12 Top DC Restaurants Featuring Georgian Wine Right Now
Georgian Wine is Exploding in Washington DC in 2018:
D.C. Sommeliers and Chef’s are Leading the Discovery of The Birthplace of Wine
Georgia, the country not the state, boasts the oldest winemaking tradition in the world dating back 8,000 years, 525 unique varietals and downright delicious wines. DC somms and chefs from some of the areas trendiest restaurants continue to fall in love with Georgian wines and are encouraging others to discover the best story in wine. 2018 has seen many new restaurants join the scene and many others have upped their game by adding more Georgian wine. So here is our freshest guide of the 12 top DC restaurants featuring Georgian wine right now, including US Top 10 Restaurants, a Michelin star restaurant and some of the coolest wine bars in DC. Add your link in the 8,000 year old chain of wine tradition with a glass (or a few) of Georgian wine.
1. Supra
Supra, DC’s first Georgian restaurant located in Shaw, is a game changer for the Georgian Wine scene in DC. Co-owners Jonathan and Laura Nelms are Americans who fell in love with Georgia starting with their first trip in 2011. After visiting they knew someone had to open a Georgian restaurant in DC but they didn’t know they would be the first. They paired up with Chef Malkhaz “Makho” Maisashvili to open Supra in November 2017. Supra now boasts the largest selection of Georgian Wines in the entire US and just listed as one of “Americas 100 Best Wine Programs” by Wine Enthusiast. Go to Supra and explore the depths of Georgian wine and food.
2. Compass Rose
The awesome Compass Rose is a neighborhood tavern focused on international street food including their infamous adjaruli khachapuri and being the OG of Georgian wines in DC. Owner Rose Previte fell in love with Georgia while in Moscow and Compass Rose has been serving Tsinandali and Saperavi from Teliani Valley as their house wines as well as featuring Bagrationi in their signature Compass Rose cocktail since their open. They even have their own home Rose (Compass Rosé: Feel all the things) made from 100% Saperavi These guys are so Georgian they have even started appointing toastmasters a la Georgian Supra (Georgian toast driven feasts) in their new Bedouin tent. Maria Bastasch, General Manager, will travel again to Georgia this fall she is highlighting qvevri wines from Orgo by the glass and Dila-o. But you should definitely try the Georgian Amber Sangria which is delicious!
3. Maydan
Very few restaurants live up to the hype, like Maydan. The second restaurant from Rose Previte is a partnership with chefs Chris Morgan and Gerald Addison, which is centered around fire and bread. The heart of a the restaurant is a massive open fire hearth that includes two Georgian tones (large clay bread kilns). The chefs and Rose traveled with Noel Brockett around Georgia in the summer of 2017 researching bread and food recipes as well as wines for the new restaurant. Few DC restaurants have racked up more accolades in such a short time as Maydan. It was named one of the best restaurants of 2018 by Food & Wine and the Washington Post and was a James Beard Finalist in less then a year. Georgian skin contact wines play a central role on their wine list. Good luck getting a reservation but show up at 5pm, grab a seat at the bar and enjoy some wine from Vinoterra, Orgo, Kereselidze, Baia’s Wine and Shalauri.
4. Tail Up Goat
Tail Up Goat is one of DC’s few one-star Michelin restaurants and with good reason. Sommelier and part owner Bill Jenson has been deeply moved by Georgian wines and made his first trip in May 2018. Bill came back inspired and has created a dedicated qvevri wine part on our bottle list all of which pair with their award winning food. Bill is a huge fan of Shalauri, Vinoterra, Our Wine and Orgo. Go a try some of the giants of Georgian wine at Tail Up Goat.
6. Sababa
Sababa, which means ‘cool’ in Hebrew, is the latest offering from the restaurant group that brought you award winners Bindaas and Rasika. It focuses on Israeli food, which is having a renaissance in the US, thanks to its wide and diverse array of influences, of which Georgian is one. Fantastic condiments and vegetable dishes, along with flavorful meat dishes and kebobs have made it a winner. Georgian wine is featured prominently on the menu as Beverage Director Max Hill believes them to be some of the best the region has to offer. Go enjoy a glass of Saperavi Rose, or of Teliani Valley Tsolikouri. You can enjoy Bagrationi Classic Brut either by the glass or in a cocktail.
7. Red Hen
Thanks to the delicious food of Chef Michael Friedman and the palate of Sommelier Sebastian Zutant, Red Hen has been recognized as one of DC top restaurants since its debut. Sebastian has since moved on to open the fabulous french centric Primrose. Joseph Quinn now runs a fabulous program which continues to focus on natural wines made with low intervention which is a perfect fit since Georgia and its qvevri wines are the original low-intervention style. You can always find great wines by the bottle from Orgo, Our Wine but Baia’s wine is in the mix too. Also make sure to check out Dila-o Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane which will have a run by the glass.
8. Himitsu
Himitsu is a small but fierce restaurant offering up inventive takes on Japanese eats. It is co-owned by Carlie Steiner and Kevin Tien, who are both young but have spent their whole lives in the restaurant industry. Himitsu is another restaurant that has just heaped up awards: Kevin Tien was named Food & Wines Best New Chef of 2018 and Himitsu was named one of the top 10 restaurants of 2018 in the Washington Post. Carlie loves all things wonderful and weird! She is in love with natural qvevri wines and is a devoted promoter of woman-made wine. You can expect her to feature Baia’s Wine and Naotari wines throughout the coming months both of which pair amazingly with their food.
8. The Tabard Inn
The Tabard Inn offers some of the best out door and semi outdoor dining in all of DC. Their decadent food and lengthy wine list are a DC standard for continued excellence. Tabards General Manager Mariana Luts is a huge fan of Georgian wine and passionate about sharing it with her guests. They are now featuring Dila-o Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane amber wine to augment their fantastic list and their staple best seller Teliani Valley Tsinandali.
9. Maxwell Park
Maxwell Park, the brainchild of Sommelier Brent Kroll, is a wine bar located in the heart of Washington DC’s Shaw neighborhood. Brent along with sommelier partners Daniel Runnerstrom and Niki Lang create monthly lists based on themes. All three have been long lovers of Georgian wines. The adventurous drinker is rewarded by multiple trips to Maxwell Park. We particularly love them since they are one of the only places that have dedicated fridges for storing skin-contact whites at the perfect serving temperature. You will almost always find something of Orgo on the list but you will find Dila-o and Baia’s Wines in the rotation in the coming months.
10. Iron Gate
This fine dining restaurant from head Chef Tony Chittum presents dishes inspired by Greek, Sardinian and southern Italian cuisine in one of the most classic DC settings. Brent Kroll originally crafted an extensive and iconic list of Greek wines and was the first to add Georgian wines. Whether you are there for lunch or dinner make sure to ask Chris Ray, the wine-list curator, about what he thinks of Georgian wines and how they pair with their mediterranean dishes. Check out the Orgo Saperavi by the bottle and Orgo Rkatsiteli by the glass.
11 Little Pearl
Little Pearl located near Eastern Market in Southeast DC is the latest offering from the award winning Aaron Silverman. A cafe by day, Little Pearl transforms into a intimate wine bar at night. Tom Sietsma has named Little Pearl in the Top 10 Best New Restaurants in DC and with good reason. Kerstin Mikalbrown, the wine bar manager is fascinated by skin-contact wines and currently has the iconic Shalauri Mtsvane 2013 on the bottle list as well as the Dila-o Rkatsiteli-Mtsvane by the glass.
Tyber Creek
Tyber Creek is a fantastic laid back neighborhood wine bar in Bloomingdale in Northeast DC. Tyber Creek is run by the awesome Jordan Stahl and Leah Glantz who have been pouring Georgian wine ever since they opened in spring of 2017. Their food has many influences including American, French and Mediterranean. Their brunch is awesome and of course their covered outdoor patio makes them a perfect spot for day drinking. Go now and enjoy some Vinoterra Kisi and Dila-o Rkatsiteli.
Georgian House of Greater Washington (Georgian Wine House) is the premier Georgian wine importer in the US with operations based in Maryland. Since 2006 Georgian Wine house has been searching Georgia for exceptional wines and building partnerships with quality winemakers and brands.
Our Mission is to tell the untold story of Georgian wines to the US. Many know that Georgia has 8,000 year old wine making tradition, but most are not aware that there is no better time than the present to drink Georgian wine. Our mission is to share the beauty and delicious taste of Georgian wines with the US and to help people experience something more than what they have already tasted.
You can browse our wine portfolio and find where to buy Georgian wine.
To all those who Drink Different, we salute you!
