I Drink an Excellent Red Wine from Jura

I taste and drink wine every day.  There is such a bountiful selection of well-priced wines in Washington, DC that I take notes on at least one new bottle every day.  I must work during the day despite my inclinations to constantly write about these wines.  This results in a periodically growing pool of unpublished tasting notes.  Last week I picked up many new wines including several from Jura.  John is expanding the Jura selection to include many non or minimally oxidative wines.  We tasted a pair of Chardonnay from Michel Gahier and Domaine Rolet Pere et Fils (I shall write about the Rolet in the near future) then I asked for some red wine recommendations.  One of the wines is this bottle by Domaine Tissot.  I drank it over the weekend and being both surprised and impressed I decided it should be featured in my first post this week.

Andre and Mireille, Image from Domaine Tissot

The Jura mountains run through France, Switzerland, and Germany.  In France most of the wines of Jura are produced in the region between Bresse and the mountains themselves.  It has been over a decade since Jenn and I visited Julie and Aaron but we still have vivid memories of hiking in the Jura mountains and eating the amazing Bresse chicken.  Domaine Tissot is located in Jura where they produce wine from 35 hectrares of biodynamic vineyards located in Arbois, Cotes du Jura, and Chateau Chalon. From these vineyards some 28 different wines are bottled.  There are three permitted varietals for red wine: Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir.  This selection is made from Trousseau grown in the Arbois appellation.  The appellation is named after the city of Arbois, which happens to be where Louis Pastour grew up.  I was thoroughly pleased with the quality of the fruit in the wine and surprised by the level of ripeness.  There is good balanced structure here which suggests this wine will improve over the short-term.  I do not know what it will be like but it is certainly worth laying down a few bottles to find out.  This wine is currently available at MacArthur Beverages.

2009 Domaine Andre et Mireille Tissot, Trousseau, Arbois – $24
Imported by Potomac Selections Ltd.  This wine is 100% Trousseu fermented with indigenous yeasts.  The color is a light to medium ruby and garnet.  The nose reveals floral fruit, a pepper note with a hint of the exotic.  In the mouth there are focused and ripe red and black fruit, a fine, grippy texture with sweet tannins and salivating acidity in the aftertaste.  With air a gentle pepper note develops along with stoney fruit, perfume, and an increased level of tannins.  Drinkable now but should be cellared a few years.   *** Now-2019.

The Fresh 2009 Faury, Saint Joseph

Over the last few years I have become a fan of the Domaine Faury wines.  The red wines are incredibly fresh and elegant.  This bottle of Saint Joseph is a perfect match for the intense sun and low humidity we are currently experiencing in the Washington, DC area.  This wine is available at MacArthur Beverages.

2009 Domaine Faury, Saint-Joseph – $28
Imported by Kermit Lynch.  This wine is 100% Syrah sourced from steep, granitic soils.  It was aged for 12 months in 10% new foudres, demi-muids, and barrels.  The nose reveals fresh grapey fruit with pepper notes.  The mouth follows the nose with fresh, grapey fruit, some tart redness, pepper notes, delivered with a textured and powdery aspect.  The acidity is orange-citrus like and supportive, allowing the very clean fruit to stand out.  With air there is a touch of ink and incense along with tannins evocative of white citrus peel.  *** Now-2017.

The 2012 Wine Blog Awards Are Accepting Nominations

The 2012 Wine Blog Awards are now open!  If you enjoy reading this blog then please consider nominating it!  Nominations will be accepted through 30 May 2012.

Thank you,

Aaron

The Fine 2011 Mordoree, Rose, La Dame Rousse, Tavel

We quickly polished off a few bottles of 2011 Mordoree, La Dame Rouse, Rose, Cotes du Rhone but the 2011 La Dame Rousse, Tavel has been drunk slower.  It too is a large-scaled rose with good complexity but unlike the big and racy Cotes du Rhone the Tavel is young and confident of its future.  In fact I would cellar this Tavel for a year.  If you must try it now then give it several hours in the decanter.  I find that a glass invigorates my palate after drinking red wine.  This wine is available at MacArthur Beverages.

2011 Domaine de la Mordoree, Rose, La Dame Rousse, Tavel – $22
Imported by Kysela Pere et Fils.  This wine is a blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault and 10% Clairette sourced from 40-year-old vines.  It is a beautiful medium opacity cherry-ruby color.  There is a medium strength nose of floral fruit, pastilles, and with air there are scents of raspberries.  The mouth follows the nose but shows more structure with a mild creamy mouthfeel, expansive sweet-spiced fruit, understated acidity, and almost gritty sweet spices and a stony tang in the aftertaste.  Robust at first it takes on a sense of breed after a few days.  *** 2013-2015.

Two Wines From South America

I love variety in the wines I drink and these two wines certainly satisfied my curiosity.  Vinedos Emiliana was founded in Chile during the 1990s by Rafeal and Jose Guilisasti when they converted a traditional winery into one that was organic and biodynamic in order to produce the highest quality wines.  Their production process is now certified as Carbon Neutral.  But what captured my attention was the inclusion of Carmenere and Mourvedre.  Done right I find Carmenere imparts an ethereal set of earth, spices, and leather and Mourvedre provides an assertive earthy, fruit quality.  I do not see many wines from Uruguay so I grabbed the bottle from Bodega Bouza.  Surprisingly this bodega was founded in 1942.  It underwent a complete restoration in 2002 and now produces wine from 17 hectares of vineyards.

The Vinedos Emiliana, Coyam  was my favorite wine of these two.  Its complexity provides interest on the nose and in the mouth.  If you are looking for a red wine in the mid $20s then I certainly recommend you try this wine.  It is well priced and I am somewhat surprised this older vintage is still available.  The Bodega Bouza, Tannat is on the young side.  You must try it if you have never drunk a wine from Uruguay, just make sure to give it several hours of air.  These wines are currently available at MacArthur Beverages.

2006 Vinedos Emiliana, Coyam, Colchagua Valley – $26
Imported by Royal Imports.  This wine is a blend of 34% Syrah, 17% Carmenere, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, and 3% Mourvedre sourced from biodynamic vineyards in Colchagua Valley.  The wine was aged for one year in 80% French and 20% American oak.  There is an interesting nose with a mixture of fruit.  In the mouth the focused red fruit is supported by fresh acidity then mixed with earthy black fruit.  The flavors are a little chewy and wild, there is a touch of wood box, with black spiced fruit coming out with the ripe tannins.  The edge of the wine is softened by some maturity.  The mouthfilling finish has structured bramble fruit.  *** Now-2019.

2008 Bodega Bouza, Tannat, Las Violetes – $17
Imported by The Southern Wine Group.  This wine is 100% Tannat sourced from 16-30 year old vines.  It was fermented in 70% concrete and 30%  in tank, underwent malolactic fermentation, then was aged for 14 months in French and American barrels.  On the first night the wine was rather shutdown with a strong woodsy aroma.  On the second night there were gentle blueberries and straight-up hard black fruit with matched the acidity.  There were fine but ripe drying tannins.  The aftertaste left impression of old wood.  ** 2015-2019.

Grape Clusters On the Coins of Maroneia

In this post I continue investigating wine related coins by looking outside of Sicily. The ancient city of Maroneia is located in Thrace at the north-eastern portion of contemporary Greece. The city is named after Maron who is the son of Euanthes or Dionysus. Through out the Greek and Roman periods Maroneia remained famous for its strong wine which smelled of nectar. In the Odyssey, Odysseus subdues the Cyclops Polyphemus with a wine so strong and sweet that it was drunk diluted with twenty parts of water.

But when he had busied himself at his tasks, he again seized two of my men and began to eat them. That was when I went up to him, holding an ivy-wood bowl full of dark wine, and said: “Here, Cyclops, have some wine to follow your meal of human flesh, so you can taste the sort of drink we carried in our ship. I was bringing the drink to you as a gift, hoping you might pity me and help me on my homeward path: but your savagery is past bearing. Cruel man, why would anyone on earth ever visit you again, when you behave so badly?”

At this, he took the cup and drained it, and found the sweet drink so delightful he asked for another draught: “Give me more, freely, then quickly tell me your name so I may give you a guest gift, one that will please you. Among us Cyclopes the fertile earth produces rich grape clusters, and Zeus’ rain swells them: but this is a taste from a stream of ambrosia and nectar.”’

‘As he finished speaking I handed him the bright wine. Three times I poured and gave it to him, and three times, foolishly, he drained it. When the wine had fuddled his wits I tried him with subtle words: “Cyclops, you asked my name, and I will tell it: give me afterwards a guest gift as you promised. My name is Nobody. Nobody, my father, mother, and friends call me.”
From Homer, The Odyssey, Book 9

On his way home Odysseus and his men plunder Ismarus (Maroneia) but spare the shrine of Apollo. Maron presents Odysseus with twelve jars of sweet and unmixed wine as a reward.

Then I bade the rest of my trusty comrades to remain there by the ship and to guard the ship, but I chose twelve of the best of my comrades and went my way. With me I had a goat-skin of the dark, sweet wine, which Maro, son of Euanthes, had given me, the priest of Apollo, the god who used to watch over Ismarus. And he had given it me because we had protected him with his child and wife out of reverence; for he dwelt in a wooded grove of Phoebus Apollo. And he gave me splendid gifts: of well-wrought gold he gave me seven talents, and he gave me a mixing-bowl all of silver; and besides these, wine, wherewith he filled twelve jars in all, wine sweet and unmixed, a drink divine. Not one of his slaves nor of the maids in his halls knew thereof, but himself and his dear wife, and one house-dame only. And as often as they drank that honey-sweet red wine he would fill one cup and pour it into twenty measures of water, and a smell would rise from the mixing-bowl marvellously sweet; then verily would one not choose to hold back. With this wine I filled and took with me a great skin, and also provision in a scrip; for my proud spirit had a foreboding that presently a man would come to me clothed in great might, a savage man that knew naught of justice or of law.
From Homer, The Odyssey, Book 9

Pliny comments on Mucianus who doubted the veracity of Homer’s statement. Mucianus conducted an experiment and found that an even greater portion of water was used to dilute the wine.

With the end of the First Peloponnesian War, through peace between Persia and Athens, Pericles proposed a decree in 449 BC. In what is known as the Coinage Decree all allied Athenian city-states must use Athenian Tetradrachms to the exclusion of all other silver coinage. The mint of Maroneia began producing coins around 425BC. These coins all contain wine related symbols emphasizing the importance of wine in Maroneia’s economy.

The nine coins featured in this post represent the time span of 436 – 348 BC. The two smallest denominations of Hemibol and Obol feature a Gorgoneion on the obverse with the larger denominations featuring a forepart or entire horse. The three smallest denominations Hemibol, Obol, and Tetrobol feature a single grape cluster on the reverse. These single grape clusters are attached to a peduncle, steam, or vine. The two largest denominations, the Stater and Tetradrachm feature four or five grape clusters on the reverse.

There appear to be four main types of grape clusters which roughly correlate with the denomination. First, the three coins from 436-411 BC all feature a similarly shaped grapevine with four or five grape clusters featuring both perky and drooping lateral lobes. Second, the Tetradrachm from 400-350BC appears to be struck from a die similar to that of the State from 386-348 BC. The central stalk of the grapevine is more vertical with four compact grape clusters which are more tapered than having lateral lobes. Third, the Tetrobols feature a single grape cluster attached to a cane with leaves on it. The cluster features two perky lateral lobes. Fourth, the Obol and Hemibol feature a single grape cluster attached to a short peduncle with no leaves. The cluster itself features two drooping lateral lobes. I am curious to determine to what extent these variations are due to the artist who made the die or the varietal which inspired the design. In time I shall gather more images for analysis.

Here are some terms encountered in this post:

• Gorgoneion is an image of a mask or head.
• Hemibol is a Greek Silver coin, equivalent to half a Obol.
• Kantharos is a type of Greek pottery used for drinking. It is characterized by high, looping handles.
• Kerykeion is a winged staff carried by Hermes.
• Obol is a Greek silver coin, there were six to a Drachmae.
• Stater is coin of Macedonian origin, often worth one Tetradrachm in Athens.
• Tetrabol is a Greek silver coin, equivalent to four Obol.
• Tetradrachm is a Greek silver coin, equivalent to four Drachmae.

Thrace, Maroneia, Stater, 436-411 BC

Obverse, horse prancing to left; above, helmet to left, MAPON; all within dotted circle. Reverse, ?OS-?HI-O-E?I around square in which grape vine with four bunches of grapes; the whole within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Tetradrachm, 425 BC

Obverse, horse prancing left; above, kantharos, MAPON, all within dotted circle. Reverse, NH-SE-?I-?E around square in which grapevine with five bunches of grapes.

Thrace, Maroneia, Stater, 411-397 BC

Obverse, horse prancing left, crested helmet above. Reverse, BP-AB-EO-S (magistrate) around square in which grapevine with four bunches of grapes; the whole within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Tetradrachm, 400-350 BC

Obverse, horse prancing left, loose rein looped above, small shaggy dog left below. Reverse, E?I K-A??-IKPA-TEOS around square in which grape vine with four bunches of grapes; the whole within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Tetrobols, 398-386 BC

Obverse, forepart of horse left. Reverse, grape-bunch on vine within dotted square border, MA; the whole within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Obol, 398-386 BC

Obverse, facing gorgoneion with protruding tongue. Reverse, MA-PO-N around grape bunch on stem; the whole within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Tetrobol, 398-385 BC

Obverse, forepart of a horse prancing right, MAPO. Reverse, ??-AP-STO-?? around grape-bunch on vine in dotted square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Hemibol, 398-386 BC

Obverse, facing gorgoneion. Reverse, M-A, grape cluster diagonally within incuse square.

Thrace, Maroneia, Stater, 386-348 BC

Obverse, horse prancing left, trailing rein. Reverse, E?I-IKESIO (magistrate) around square in which grape vine with four bunches of grapes, kerykeion to left; all within shallow incuse square.

For those curious I recommend you visit the Ancient Coin Search Engine and read “The Greek Settlements in Thrace Until the Macedonian Conquest”, Benhamin Isaac, 1986.

Two Satisfying and Affordable Wines

My favorite inexpensive wines often come from Europe.  These two wines are no exception.  The La Bastide Saint Dominique is a Grenache-lovers wine that may be drunk with abandon right now.  Rich in fruit it is appealing all by itself.  The Tenute Rubino sports good, drier fruit with a bit more structure.  While I grabbed the last bottle of the La Bastide Saint Dominique the Tenute Rubino is still available at MacArthur Beverages.  I would not hesitate to purchase by the case for there is stuffing to age over the short-term.

2009 La Bastide Saint Dominique, Grenache, Vieilles Vignes, VdP de Mediterranee – $11
Imported by Simon N’ Cellars.  This wine is 100% Grenache which was fermented in stainless steel then aged 12-18 months.  There was a dark savory quality to this wine.  The blue fruit mixes with soft inky black and blue fruit, some minerals, and ripe tannins in this gentle mouthfilling wine.  With air the fruit becomes brambly with some tartness, a good inky note, and sweet spices. This wine is easy to drink.  ** Now-2017.

2008 Tenute Rubino, Marmorelle, Salento IGT – $12
Imported by International Cellars.  This wine is a blend of 85% Negroamaro and 15% Malvasia Nera sourced from 14-year-old vines in Brindisi.  The wine is fermented in stainless steel, undergoes malolactic fermentation, then is aged 2-3 months in stainless steel.  Drunk over two nights the light nose reveals black cherry and blueberry.  In the mouth the flavors begin with black cherry before a black core of fruit mixes with ripe tannins.  There is juicy and tart acidity which matches an initial tart flavor then there are touches of spice in the finish.  This is a good, solid, satisfying wine.  ** Now-2017.

I Try Cups of Copa Di Vino

For a recent look at Copa Di Vino and other single serve wine please read Wine in Small Servings: From Unpleasant Reactions to Red and Black Fruit.

Seriously Tasting Copa Di Vino

I held back on publishing my post on wine at the National Mall because I wanted to find an appropriate wine suggestion.  The DC Metro area has a wide selection of wine in a box, wine in a big juice pack, large flasks, Go-Vino cups, but none of these seemed quite right for a concession stand.  When my friend John reported seeing wine in a cup for sale at a gas station I immediately asked him to pick up a few for me.  These two selections were purchased from a Sheetz gas station in Virginia.  He reports that the displays are sometimes located by the registers and other times they are in the walk-in cooler.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot

Copa Di Vino was created by James and Molli Martin after seeing single-serve wine sold on the trains in France.  For those who watch Shark Tank these names might be familiar for James Martin has twice appeared on the show.  Today Copa Di Vino is a partnership between the Martin family winery, Quenett Winery in Oregon, and OneGlassWine in France.  Two years ago the first version of Copa Di Vino contained French wine.  Now the Martin’s source wine from Columbia Valley producers then “glass” it at their Oregon facility.  The Martin’s established and patented their bottling line at the historic Sunshine Mill on the Columbia River.  The bottling line is mobile but has yet to move as there is enough demand for the Copa brand alone.  However, there is nothing to say other wineries may not work with the Martins.

Peeling Back the Foil

While any initial wine selections at the National Mall (or other National Parks for that matter) could feature the Copa wine it would be more dynamic to offer an evolving selection of wines from throughout the country.  The National Mall draws visitors from all over the world so why not offer wine from not just Maryland, Virginia, New York but New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, and others.  The “labels” are screened on so those could be varied.

No Mess!

The actual Copa Di Vino is a 187ml sealed polyethylene cup which makes it one-quarter of a bottle.  At $3 per cup that works out to $12 per bottle.  The wine is filled almost to the top, sealed with an oxygen proof foil, then covered with a plastic cap.  Once the foil is removed the cap may be put on for safety.  A tiny bit of wine may drip out but the seal is good enough to protect against major spills.

Drinking from the Copa

With the wine reaching the top of the cup I tasted these two selections by pouring them into my standard Spiegelau wine glass.  I was thoroughly surprised by the Merlot.  It was actually quite good for an hour or so.  I preferred the palate where there was good flavors, texture, acidity, and sweet tannins.  I certainly thought this was a pleasing wine for the price.  The Cabernet Sauvignon was a step down, perhaps underperforming, it was inoffensive but not as inspired as the Merlot.  When I revisited the Merlot several hours later it was started to recede and thin-out.  I suspect drinking these wines over such a long period will be a rare occurence.  The true potential lies with the single-serve cup.  If I were a winery I would be contacting the Martins then bugging the concession stands to sell your wine.  Step the wine up to the $4 or $5 per serving and I will certainly pass on that large soda!

NV Copa Di Vino, Cabernet Sauvignon, American – $3
This has some Washington state fruit in it.  The color is light to medium purple ruby.  The flavors are a touch herbal with tart red fruit, soft black cherry, and some sweet tannins.  Inoffensive.  * Now.

NV Copa Di Vino, Merlot, American – $3
This has some Columbia Valley Merlot in it.  The nose revealed fresh red fruit, greenhouse aromas, and a little texture.  In the mouth this medium-bodied wine had cherry flavors, a bright aspect with a little dark, inky layer underneath.  The tannins were sweet and mixed with plenty of acidity as the flavors turned to blacker fruits in the finish.  * Almost ** Now.

The 2012 Robert Kacher Spring Portfolio Tasting: Alsace

From the Alsatian part of the portfolio we tasted through the wines of Domaine Mure and Domaine Ehrhart.  Between these two estates fifteen wines were poured representing sparkling Crement d’Alsace, still wines made from Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Pinot Auxerrois, Gewurztraminer, and Riesling, and two late-harvest offerings of Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles.  That is quite a variety!

Domaine Mure

Of these wines I particularly enjoyed the two Rieslings along with the Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardive.  For those who want a big Gewurztraminer experience give the Selection a try.

NV Mure, Crement d’Alsace, Brut
There was a bit of rich botrytis to the nose.  In the mouth the interesting fruit came forward on explosive bubbles that popped into softness.

2010 Mure, Pinot Blanc, Signature
There was a good textured nose of floral white fruit.  In the mouth there were ripe apples with a touch of sweet spice before the tart finish.  There was a round quality in the cheeks.

2009 Mure, Riesling, Grand Cru Vorbourg
The nose was subtle with grainy aromas.  In the mouth there was laser-beam precise fruit powered by acidity.  The particular flavors were supported by ample acidity before the good aftertaste of tart and textured apples.  Nice.

2009 Mure, Riesling, Clos St Landelin
This had a subtle though more lifted nose of crunchy aromas.  In the mouth the flavors were spritely on the tongue with a touch of petrol then apple with plenty of focus and power.  There were even some drying tannins.  Nice.

2010 Mure, Pinot Gris, Signature
This was smoother in the mouth with less acidity than the Rieslings.  There was good perfumed fruit in the finish and aftertaste.

2010 Mure, Gewurztraminer, Signature
There was a lovely floral and fruity nose, very Gewurztraminer.  In the mouth the flavors were textured and combined with more residual sugar.  Showing more acidity than the previous Pinot Gris there was ample floral, sweet fruit, and a long aftertaste.

2007 Mure, Gewurztraminer, Clos St Landelin, Vendange Tardive
This was light-yellow in the glass.  In the mouth it was succulent with lightly racy, yellow fruit and a sweet, oily (nut-oil) texture.

Domaine Ehrhart (Domaine St Remy in Europe)

Of these wines I enjoyed the last five offerings (though the Crement d’Alsace was a strong start).  The two wines from Herrenweg showed good texture, the Pinot Gris Im Berg had a nice oily feel, and Selection de Grains Nobles was all around lovely.  If I generalized a description of these wines I would say they had an approachfulness which makes them very easy to taste (or drink for those at home).

NV Ehrhart, Crement d’Alsace
This wine is 100% Chardonnay produced by Methode Traditionnelle.  The nose was a little yeasty.  In the mouth there was ripe fruit with good explosive, lively bubbles, and a touch of racy flavor.

2010 Ehrhart, Pinot Auxerrois, Val St Gregoire
There was a focused, textured nose.  This wine was easy gong in terms of fruit and acidity, with a cool chewy quality, and some sweet spice.

2010 Ehrhart, Riesling, Vieilles Vignes
The nose bore tropical fruit.  In the mouth it was laid back, easy to drink, with dry sweet tannins, and a touch of watering acidity in the aftertaste.

2010 Ehrhart, Riesling, Herrenweg
There was a nose of stones. In the mouth the flavors were fine and textured, a bit sweet, with a touch of petrol-like fruit.  The yellow fruit was racy and good to swish around the mouth.

2010 Ehrhart, Riesling, Grand Cru Hengst
This wine is 100% Riesling sourced from higher and deep soils at 250-280 meters.  There was good depth in the mouth, complex flavors, good acidity, balance, and a racy personality.  Nice, should age well.

2010 Ehrhart, Pinot Gris, Im Berg
This had restrainted ripe fruit tilting towards tart-white.  The acidity was supporting with a nice mouthfeel, oily, and lovely.

2010 Ehrhart, Gewurztraminer, Herrenweg
The fruit in the nose steps out with stone aromas.  In the mouth there was sweet residual sugar with perfumed, oily fruit, good balance between mouthfeel and acidity, along with lots of texture.

2005 Ehrhart, Gewurztraminer, Selection de Grains Nobles
This is produced only ever 5-10 years from the lieu-dit “Markon.” (sp?)  This was tropical, racy and lithe with a familiar perfume, beautiful texture, dense, complex and ripe.  The long finish left flavors of orange and rose blossom.  Lovely and a special treat to taste.

The Author and Corinne Ehrhart

No Wine Served at the National Mall

The National Mall

The spring weather has been gorgeous in Washington, DC with sunny skies and above average temperatures.  On a recent trip downtown to visit some museums we decided to eat our lunch outside.    Cold soda and French fries are a great accompaniment to a picnic lunch so we headed over to a concession building on the Mall.

Bud and Bud Light

The concession stand between the Arts and Industries Building and the Castle is quite sizeable with multiple serving windows and a chained off area for outdoor eating along with many tables and chairs.  Prominently displayed in the windows are  two alcoholic selections, cans of Budweiser and Bud Light.

No Alcohol on the Mall

I have always known that alcoholic beverages are not allow on the Mall but I did not know they are allowed at concession stands.

“The use, sale, or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in all areas of the Park except in designated areas of approved concessions contracted by the government and assigned by the superintendent or within limited and clearly designated areas if authorized under a specific permit issued by the superintendent.” National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent’s Compendium, Part 2, Section 2.35 (3) (i) Alcoholic Beverages and Controlled Substances, http://www.nps.gov/nama/parkmgmt/upload/compendium.pdf (last visited 14 May 2012); 36 C.F.R. § 2.35(a)(3)(i).

Copa Di Vino

While I personally think it would be cool to showcase a few local brews I can appreciate the selection of what was once the most popular beer in the country.  I do think there should be a few wine selections as well.  A good addition to the menu would be Copa Di Vino.  These are single-serve cups of varietal wine which retail for $3 each.  Made of recyclable plastic the wine is sealed by oxygen-proof foil which is covered by a protective lid.  The packaging eliminates the need for a glass and corkscrew.