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Esporão Wines at Washington, DC Event
Rosé wine from Esporão winery in Portugal
This week we traveled into Washington, DC to discover wines produced by winemaker David Baverstock at Esporão in Portugal. The wine and dinner event was held at the G Restaurant which is one of Mike Isabella’s many restaurants.
Several Esporão wines were paired with a delightful four-course dinner. These special courses each had our separate dishes that offered a taste of what is to come at the soon to be opened Arroz restaurant by Mike Isabella. Mike is a well-known chef who is opening a restaurant based on Portuguese and Spanish food styles at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, DC.
Our evening at the G restaurant began with a 30-minute interview with David Baverstock, who is the head winemaker at Esporão. We discovered he is not only knowledgeable but friendly and easy to talk with. David also has an interest in crafting wine in traditional clay vessels but uses modern winemaking techniques. David noted that his “amphorae” are not buried in the ground.
Soon we were escorted to the area of the G restaurant where others were gathering to enjoy the evening. We were offered a delicious sparkling wine quickly followed by a rosé. In a few minutes we were seated. Most of the seating was done as family-styled seating with guests encouraged to pass the numerous special dishes around the table. David Baverstock was introduced and spoke while two white wines were poured to be enjoyed with the first course.
The ARROZ Menu with Esporão Wines
Sweet Bread Tempero Appetizer
First Course
Wine pairings:
Monte Velho White, antão vaz/perrum/roupeiro, from Alentejo, 2015
Assobio White, arinto/verdelho/gouveio/viosinho, from the Douro, 2015
Second Course
Wine Pairings:
Herdade do Esporão, trincadeira, Alentejo, 2015
Defesa do Esporão, touriga nacional/syrah, Alentejo, 2014
Third Course
Wine Pairings:
Quinto dos Murças Reserve, tourgia naional/touriga franca/sousão/tinta amarela/tinta barroca/tinta roriz, Douro, 2015
Esporão Reserve, alicante bouschet/aragonez/trincadeira/cabernet sauvignon, Alentejo, 2014
Dessert Esposão wine
Fourth Course
Wine Pairing:
Quinto dos murças, 10 year tawny
Interesting Notes
The wines and foods of the evening enhanced each other with neither overpowering the other. All of the different foods were unique and well-prepared. If you are looking for Portuguese or Spanish cuisine, you will want to visit ARROZ when it opens in 2017.
I really enjoyed the first course Sweet Bread Tempero, which offered a very light delicate covering and paired very well with the first two white wines. The pastéis with braised pork and watercress and melded together with hints of onion offered a delightful mouthfeel with numerous flavorful tastes.
My favorite wines of the evening were the Esporão sparkling wine and Esporão Reserve. I also enjoy the Quinto dos Murças which was smooth and tasty.
Mike Isabella’s new restaurant, ARROZ, will be opening soon in early 2017.
Watch for the virtual article about Esporão winery, coming soon! This article will include our notes of the interview with David Baverstock.
Cheers,
Kathy