Holiday Times and The Really Strong Wines They Require

While dysfunction is the name of the game during the holiday season, we recommend the following coping methods:

1. Armagnac!
The lesser expensive cousin to Cognac, this smoother, less oaky, fruitier eau du vie serves as the perfect compliment to many of the holiday desserts, especially perfect with anything chocolate. And, not to hammer home complete and utter lack of sobriety, the alcohol level in Armagnac is surprisingly high for such a smooth tasting bevy. Distilled from grapes in a provincial and quite sexy region of France, Gascony (southwest), the soil types are rich and fertile which means a full drink that doesn't require much attention to discern the various notes. And if you can't finish a bottle in one night (lightweight) a stopper need only be inserted into the bottle and it will stay drinkable for years.

2. Barossa Valley Shiraz of any kind (or similarly strong, port-like wine)
These wines, in their hot climates having extremely long growing seasons and the grapes turn into monstrously robust fruit bombs with alcohol levels that border on a poor man's Cognac. Not just serving to help drown out crabby Aunt Marge, the wine will keep you toasty in these chilly days (unless you live in Palm Beach, in which case, we don't like you).

3. Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles
This has been (literally) the medicine of Kings and the only beverage the Tsars would serve at their most important feasts. We take a cue from the monarchs and admit: the stuff is pretty damn good. Louis XIV was prescribed Champagne whenever he was taken ill and toward the end of his life, as he lay on his deathbed, he was given a new doctor who prescribed the wines of Burgundy. Shortly after this change, the Sun King perished. They say it wasn't ill-health but a broken heart that made him pass from this life into the next. He missed his champy-champs.
Champagne has the greatest concentration of limestone in the world and the minerality of the fine mousse from the greatest Champagnes is what keeps this bottle at the highest price in the world, over-all, for any alcoholic drink. Notoriously, the people of Champagne have given their lives to protect their land, whether from the Prussians or Nazis, and this history stands as a testament to the richness and mystical quality to what lay beneath the surface.

Happy Christmakwanukkah!

White Wine Pairing Guide -- PARS DEUX!

LOIRE VALLEY/SAUVIGNON BLANC
Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Sav. Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne
Expect: Bright fruits, citrus, mineral
Perfect Pair: seafood, white fish
Cheeses: Boursin, soft, heavier

ALSACE
Grapes: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc
Expect: mineral, petroleum, lychee
Perfect Pair: Indian, exotic, spicy
Cheeses: Muenster, cheddar, sharp

WHITE BURGUNDY/CHARDONNAY
Expect: Earth, grass, vanilla
Perfect Pair: salmon, caviar, sausage
Cheeses: Soft, cow’s milk, light

WHITE RHONE/CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
Grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Expect: pear, spice, nuts, floral
Perfect Pair: crab, Snapper, Asain
Cheeses: blue veined, heavy

PINOT GRIGIO/PINOT GRIS
Expect: white peach, lean citrus, wet stone
Perfect Pair: Garlic-butter, asparagus, cream
Cheeses: Asiago, Mozzarella, Crottin

CHAMPAGNE:
See White Burgundy/Chardonnay

SAUTERNES:
Grapes: Sémillon, Sav. Blanc, Muscadelle
Expect: Honey, apricots, raisins
Perfect Pair: Foie gras, tropical fruit salad, quail
Cheeses: Roquefort, pungent, blue veined

ROSÉ
Grapes: Cinsault, Syrah, Mouvedre
Expect: Pink grapefruit, vanilla, red fruit
Perfect Pair: Salads, tomatoes, salmon
Cheeses: Feta, Picodon, Pélardon

This is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of white wine possibilities. If you do have a vartietal to be enjoyed but zilch idea what to munch with it, email us!

ARABESQUE!

Here at Bacchus Wine Cellar, we're well-known for our wine collection but only a few are privyed to the following: Bassam is an antiquities expert and has the largest collection of Syrian wedding garments in the world! Recently, the Kennedy Center held an event dedicated to Arab arts and culture and selected pieces from his collection to display for this national show. Complete with dances, music and festival-like flair, the entire exhibition was powerful and highlighted the roots of many artistic elemnts now mainstream in the west.

Here's the first set of photos from the event. And it's worth noting that each of these were made by women and are expressive of their own personality when crafted. Often, the dresses are never seen by anyone outside the women's village and extended family. Thanks to Bassam, though the world knows these great treasures!

Bacchus Signature Pairing Guide

For those who find themselves in the perrenial 'what do I pair with dinner' pickle, over the next few days we'll be putting up a cheat sheet to 'sommelierize' your life.

WHITES -- PART I

Bacchus Pairing Guide
The Whites of the World

LOIRE VALLEY/SAUVIGNON BLANC
Grapes: Chenin Blanc, Sav. Blanc, Melon de Bourgogne
Expect: Bright fruits, citrus, mineral
Perfect Pair: seafood, white fish
Cheeses: Boursin, soft, heavier

ALSACE
Grapes: Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc
Expect: mineral, petroleum, lychee
Perfect Pair: Indian, exotic, spicy
Cheeses: Muenster, cheddar, sharp

WHITE BURGUNDY/CHARDONNAY
Expect: Earth, grass, vanilla
Perfect Pair: salmon, caviar, sausage
Cheeses: Soft, cow’s milk, light

WHITE RHONE/CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
Grapes: Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier
Expect: pear, spice, nuts, floral
Perfect Pair: crab, Snapper, Asain
Cheeses: blue veined, heavy

If you have a pairing question, write us! It's free edumacationz for Pete's sake.

The Nativity of Bacchus Wine Cellar...Barn Smell Included

The 10 year history of Bacchus Wine Cellar is slightly less pure than the title suggests, but just as biblical in drama as the usage of 'nativity' would insinuate. No virgin birth, though. And definitely no virgin drinks.

Before Bacchus Wine Cellar was as we now know it, over the course of 15-20 years previous it was a video store, convenient mart and seedy liquor barn. We'll start our story at 'seedy'.

Locals aren't sure of the name of the liquor den before but its reputation is very well known. From what we understand, everything but the sale of wine and beer was taking place. There was also a number of stories surrounding... the store that became quite the 'town talk'. Needless to say, the store eventually closed.

Enter unsuspecting Syrian with a penchant for business and a palate for wine. Bassam Al-Kahouaji, founder and present captain of the Bacchus ship, stumbled upon 1635 Wisconsin Ave. after the departure of the previous tenants. A realtor had told him about the property when he mentioned he was looking for a place to open an antiques shop. As a child, he was raised in the craft of antiquities collection/trade and to this day it remains a major part of his pursuits, particularly in regard to middle-eastern wedding garb and jewelry. The realtor unlocked the door on the day of the viewing and when Bassam stepped over the threshold, he thought they had the wrong address. To him, the 'store' looked like an abandonded kennel which hadn't been cleaned in months. There were decomposing food products, rat corpses and any number of fuzzy growths on the walls with colors hearkening to the days of Chernobyl. The fridge in the rear of the store had been shut off with juices, food and supplies for parties still inside. The glass was fogged with mildew. 1635 Wisconsin was not a wine shop, it was a cemetery.

After a few burps and some politely passed gas, Bassam had an idea. "Make the space into a destination for wine lovers, culture seekers, their center being the greatest artistic expressions found in the world of wine." After an extensive nine months renovation involving pieces from his personal art collection and designing a genteel style boutique in the old-world vein, Bassam reopened the store November 14th, 2001. The anniversary is soon approaching and will be celebrated in proper style. Today, politicians, movie stars and the fascinating residents of Georgetown and greater Washington call this collection of over 700 different wines and 65 single-malt Scotches and 300 liquors their 'home to drink away from home'. Stop in and become a part of this story over a glass of one of our featured tasting wines!

Here Come The Neighbors...

In its first posting, our wee little blog highlighted the cast of characters sipping in Bacchus on a daily basis. For your viewing pleasure, here are some of the people that neglect responsibility for a good cause:


First we have our nextdoor neighbor, Terry Bell, managing partner of Ilo Salon (not day spa, thank you) holding dinner for the family. The 6L of Malbec will feed him while the fam will enjoy beans, rice and snickers. He's generous.

Next we have Bacchus resident single-malt Scotch expert (and friend, perilously, of Terry Bell -- and former rugby team mate to boot) John Muir. As always, here he extends a ray of sunshine.
Now a photo of said single-malts of which the above gentleman is an expert:

Finally, the Captain himself, Bassam, proprietor of Bacchus Wine Cellar and Georgetown's featured Syrian:

Bacchus' Top 10 Reasons for Clogging the Web with Yet Another Blog

With a myriad of blogs in cyberspace, we thought an 'apologia' of sorts was in order to A. know what to expect from future postings and b. validate the fact that you're spending time reading a blog instead of working and/or ensuring your children aren't setting fire to their hair.

10. Bacchus is a neighborhood wine shop = as a DC resident, the information will be decently relative to you (and may even feature your picture at one point!).
9. With countless wine producers on every continent (and clearly Antarctica doesn't grow grapes so please let the generalization slide in the name of literary generosity) you need a place to quickly turn and know what's wine VS 'ew! ew! ew!'
8. This neighborhood wine shop is located in the heart of Georgetown, the epicenter of political/diplomatic glitterati. With so many cocktail parties, tastings and social events, you'll have the chance to see your favorite politico in humanizing situations and perhaps a context in which you wouldn't throw your best hot coffee at the television.
7. You have to eat everyday. Wine pairing ideas come to us like letters to Santa Claus. We'll be sharing them about every 20 seconds. So click the refresh button like you've got 'F5' O.C.D.
6. This isn't a store. It's a community. Some of us are crazier than others but like any family, there's something to learn from every relative, though discretion is advised when using Bassam's recipes that involve exotic spices. Cali. Ente!
5. The wine world is a universe of personalities and culture distinct from any industry. We'll document the visits of winemakers, critics, famous drinkers and the cranky folk who visit.
4. 10 reasons are actually lots to write, so #4 is a space filler.
3. There are tons of specials and limited releases that come into the store with short notice to get them while the gettin's good. This will be an immediate way of knowing when an 'omg' wine deal arrives.
2. Finding good wine requires tasting = we taste 99% of everything in our store = you don't have to buy blind = read. the. blog. And don't forget to invite us over for your next cocktail party. Expensive bottles only, please. We kidd! Maybe.
Numero Uno Reason Bacchus' Blog is a Must:
We're able to combine our "Rodeo Drive" tastes with a down to earth budget creating a selection that tops the best $10-$15 value wines, while also having the area best allocations and top producers from around the world such as Lafite-Rothschild, Gaja, etc. With something for, literally, everyone in this old-world, boutique of puppy charming character, there will always be something here for you.

Cheers!