It’s been kind of a blah day.  After a busy (but fabulous!) Memorial Day weekend, it turns out that two days of quiet is both nice and a little bit boring.  But that’s okay.  All you need to take a day from meh to magnificent is a fun wine! (Did you see what I did there?  I bet you did.  And then I bet you shook your head and thought “Really, lady?”  And I’m right there with you.)

We opened a bottle tonight from Tarara Winery, which is located right outside of Leesburg, VA.  I would, without hesitation, recommend a visit to Tarara.  The tasting room is in a cave under the owner’s house, and there’s a deck with a nice view for warm, sunny days.  They also host a series of concerts over the summer.  A side-note and plus for all those who struggle with corkscrews – all of their wines have screwcaps, rather than corks.

Tonight we opened a bottle of 2013 Long-Bomb, Edition 7.

Long-Bomb has been a staple at Tarara, a red table wine that speaks to their winemaking philosophy of “less is more,” and their drive to make “wines with soul.”  You can learn more on their website, if you’re interested: Tarara Philosophy.  The story behind the Long-Bomb name (quoting from the bottle here):

“Our founder, Whitie Hubert, once told a story that years later depicted his character and the inspiration for creating Tarara.  During his college years at Catholic University, he was a Hall of  Fame wrestler who was never pinned until the State Championships.  Whitie was a year-round athlete and played quarterback for the football team.  His team was not noted for their victories but Whitie proclaimed football as the greater sport.  He would rather be part of a team than a winner alone.

Whitie used this philosophy to create Tarara Winery, blending his passion for people and wine.  We are players on Whitie’s Winning Tarara Team and with every glass, we invite you to share in our victory.”

I couldn’t remember what grapes were part of Edition 7, so I did some poking around online and found a review for it that lists: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Tannat.  I would say this is a fairly light-bodied red, and it would be great for a summer barbecue.  I would pair it with smoky, dry-rubbed ribs or a really good cheeseburger right off the grill.  Hints of blackberry and new leather on the nose give way to a really bright flavor – strawberries, cocoa, and cinnamon on the finish, but almost tangy.  Really perfect for a warm evening on the patio.

Or, you know, just to brighten up a boring Wednesday evening.  Cheers!