Wine around the firepit at Bourbon Steak. Photo Credit: Bourbon Steak.

On a recent trip to Washington D.C., I decided to investigate what’s new on the Georgetown food and beverage scene. I admit, I hadn’t been back to the area since Mie N Yu – a hot spot for Asian and Mediterranean cuisine – closed in late 2012. So, when my travels took me to the D.C. area, I knew I had to make time for a long overdue catch-up with this historic neighborhood of the capital of the good ole U. S. of A.  And what better way to reacquaint myself with Georgetown than through its happy hour offerings? After much market research (read: lots of delicious sipping and sampling), here are my top three Georgetown picks.

Thibaut Asso, one of OTPYM’s wine specialists. Photo Credit: Stephanie Navatto ©2012.

#1: The Lounge at Bourbon Steak
2800 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

The lounge at Bourbon Steak is located in the Four Seasons Hotel. This Michael Mina restaurant is adorned in dark leather and mirrors. Tucked to the right of the entrance, you will find a long bar, and a handful of tables. For those willing to bare the cold, a few tables are set outside around a cozy fireplace.

Cocktail of choice at Bourbon Steak: Aku Aku Lapu.

For me, the key to a menu is mixing flavor and history. This cocktail menu was the perfect combination, a mix between classic and inventive cocktails. The bar was equipped with well-trained and artful mixologists. Watching them prepare drinks was like watching Cirque du Soleil! My eyes were darting left to right, up and down, to catch every dash and stir. But even more spectacular than the preparation was the taste. I ordered the Aku Aku Lapu, a blend of Mt. Gay Rum, Jameson Black Barrel, Myers’s Rum, Lemon Hart 151, orgeat, cinnamon, citrus fruits and Angostura. And when aren’t tipsy bar snacks in order? The french fries were my favorite vice.

The dramatic design at Eno. Photo Credit: Eno.

#2 Eno Wine Room
2810 Pennsylvania Ave. NW

The delicious and varied wine menu of Eno Wine Room aside, you can’t help but appreciate the ambiance. The all-wood design is breathtaking, complete with a wooden chandelier dangling from the vaulted ceiling. And each table has a view– whether you are on the first or second floor, you will be able to watch the sommelier pouring a carefully-selected glass of vino or the chef preparing a delicate tapas plate.

Lot of wine bars offer wine selections by the glass, which in my humble opinion makes it difficult to know where to start. How unfortunate you can’t taste them all? But at Eno you can come pretty close with their “flight” menu- you may already be familiar with the concept from beer or whiskey joints. Personally, I feel it’s a wonderful way to sample a variety of flavors without purchasing glasses of each.

A flight of white, one of many selections at ENO.

To compliment the large selection of wine by the glass from places including France, California, and Australia, Eno offers the opportunity to discover wine by type or a blend. The flight selections are quite original with “50 shade of Gris” for the exotic flavor, “Acid Trip” for a non-Sauvignon Blanc trio in the acidic wine family or “The other Washington” to discover wine from Washington State. Each flight, three 2.5 oz tastings, comes with a card to explain the selection.

I started with the “bubbles”– not champagne, but rather a sparkling wine. You get a nice introduction to the sparkling varietals: Landron Atmospheres from Loire Valley (Folle Blanche, Pinot Noir); Santhomas Santome from Veneto (Pinot Noir); M.Lawrence Brut blended from California and Michigan (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay). Next, I ordered the “Acid Trip”: Palmina Arneis from California, an ancient grape from Piedmont; Boomtown Chardonnay from Washington State; and Les Grandes Bosses Anjou Blanc from the Loire Valley– a taste of Chenin Blanc from the north west of France. All together the wines were a nice mix of flavors: floral with a hint of green fruit.

Aside from my wine trio paired with cheese, Eno is also known for chocolate. How can I leave without pairing chocolate with a Brachetto D’Acqui from the Braida Winery in Piedmont? This wine, from one of my favorite wineries, was not in the tasting selection but we ordered two glasses along with some chocolate because it’s just that good.

NOTE: If you are not headed to Georgetown soon, Eno has other locations with a similar trio concept in San Francisco, Chicago and Half Moon Bay.

La Chaumière’s red awning. Photo Credit: La Chaumière.

#3 La Chaumière
2813 M St. NW

La Chaumière is a traditional French rustic restaurant with an outstanding wine selection from the mother land. I ordered and highly recommend a bottle of the Gosset Brut Excellence champagne, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. And for the inner Frenchies in all of us, don’t miss the Cervelle de Veau, Moules Mariniere and Tripes a la mode de Caen— these specialty dishes live up not only to my standards, but to my fellow French countrymen as well.

On a budget or want to celebrate with a special bottle you’ve been saving? You’ll be pleased to know that you can bring your own wine (with a $35 cork fee).

Cheers or Á la votre to all!