STARR Restaurants partners with Portugal’s Famous Vinhos Barbeito House for new fortified wine
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Washington DC (January 3, 2022) – Madeira, a centuries-old, amber-hued fortified wine said to have been sipped by George Washington and the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is so integral to the wine program at St. Anselm that it merits its own list — featuring 60 bottles. It is the largest selection of Madeiras in the nation, and now fans of this historic elixir will be able to try the latest addition: a new, signature-blend Madeira made especially for St. Anselm in collaboration with one of the most respected Old World producers.
The new bottling marks the second time the American tavern has collaborated to create a unique Madeira just for its guests. It debuted at the Union Market restaurant last month for $12 per one-ounce pour. The entire 60+ bottle Madeira wine program at St. Anselm is also available by single ounce pour, giving patrons the option to sip and taste a variety of wines or create their own flight. Washingtonians can purchase the 750 mL bottle during opening hours as a retail item for $128.
"Madeira is really at the heart of our philosophy,” says Mikayla Cohen, corporate wine director for STARR Restaurants. "St. Anselm offers Madeiras dating back to the 1800s, and flights available that span every style from as dry to as sweet as it gets. It has always been amazing to me to see how this restaurant cultivated such a community of Madeira lovers, so it only seemed natural to partner with one of the most historic Madeira houses that currently exists.”
Named for the tiny Portuguese island where the wine is produced, Madeira is characterized by varying degrees of sweetness, dryness and acidity. The new Madeira was born out of a series of conversations with one of America’s most respected importers, the Rare Wine Company, which connected STARR Restaurants with Portugal’s Vinhos Barbeito house, which, according to the New York Times, has done some of the best work in the past decade to revolutionize Madeiras as food wines. “We told them what was most important to us is that we are as involved in the process as possible,” says Cohen.
To create St. Anselm’s signature blend, Cohen, along with St. Anselm’s Head Sommelier Megan Cruz and Beverage Manager Jack Zarecky compared several barrelings, eventually landing on a delicious double-blended “Medium Sweet” wine with notes of pecan brittle, pistachio, bourbon soaked Turkish apricots, baking spices and a touch of shaved black walnut. The sweetness of the wine is balanced by salty and savory acidity, making it the perfect complement to the grilled meats and seasonal vegetables that anchor St. Anselm as a Union Market dining destination.
St Anselm is located at 1250 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002. Reservations can be made at https://stanselmdc.com/ or by calling (202) 864-2199.
About St. Anselm: Located in Washington DC’s historic Union Market, St. Anselm is a richly appointed and elegant American-inspired tavern devoted to grilled meats and great ingredients, simply cooked. The menu features iconic dishes such as the ax-handle rib eye and an array of hormone-, antibiotic- and steroid-free meats perfectly prepared to pair with in-season vegetables and the restaurant’s beloved flaky buttermilk biscuits. With award-winning hospitality and one of the city’s most expansive wine lists, including the nation’s largest collection of Madeiras, St. Anselm has become a dining destination in the capital city. As Washington Post critic Tom Sietsema wrote, rating St. Anselm among Washington’s top restaurants, “The eating here is luscious.”
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