Andrew Limberg of Lyon Hall is the Coolest Wine Guru
With all of the holiday stresses of shopping and party planning, attending a wine tasting is probably the last thing on your list of things to do.
But it should be.
Why? Because just across the bridge, in Clarendon, Virginia, one of the area’s coolest wine directors is hosting fun, informative, yummy tastings. They are a fab value at the price of $40 per person.
So who is this wine guru?
He’s Andrew Limberg, the manager and wine director for Lyon Hall, and he has a large, loyal fan base. He has a great sense of humor and “loves tearing down the snooty factor of wine.” Limberg “wants wine to be approachable.” As he says, “Come on, it’s fun. Wine makes you feel great and it tastes great.”
At his tasting last night, he encouraged his guests to experiment at home and gave terrific tips on how Champagne is made, where to find the best wine store, and how to learn about and taste wine. Andrew also offered tons of other useful consumer-oriented information and delivered his tidbits in a hilarious, easy-going style.
He stressed his philosophy of stepping out of your comfort zone to try new things, and said that for him there is no better way to appreciate wine than, “Pop + Pour=Drinkability.” For a few hours, guests were transported to France as Andrew charmed and entertained an enthusiastic crowd of food and wine lovers.
Limberg’s breadth of knowledge was obvious as he tasted his guests through a menu of fantastic French wines from:
- Champagne-Michel Forget Brut Rosé, 1er Cru NV
- Alsace-Château D’Orschwihr Bollenberg Gewurtztraminer 2008
- Loire-Château Soucherie Cuvée Les Rang de Long Anjou Blanc 2010
- Burgundy-Stéphane Aladame Montagny Les Vignes Derrière 1er Cru Chablis 2009
- Burgundy-Domaine Gachot-Monot Bourgogne 2008
- Bordeaux-Château L’Enclos Bonis Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux 2007
- Côtes du Rhône-Domaine de Piaugier Gigondas 2008
- Côtes de Provence-Château Les Valentines 2008
Lyon Hall, a laid-back brasserie, is brought to us by the same food and drink group that includes The Liberty Tavern and Northside Social, and last night they served quintessential hearty French country fare.
The menu included freshly baked sour dough, raisin walnut, and black breads, pickled vegetables, and homemade charcuterie. The charcuterie selection included a savory duck prosciutto, creamy chicken liver pâté, wild salmon rillettes, and Arctic char cured with vodka and beets. They were paired with a creamy Pont L’Evecque from France, Quickes Cheddar from the UK, and Sottocenere from Italy.
Should you get an itch for a wine and food tasting, be sure to think of Andrew Limberg and Lyon Hall—they’re both très magnifique!
Check out more pics by Summer Whitford on our Flickr account!
Category: EAT N' DRINK, RESTAURANT EVENTS, WHAT YOU MISSED, WINE LOVERS
