PoP Preview – Cork & Fork DC

Cork & Fork not to be mistaken with nearby Cork Market is having its grand opening May 8th. Cork & Fork is located right next to HomeMade Pizza at 1522 14th Street, NW. I was able to take a sneak peek Monday afternoon. The space looks great though there are a few finishing touches still coming (including more artwork and some more tables and chairs):

This is actually the third Cork & Fork (the other two are in Gainesville, VA and Bethesda, MD). I was most interested to learn that this is a family run business. The daughter, Antoinette Landragin, runs the Virginia store; the mother, Anna Landragin runs the Bethesda store; and the father, Dominique Landragin, will run the DC store.

Husband and wife team Dominique and Anna Landragin

Their wine selection “includes more than 700 brands from all regions of the wine-making world.” In addition to wine they also have a solid beer selection and will offer Brew Master classes as well as wine education classes. From Friday to Sunday they “will always have a bottle open” to taste. For the “Fork” part they are still concluding some final details but will ultimately offer cheese and meats.

For me the best part about this place is the family. Since I’m not an expert on wines I appreciate those who are knowledgeable but also patient with me. The Landragins could not have been nicer. I will have no problem asking them advice on what wine to choose for a particular dinner. I was pretty awed by Mr. Landragin’s background:

“Dominique is an internationally recognized award winning wine maker, viticulturist, vigneron (grape grower) and wine consultant. His family’s winemaking dates back to 1772 when his great-great-grandfather first made champagne. His grandfather was the manager of Veuve Clicquot vineyards in France. His father, Pierre Landragin, was the vineyard manager at Heidsieck Monopole. Dominique graduated from the Beaune Agricultural College, located in Burgundy, in the fields of viticulture and oenology.”

Despite that awesome background he came across as completely down to earth. The family even allowed me to practice speaking French with them, in fact the Mom wouldn’t let me speak English, and they didn’t make fun of all my numerous grammatical errors.

As info becomes available on special events or class information I’ll be sure to post. A couple more photos after the jump.