FROM THE CELLAR/Sampling the Vino (and Cupcakes) at the Food and Wine Fest

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks New York actress Rebecca Pappa, a manager at the new Publick House at National Harbor, takes a bite out of the 2nd Annual Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor.

Festivalgoers ambled about the docks on one of the first days of warm summer sun to enjoy the samples at last weekend's Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor.  
 
The second annual event offered food and wine from around the region and beyond, including Caribbean rums mixed with juices, Stella Artois beer in Steins, hand-dipped chocolates, elegant teas and special dips...not to mention Bourbon-soaked cupcakes. This year's event was well-attended.  The waterside pavilion featured bands and musicians throughout the day and gentle breeze from the river made the day perfect.

Afficionados of locally made wine might have wondered why there was only one Virginia wine kiosk, and one Maryland winery present.  
 
Other kiosks featured California wines and one new importer was present—locally based Bridget Thibodeau-Sasso, who will be bringing family grown wines from Italy.  More on Bridget’s delightful wines in our column when her first container arrives later in the summer.  Meantime, check out her import company Il Pioppo at http://piopposelections.com.

Most wine tasters passed by the Barefoot Wines kiosk.  Although a nationally available brand, for this wine drinker one time around with Barefoot is enough.  
 
However, the Black Box Wines kiosk attracted much attention.  Wine drinkers were delighted by the good value wines coming in at well under $10 for 1.75 liters, with young lighter styled wines offering surprising suppleness and roundness for the price. 

Photo by John Arundel/Local Kicks Chef Robert Gelman of McCormick & Schmick's at National Harbor.

Black box wines (http://www.blackboxwines.com) are unique in their oxygen-resisting boxed packages.  Some consumers will remember Franzia, for example, also packaged in a box; Black Box wines are a better value than that and the high-tech boxes can store wine for up to a month without further oxidation.  
 
A nice convenience for consumers but decidedly competing with such simple devices as the Vacu-Vin system which is also inexpensive and nearly as convenient and can be used on any bottle.  
 
Another California winery with a large presence was Robert Mondavi.  Tasters enjoyed seminars on wine, and wine and food pairing at the pleasant and spacious Mondavi kiosk.  Mondavi continue to deliver a reliable and characteristically American brand from its Napa Valley home.

Maryland winery Boordy was also present.  Boordy has been around for over 60 years and in that time has learned to get  a few things right.  Just north of Baltimore, the winery is open seven days a week for tours and tastings, making a visit a nice staycation option for those languid summer days.  
 
Especially good was a white meritage on offer, which would be a good choice for some Chesapeake Bay seafood.  The old adage is true: if it grows together, it goes together.  Boordy is located in Hydes, Md., and online at www.boordy.com.  

Although I would have wished a stronger Virginia and Maryland wine making presence, in all fairness the festival is very young and as such is a real accomplishment for the organizers.  Stay tuned as next year’s festival is sure to bring in still more new taste experiences.
 
Contact the writer at kirstenobadal@hotmail.com