We both invited a close girlfriend to share in a fun girls night out at a local wine bar. Four seems to be the perfect number for a group wine tasting in an intimate setting. Often wine bars are on the smaller side, making it difficult to accommodate larger groups. It is also nice to be able to catch up with everyone equally and not have many side conversations with friends.
We selected Grand Cru Wine Bar & Bistro. It is tucked away in a small courtyard in Ballston, a neighborhood in Arlington, VA. The wine bar was cute and inviting- perfect for a girls night or even date night! One unique aspect of Grand Cru is that it is a wine store and a wine bar combined, so, as our waiter said, the wine list is “all around us!” In addition to ordering a glass or a wine flight, you can select a bottle from the shelf and pay a small corking fee to drink it there in the bistro area.
Pre-Sipping
We discussed what kind of wines we prefer. Caroline brought up a good point when selecting a wine when out wining and dining. She told us she tends to look for the region of where the grape was produced. Caroline’s go-to is usually an Argentinian Malbec, but if a Malbec isn’t available she will choose another wine from Argentina. Makes sense!
We wanted to have a fun activity during girls night out, so Colleen printed out ‘A Sweet Tasting Shortcut For The Savvy Girl’ guide for the girls to use as a reference when tasting.
What We Sipped:
Sarah and Caroline sipped on “The Primavera” flight.
Elena Walch, Pinot Grigio, Italy $15/bottle
The Elena Walch Pinot Grigio was fruity and light. Strong notes of stone fruits–peaches–and some vanilla and oak flavors and smells as well.
Conti Speroni, Barbaresco, Piedmont Italy, $15/bottle
This was Caroline and Sarah’s favorite of the three. The Conti Speroni Barbaresco was a light red wine. Caroline and Sarah tasted plums, grass, and leather, and could easily taste the tannins. The texture was smooth and tannic, and much lighter than we thought it would be. We felt this was a great option for the wine drinker who doesn’t prefer white wines but wants something light in warmer weather.
Cataldi Madonna, Montelpucciano d’Abruzzo, Italy, $17/bottle
Sarah’s favorite wine while studying abroad in Italy was Montelpucciano, and the Cataldi Madonna didn’t disappoint. It has red berry and vanilla flavors, and was just a bit sweeter than the Barbaresco.
Colleen and Christine sipped on “The World of Reds” flight.
Honestly, both Colleen and Christine found it a bit difficult to figure out what all the third selections smelled like. We both laughed and said, “Smells like grapes!”
The Lomalta Crianza wine was creamy and balanced. Flavors included blackberries, plum with hints of oak.
Noble Hill 1674 South Africa 2008- Cabernet Sauvignon – Merlot – Petit Verdot
The wine was dry and very full in body. We tasted blackberries with hints of oak and toast.
Troublemaker California 2010 Syrah Blend
The third selection was the favorite in this flight. The wine was smooth and medium in body. We tasted blackberries, oak, and vanilla. Colleen is a fan of Syrah and would have gladly poured a full glass.
Tips
- Keep your group on the smaller side.
- Check if there are any happy hour specials. We missed HH, but there were specials!
- Check if your local wine bar takes reservations. Grand Cru gets bonus points for being able to making online reservations via their website.
- If possible, try to have the group try different wines. We found it worked to have two girls try the same and the other two girls try the same so there was someone to compare thoughts with!
- Have fun!!!! Don’t take it to seriously when comparing different wines! Everyone has a unique taste.
Happy Sipping!
xoxo, Colleen and Sarah
sips&sweets 