traditional Burgundian techniques of wine-making.
Cheesetique
Image credit: Visit Alexandria
You say wine, I say cheese! At Cheesetique’s gourmet cheese and wine bar, you can enjoy two dessert wines from Virginia—Linden Late Harvest Vidal and Glen Manor Raephus—with your cheese plate.
Tempo
Image credit: Ben Fink for Visit Alexandria
For a romantic dinner, try Tempo’s northern Italian and French fare with one (or two, or three…) of these Virginia wines: Stone Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay; Cardinal Point Vineyards Chardonnay-Viognier blend; White Hall Vineyards Viognier and Thibaut-Janisson Brut Method Champagne; Glen Manor Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc and Ox-Eye Vineyards Cabernet Franc; Early Mountain Vineyards Foothills and White Wine; Trump Winery Meritage.
Bastille
Image credit: Visit Alexandria
Enjoy the crisp autumn air at Bastille’s patio while sipping the Breaux Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc or Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay Sparkling Wine. Both are perfect with oysters or the cod beignets. The Sauvignon Blanc is also a great pairing with the roasted beets and squash with goat cheese.
Trademark Drink and Eat
Image credit: Ben Fink for Visit Alexandria
Visit Trademark’s upscale neighborhood bar to imbibe Barboursville Vineyard’s Sangiovese or Sauvignon Blanc, or raise a glass of White Hall Viognier. Trademark also offers White Hall Petit Verdot and Jefferson Vineyard’s Pinot Gris. Or try the unoaked Chardonnay, Merlot, Rose and the Equation Red Blend from Breaux Vineyards in Purcellville, and the Prince Michel Cabernet Franc.
Vermilion
Image credit: Vermilion
At Vermilion, take your cue from Wine Director Brent Kroll, who loves to pair Barboursville Vermentino with Chef William Morris’s baby arugula salad (crisp artichoke, red pepper, cucumber and yogurt dressing). For the Barboursville Barbara, he pairs the House Cut Tagliatelle, with herbed squash ragout, blistered sungold tomatoes and garden herb pesto.
Virtue Feed and Grain
Image credit: Virtue Feed and Grain
Kick back with a glass of local wine in Virtue’s second level porch room, where you can enjoy the view of the Potomac as you savor your drink. The restaurant carries several Virginia wines, including Greenhill Winery’s Vidal Blanc; Barboursville Chardonnay and Williamsburg Wineries’ “Trianon” Cabernet Franc.
The Majestic Cafe
Image credit: Visit Alexandria
Sip in Art Deco style at The Majestic Cafe and be transported right back to the restaurant’s first opening in Old Town in 1932. Enjoy a glass of Chardonnay from Jefferson Vineyards,Ox-Eye Vineyards Cabernet Franc from the Shenandoah Valley, or celebrate with a glass of Blanc de Chardonnay sparkling wine.
Waterfront Market
Image credit: Visit Alexandria
Pop a cork along the Potomac at Alexandria’s Waterfront Market, where they pour a delicious Noblese Cabernet Saivignon from Rappahannock Cellars. Cheers!
For more information on where to try Virginia wines in Alexandria, click here.
This post is sponsored by Burke & Herbert Bank.
