Who knew you could find a real winery – not a wine shop, a place that actually makes wine – in the middle of D.C.? A couple weekends ago, I discovered D.C.’s only urban winery. District Winery is a fully-functioning boutique winery in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood (a trendy, up-and-coming area in its own right). At District winery you can enjoy a tasting, tour, and gourmet dinner, which is just what I did!
The tour walks you through how exactly an urban winery works – from their origins in Brooklyn, to where they source their grapes, their on-site fermentation process, blending, and, of course, the all-important barrel aging process. Naturally, no tour is complete without sampling the fruits (or grapes in this case) of their labors. We tasted their Unoaked Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Rosé, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yes, it was a lot of delicious wine. I really liked the rosé!
After an in-depth tour and tasting (and some cool photos ops in the barrel room), we headed to dinner at the on-site restaurant, Ana. Ana is a seasonal American restaurant offering crowd favorites like honey roasted brussel sprouts, fig crostini, and gourmet burgers. And, of course, they have an excellent selection of wines to pair with your meal. Enjoy the view of the waterfront while you dine thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, or, when the weather cools, take the party outside to their riverside patio.
If you’re planning a visit to DC (or you already live here) be sure add District Winery to your itinerary. Not only can you explore D.C.’s burgeoning Navy Yard, you can also learn something about wine, enjoy a great meal, and finish your day with a stroll along the waterfront.