Posts Tagged ‘Tarara Winery’
Posted by Sally Traynham / Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
NoVA has three gold medalists (even before the Olympics begin): Potomac Point Winery, Sunset Hills Vineyard and Tarara Winery.
This past Thursday, the Virginia Wineries Association’s Governor’s Cup Gala kicked off the 5th Annual Virginia Wine Expo, a one-stop shop for tasting the many liquid libations of 75 Virginia-exclusive wineries.
The gala honored the 2012 top twelve, highest-ranking wines in Virginia (out of the thirteen that received gold medals). Three of these gold medals belong to wines that are NoVA grown.
Which wines won?
Potomac Point Winery: 2009 Heritage Reserve Meritage Blend
Sunset Hills Vineyard: 2007 Cabernet Franc
Tarara Winery: 2010 Honah Lee White Vinifera Blend
Check out upcoming events at these wineries and more on our March Food & Wine Calendar!
Photo: JirkaBursik/Shutterstock
[tips for the food desk]
Kick it in Leesburg at Tonight’s First Friday; Play Some Games Until 8 at Tarara Winery
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Friday, August 5th, 2011
It’s Friday, meaning its time to kick it. Looking for something outside of the usual dinner-movie combo? Leesburg’s First Friday celebration offers a wealth of possibilities. You’ll find over 45 specialty shops, art galleries, antique shops and restaurants open until 9 p.m. or later, with many offering special sales and/or free refreshments. Food and beverage highlights for August 5th’s First Friday include:
From 6 to 9 p.m.
-“Chicago Happy Hour” hosted by Windy City Red Hots (cold beers, Chicago-style hot dogs, Polish and Italian sausages, Pizza Puff, and Chili-Cheese fries) Note: if you are wondering what a Pizza Puff is, here is a pic. Looks like trouble to me! (28 S. King St.)
- Cultured is giving away samples of its (emphatically) “real frozen yogurt” at its “Cool Celebration” (216 Loudoun St. SE)
-A tasting of wines from around the world hosted by the Leesburg Vintner (29 S. King St.)
-A wine tasting with Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery hosted by the Loudoun County Visitors Center (112G South St. in Market Station)
-Bachrach Photography’s portrait exhibit of current and past town leaders, with a Notaviva Vineyards wine tasting (14 S. King St.)
From 6 to 10 p.m
-The area’s newest nano brewery MacDowell Brew Kitchen is celebrating in advance of its official opening with outdoor cooking, free popsicles, live music by pop artist Zahra Universe and bass guitarist Thomas Casey and free face paintings for the kiddies. While there, introduce yourself to the Kitchen’s “Brew Crew.” (202 B Harrison St. SE)
From 7 to 9 p.m.
-A block party with food and bev hosted by Lindsay’s Salon and The Pink Shop (109 S. King St.)
-King Street Coffee is offering free tastings by Shugar Shugar Cupcakes & Brownies (bless these folks for peppermint patty frosting-I’m gettin the sensation) (110 S. King St.)
You can also look forward to live musical performances by Daryl Jr. Cline (Big Band, R&B and blues), singer-songwriter Allie Brill, saxophonist Alberto Medina, guitarists Gary Rudinsky and Emma Rowley, alternative acoustic band Joey and the Waitress, acoustic guitarist/singer David Davol, Celtic harpist Ellen James, blues trio the Hard Swimmin’ Fish, and many more. Other First Friday activities include several artist receptions and photography shows, a history lecture, a Civil War book signing, pottery and jewelry showcases, a letter-press demonstration, free chair massages, and a live comedy show.
For the full schedule of tonight’s First Friday events, click here.
And as if this weren’t enough to do in Leesburg this evening, you can hop over to Tarara Winery for Pouring Late Til 8. In addition to the later hours, the winery has also declared August to be game month. Every Friday, look forward to playing different games on the deck. Tonight is dedicated to Scrabble, Guess Who, and Dominoes.
Tarara Winery
13648 Tarara Lane
Leesburg, VA 20176
(703) 771-7100
Happy Friday!
-Johnisha M. Levi
Happy Hour: Girls’ Night Out in Leesburg
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Photo credit: GNO
Put the scorchingly hot, swampy workweek behind you and grab your gal-pals for a night out on the town tonight. Historic Downtown Leesburg merchants play host to Girls’ Night Out, a ladies only event full of discounts, wine tastings and a free, live concert by Virginia-born and raised pop star Zahra Universe.
Red or white? Or red? No need to pick just one vino. Tonight, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, eight shops participating in “Farm to Fork Loudoun” will uncork some of their best bottles, including:
Bluemont Vineyard – Carter Braxton Properties
Corcoran Vineyards – Otter Creek Collections
Fabbioli Cellars – Cooley Gallery
Loudoun Valley Vineyards – Lou Lou
North Gate Vineyard – Savannah’s
Notaviva Vineyards – Rose Manor
Tarara Winery – Leesburg Vintner
Willowcroft Farm Vineyards – Creme de la Creme
On the musical side of things, guitarist Emily Guagliardi will be performing at Photoworks while guitar duo Steele & Oglevee strum together at The Cooley Gallery. As in Chris Cooley, Redskins’ very own tight end.
Head over to The Pink Shop at 6:30 PM to hear internationally-known recording artist Zahra Universe as she belts out her latest single “Dancin’ by the Fire” plus some of her other exotic, catchy tunes. Zahra, who pulls her musical inspiration from all around the world, has been dubbed “Princess” by the people in Cameroon, Africa, for the work she’s doing to promote HIV/AIDS education in the country.
Check out her red-hot video below for a sneak peak at tonight’s headliner.
Plus local massage therapy gurus Blue Lotus will be offering the chance to unwind and destress with f-r-e-e chair massages at their new location on King Street. Yes, please.
Bottom line: GNO, tonight can’t come soon enough!
Girls’ Night Out Leesburg
Historic Downtown
25 W. Market Street
Leesburg, VA 20175
Time: 5 to 9 PM
- Lorin Drinkard
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, September 8th, 2010
As summer comes to a close, I wistfully remember the few times I got a break to enjoy it. A weekend trip to Virginia Beach’s oceanfront, a camping trip in the mountain woods, and a few sunny pool days at my parent’s house all stand out. However, one thing I just can’t stop thinking about is the Long-Bomb red table wine I had at Tarara Winery. Located on the banks of the Potomac River, Tarara is a breath of fresh air not far from the highways and congestion of Northern Virginia.
Long-Bomb Edition 1 is a red table wine that was inspired by Tarara’s founder, Whitie Hubert. Whitie felt that football is the absolute greatest sport and being part of a team is better than being a lone winner. This wine encompasses that notion- it’s a blend that uses grapes from Washington State and a taste that varies slightly depending on the “team” of grapes used to make it.
With football season here, now may be a perfect time to open it. Maybe I will open it this weekend, or maybe I’ll wait for the Super Bowl. Somehow, I doubt it will last that long. It sits in my wine cooler all alone, the very last bottle from my case of wine from Tarara. It taunts me with its perfect blue label- and if I am eating anything with cheese, the taunting gets louder. Long-Bomb pairs well with hard cheeses and rare red meats. At $20/bottle and $240/case, you can afford to splurge a little. Get your own, before it’s too late.
(Image: Tarara Winery)
13648 Tarara Lane
Leesburg, VA 20176
(703) 771-7100
-Liz Stevenson
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
Not to be outdone by the now near-constant flood of event dining opportunities, local vintners hope to take center stage during Virginia Wine Week (3/22 – 3/28).
Participating restaurants/retailers are obliged to feature at least three Virginia wines by the glass.
But many hospitality purveyors we’ve spoken to are taking the opportunity to trot out a bevy of regional pours, including:
* Capital Ale House: plan to offer Afton Mountain Vineyards Gewurztraminer (bottle only), Autumn Hill Vineyard Chardonnay ($6.95), Autumn Hill Cabernet Franc Vineyard ($7.95), 2005 Blenheim Vineyards Meritage ($8.95), Blenheim Star Chardonnay ($10.95), Burnley Vineyards Riesling ($8.95) and Green Springs Winery Sweet Rose ($6.95).
* The Dock at Lansdowne: plan to offer 2008 Horton Vineyard Viognier ($8), 2006 Barboursville Vineyards Cabernet Franc ($8), 2007 Breaux Vineyards Chere Marie ($8), Breaux Equation Merlot ($8) and 2006 Prince Michel Chardonnay ($8).
* The Majestic: plan to offer Thibaut-Janisson Blanc de Chardonnay ($18), Pollak Vineyards Cabernet Franc ($13.50), Pollak Chardonnay ($11), Boxwood Winery Boxwood blend ($14) and a wine flight ($18) featuring Thibaut-Janisson, Boxwood and White Hall Vineyards Viognier. “We have featured the wine flight before and it has been quite popular,” Majestic manager Maria Chicas said.
* Vinifera: plan to offer 2006 Horton Vineyards Viognier ($9), 2006 Gabriele Rausse Cabernet Franc ($9), 2008 Loudoun Valley Vineyard Vinifera Red and Vinifera White ($28 each per half bottle).
* Vintage 50/Vintage 51: chef Aaron McCloud assured me they’ll be pouring something from Fabbioli Cellars and said they were still vetting other potential wine partners.
* The Wine Kitchen: plan to offer Kluge Estate New World Red ($3.50 – taste, $9 – glass, $31 – bottle) , 2007 Michael Shaps Chardonnay ($3 – taste, $11 – glass, $42 – bottle) and Tarara Winery Long Bomb Edition Two ($4 – taste, $7 – glass, $28 – bottle), as well as a discounted flight ($7) featuring all three.
A Virginia Wine Marketing aide said they’ve recruited over 160 participants to date and hope to cross into the 200s before registration closes on Monday, March 15.
Meanwhile, we’d like to know: does your favorite restaurant serve Virginia wine? And if not, might this promotion entice you to sample something local?
–Warren