Don't forget, Vintage Virginia is this weekend out at Bull Run Park.

Robert Mondavi pass away yesterday. It is impossible to tell the story of modern American wine without mentioning him and his influence. Many of today's great winemakers in California were influenced by him. My condolences to his family.

If you are looking for something really fun -- and wine related -- to do today Doukenie Winery is hosting their Taste of Greece Festival from 12:00-5:00.

On Monday we took a friend out to Fleming's Steakhouse and Wine Bar in Tyson's for her brithday.

The restaurant has a great atmosphere. It is dimly lit and quiet, even though the 5 of us were at a large table we didn't feel like we had to shout to be heard. I had the cajun ribeye, it was rubbed with spices that added to the flavor of the steak without overwhelming. The sides were also really good, the macaroni and cheese was rich and the snow peas were well-adorned and fresh.

They also had an extensive wine list, although, I was surprise their were no Bordeaux's on either of the wine lists. Included with the menu is their standard wine list with wines available by the glass or bottle, but they also had a premium wine list available only by the bottle.

We started the evening with a bottle of Onyx Shiraz Darling Cellars. It is a South African Shiraz that had hints of mocha and plum. The taste was noticeably different than a typical Australian Shiraz, but a good way to start the meal.

The second wine was Peter Lehmann's Clancy Barossa a blend of Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot -- I actually have a review of this coming up so I'll talk about it in detail.

Overall a good experience and a place you should absolutely check out.

Cool, I am famous - thanks to Amanda (who has a great blog that everyone who eats out in DC should read) for indulging me.

A few weeks ago we went out to Three Fox Vineyards with the wine club. Three Fox has a very Italian theme and their wines reflect that. They offer two Sangioveses a regular (Il Volpe) and a reserve (Il Signor). The reserve is made from 100% Sangiovese, while the regular is a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.

Between the two, I actually preferred the Il Volpe. the two varietals blended surprisingly well and created a spicy wine with a nice chocolate finish. They also had a good Cabernet Franc and a Chambourcin that was done in a port style.

The grounds are very impressive with several places to picnic, including a bench at the top of the hill that looks over the vines. It is definitely worth the trip out there.