“District Winery Set to Release First D.C.-Made Wine; Tickets on Sale Today”

385 Water Street, SE

From a press release:

“District Winery – a boutique urban winery located in The Yards community along the Anacostia River – is thrilled to announce the release of its first DC-made wine, a 2017 Dry Rosé available on April 22. This release not only marks the team’s inaugural vintage, but the first time wine has been commercially produced from start-to-finish in D.C. This milestone comes at a significant time as the city’s food & beverage industry continues to boom.

“We couldn’t be more excited to share our first DC-made wine,” says head winemaker Conor McCormack. “Our amazing winemaking team worked very hard during the 2017 harvest season – to craft not only this rosé, but all of our wines – and seeing it come to fruition is a very proud moment for us.”

Led by McCormack, District Winery’s wine production team blends traditional old world methodology with a willingness to step beyond boundaries to explore more creative techniques and winemaking styles. With quality as a constant focus, the wines produced will always highlight where and how the fruit was grown.

Once off the vine, the grapes – which are sourced from small-format vineyards throughout the United States (regions include California: Sonoma Valley, Suisun Valley, Lodi; New York: Finger Lakes, North Fork of Long Island; Washington: Columbia Gorge) – are carefully loaded onto refrigerated trucks and driven across the country to District Winery. The winemaking process begins as soon as the grapes arrive, transforming them through the meticulous processes of crushing, pressing, fermentation, aging, blending and bottling.

District Winery’s 2017 Dry Rosé – made from Old Vine Grenache vines planted in Madera, CA in the 1940s and hand-harvested in the dark cool mornings for which the West coast is known – strikes the perfect balance of elegance and intensity. The full winemaking process – from de-stemming and crushing, to maceration, fermentation, and bottling – took place entirely on site. In an effort to meet demand, the winemaking team has produced over 1,000 cases of 2017 Dry Rosé.

The rosé, a soft salmon-pink hue, is characterized by distinct notes of strawberry, guava, bubblegum, and spice. Elegant aromatics dance from the glass, and an expressive and supple texture marks a long finish.

To celebrate this milestone launch, District Winery is hosting a special Rosé Release Party on Sunday, April 22 with two distinct, ticketed time slots – 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The party will be held in the second floor private events space, which has never before been open to the public and generally hosts weddings, corporate events, meetings, and so forth. The event space boasts a wraparound terrace and sweeping views of the Anacostia River.

Party guests will be whisked away with Provence-inspired décor, live entertainment, a menu featuring an array of decadent food offerings, and District Winery wines. Culinary offerings will include a “Provencal” station with French-inspired favorites, a charcuterie station, and roaming oyster shuckers. In addition to rosé, beer and other District Winery wines will also be available.

Tickets are available starting today for $75 per person, which includes food and three alcoholic drink tickets, or $95 per person, which also includes a bottle of the inaugural rosé. Additionally, two dollars from every bottle of rosé sold the day of the party will be donated to the Anacostia Riverkeepers; a non-profit organization working to protect and restore the Anacostia River. Tickets may be purchased online at www.districtwinery.com/rose. Bottles of rosé may be purchased for $25 at the event, or from District Winery’s tasting bar beginning April 22.”