Screwtop Wine Bar opened in Arlington, VA right before the 2009 holidays. I actually learned about the new bar through a write-up on the Daily Candy, which prompted me to start following Screwtop’s blog. Within days, my girlfriend and I were checking the new place out. The atmosphere was fun—casual, quaint, and neighborhoody—with limited seating, but an overall good vibe. Our waitress didn’t seem like she knew much about wine, which is problematic in a wine bar, and she forgot to bring us one of the three cheeses we ordered with our cheese plate. Now, the problem with going to a new restaurant or bar when it first opens is that none of the kinks have a chance to be worked out yet, so I don’t want to judge it to harshly without giving it another chance. However, I will say that the in-bar experience didn’t leave me dying to return.

That all said, the cheese and wine shop part of Screwtop was very interesting, and since Hubby and I are often in the area for a weekend brunch, I can see the store becoming one of those places that we occasionally visit for a fun bottle of wine or for a special cheese. After spending a ridiculously long-time ogling the wines for sale, I left that first visit to with a bottle of Spanish Garnacha.

After work and my condo association meeting on Tuesday, it seemed like the perfect time to open the bottle of Style Old Vine Garnacha. To say that I was absolutely exhausted only two days into the week would be an understatement, and I was looking for a fun and fruity wine to lift my dragging spirits.

The Style Old Vine Garnacha was a deep purple, with ruby flecks and big, drippy legs. The nose was big and fruity, with very ripe raspberries and strawberries, followed by a touch of nutmeg and white pepper. In the mouth, there were red plums, strawberries, and tart raspberries. The wine had a lime-like acidity, low tannins, and a light-to-medium body.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll definitely have a decent, reliable glass of wine. At $15, the wine was fine and definitely helped me unwind at the start of a hectic week. However, I just didn’t feel inspired when drinking it. So, while I will definitely find myself back at Screwtop looking for more wines made by smaller producers, I don’t see myself buying another bottle of Style Garnacha.

Overall: 3 Corks