I happened by accident to stop by the new Arrowine store in D.C. today, their grand opening. Sadly couldn’t stick around for the Champagne tasting, but enjoyed browsing the characteristically thoughtful selection, and the courteous hospitality of the staff. The space is quite small, just a back corner of the building on the corner of K and 22nd, NW, and shelf space is at a premium. Ergo, as noted elsewhere, no cheese, tant pis. But one wall dedicated to exotic-looking whiskeys and suchlike spirits.
Congrats to Arrowine, and to D.C., which finally gets a really good, albeit small store downtown in the business district. Should be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
I like being able to go to Crisp and Juicy on one end on the strip and the Arrowine at the other end. Makes driving over the bridge to Arlington worthwhile.
The new store is two blocks from my office, and appears to have a fairly good selection of the types of wine that I am buying these days. Definitely will make lunchtime walks more fun! Congrats to Doug and the gang at Arrowine.
that bastard Doug Rosen is responsible for getting me into this goddamn wine business, from which I shall never likely escape alive.
i was a customer of his in the very early 1980s; one night he took me to a tasting of '79 Pomerols, and where I had just merely been stupid about wine before, I then began to harbour the idiotic notion that one might actually make a living at it…
Doug is one of the best wine people I have ever known; but more businessman than wine-legend — our friendship even survived me putting in a 3-month cameo on the floor when he took over in Arlington; any show with his name on it is certain to be top-drawer professional and above-all accessible.
Man, Ian, you weren’t kidding. That place is TINY. Interesting selection though and friendly, eager staff. It was also empty on Saturday afternoon… probably get a lot more foot traffic during the work week.
They’ll establish their reputation among the downtown business community and turn over a remarkable volume during the week. It’s obviously a business crowd location, not an weekend, residential location. Anyway, I have faith; and the small space means low overhead.
