Nation’s Capital

Blessing of theVines

Nation’s Capital Cadre with Rev Kev and Nate Walsh Nation’s Capital Cadre with Rev Kev and Nate Walsh

The Nation’s Capital Chapter held its Blessing of the Vines at Walsh Family Vineyards on a beautiful day in August. Blessing the vines is a centuries-old tradition that happens all over the world, however, some scholars say that the ceremony may be older than originally thought. Some ancient Roman texts show that a celebration, centered around wine, happened in April every year to ask the Roman gods for good weather and a bountiful growing season. Our own Reverend Kevin McLaughlin blessed the vines this year in hopes of a good harvest. He quoted Benjamin Franklin with the reminder that, “Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.” He also paid homage to Ernest Hemmingway who said, “I drink to make other people more interesting.” We were hosted by Nate and Sarah Walsh at their beautiful vineyard in Loudon County, Virginia who shared their story and wine with us. Nate and Sarah farm 50 acres of grapes on five distinct sites. The wine tasting consisted of a 2017 Viognier, 2018 Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Merlot 2017, and a 2016 En Passant. The En Passant was a “blind” blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The delicious food was sourced from local Virginia businesses also from Loudon County. Sarah Walsh pouring the tasting and telling their story Carl Brandhorst and Dave Barber

Joe Alt and Richard Abelkis

Rosé Around the World

Richard Abelkis and Claire Cuccio hosted a Rosé Around the World Event at their home in September. Pat Valas and Walt Rachele selected wines from six countries and conducted multiple tastings throughout the night. Claire cooked all the food and served a spread that included: a Bruschetta Bar; Shrimp, Avocado and Roasted Corn Salad; Balsamic Watermelon Feta Salad; Salmon with Sunflower-Dill Pesto Sauce; and Harissa Chicken and Israeli Couscous Salad. Dessert was two decadent cakes from a local Italian bakery. The selected wines were a 2019 Radley & Finch Cinsault (Western Cape, South Africa), 2017 M. Chapoutier Belleruche Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah (France), 2018 Crios de Susana Balboa Malbec (Mendosa, Argentina), 2018 Lab Rosé Castelão, Camarate, Cabernet Sauvignon (Lisboa, Portugal), 2018 Luzon Rosado Monastrell (Jumilla, Spain) and 2018 Linden Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from right here in Virginia. Claire and Richard have a brand new HGTV kitchen and enjoyed showing it off to their friends in the Knights of the Vine continued >>>

Mike Taylor with Eva Stefan

Bill Stefan and Mary Ann Wassenberg

Ken Haapala, Tom DeWitt and Alex Ehrlich discuss quantum physics

LEFT Richard Abelkis and Claire Cuccio

BELOW Joe Alt and Jim Walton

BOTTOM Nancy Davis and Pat Alt catch up over a glass of champagne

“We could, in the United States, make as great a variety of wines as are made in Europe, not exactly of the same kinds, but doubtless as good.” – Thomas Jefferson Our chapter honors Thomas Jefferson in the fall each year as our third President and the first person to plant vineyards in the United States of America- right here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, at his home in Monticello. We held our annual Thomas Jefferson Harvest Dinner at Ris – a Michelin rated bistro in Northwest Washington, DC. The executive chef, Ris Lacoste is one of the most respected and dedicated chefs working in Washington, DC today. She earned her reputation built upon high quality ingredients, bold and innovative technique, and food that is both familiar and simply delicious. We presented Ris with an unusual request: prepare a menu that will challenge our wine experts to explore thier caves and cellars seeking the right wines to pair with the foods. She responded magnificently. THOMAS JEFFERSON HARVEST DINNER absolutely decadent rabbit risotto with winter squash, pancetta and fried sage. The rabbit was paired with a lovely 2011 Aurelio Settimo Barolo. The next course was an equally impressive licorice braised beef short ribs with horseradish cream, roasted beets, wilted greens, pickled onion butter, crushed potatoes and fried onion crisps served with a 2000 Chateau La Lagune, Haut Medoc and a 2016 Janzen Estate Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. To finish the evening, Chef Ris treated us to a warm pear almond tart with caramel and cinnamon ice cream paired with a 2015 Les Justices Sauternes. The food and wine were exceptional as was the venue and the embellishments of the Knights and Gentle Ladies of the Nation’s Capital Chapter. The gala was a huge success as we celebrate another year appreciating the gastronomy and terroir of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the home of Thomas Jefferson.

The evening started with some hors d’oeuvres -shrimp tempura, napa cabbage and yuzu gougeres smoked trout pâté on fennel crisps with orange cream. These were paired with a Jean Laurent Blanc de Blancs, NV and a 2018 Pouilly-Fuisse, Jean Chaplain, 2018. The first course was a scallop margarita with tequila ice, chiles, lime, orange, avocado, sour cream and tortilla chips. It was an unexpected delight paired with a grateful and generous 2016 Domaine Dublere Bourgogne Blanc. Next was an herb and mushroom crusted Icelandic cod served with a beautifully sculpted 2017 April Sauvignon Blanc. It was utterly fresh and delicious. The third course was an intermezzo of grapefruit sorbet. Next was an