Great instructors, very communicative! I am currently…read moretaking a course with Kasia. She is clearly very knowledgeable and passionate about wine! Would definitely recommend!

I took 2 WSET exams at the school. Both were conducted in a very professional and friendly manner…read more The registration prior to the exam handled by team member Kirstyn Kralovec was very efficient, So was the service later on, to deliver the Certs.

I recently took a virtual wine class led by Ashwin and organized by my apartment's management…read morecompany. He emailed everyone with photos and a description of the two bottles of wine that we should buy for class, with alternatives suggested. Was very impressed with Ashwin's ability to engage us over Zoom, educate us in an approachable and warm way, and answer our questions without pretentiousness (what's the best glass for this type of wine?). What distinguishes Ashwin from, say, just Googling a question about wine is that Ashwin actually has a point of view that he isn't shy about sharing (like his opinions about the homogenization of the big champagne brands vs. grower-made champagnes). Especially during the time of COVID, his Zoom classes are a welcome distraction--and an excuse to drink more wine. Totally recommend his classes as a fun group event.

Ashwin did a virtual wine class through my apartment building - what a fun time! In times of COVID,…read moreit is hard to see what virtual events are worth it - Ashwin's definitely was! He did an excellent job of managing the technology, creating smaller groups to reflect in, and leading a large class! I learned so much and had such a great time drinking wine and learning about the knowledge and history. The impression I got was of a sommelier who wants to not only teach people about wine, but help us reflect on our own culture, our experiences, and how we view the world (and therefore wine!). I went into this class with a fair level of background knowledge, but I still felt like I learned something and I found several good bottles of wine! I would love to take another class with Ashwin!

Went with owner Alison Marriott on a private tour of Virginia wineries to look at venues and…read moreavailable wines in Loudoun county. Alison was very helpful navigating the area (how on Earth can you figure out which wineries to go to?) and explaining the difference in the varietals we tried. She also asked questions of the venue I would not have thought to ask, and I found two possible locations for my event (and learned which wines made it through the difficult 2011 growing season!) As someone who enjoys wine but really needs a little extra help, Alison has been my go-to "wine Rolodex" and was invaluable to learning what options were available in Loudoun County.

I hosted a small dinner party to celebrate my husband's birthday and had it catered. Thought it…read morewould be fun to have someone come in and do a wine pairing with the meal and talk to the guests about wine throughout. I was referred to Alison and she was AMAZING. She went above and beyond, talked to me about the choices prior to the dinner, seemed willing and able to work with any budget and her selections were fantastic. She was engaging, down to earth and entertaining. everyone loved it and her. She also took a few pictures of the party, which I'd forgotten to do so I have lasting memories of a very special night. I would definitely use her again.

Lovely place for a drink! I decided to get an old fashioned which was quite good! Also ordered the…read moreburrata which was delicious! Service was very friendly and quick!

Came here to meet up with a few friends. It was busy for a spring Friday evening but the service…read morewas great. The staff got us to a table as soon as one opened up and recommended wines for us based on what we said we all liked. Their recs were spot on for our group. We decided to order some bites to eat and recommend the burrata and burger!

This place shouldn't be a hidden gem to anyone! The concept is wonderful as they bring amazing and…read moreunexpected experiences and different types of wines, rums, bubbles, and many more liquors and cocktails mainly focused from Latin American producers. They also have snacks and tapas. Always very clean and organized, and well stacked. Can't forget about the staff. Always knowledgeable and willing to help with a big smile. This place is a must! We are members, and the membership is totally worth checking out specially for the price. I know they also have a bar located at Cocecha at Union Market, so check that out as well. You won't regret the experience!

This is a lovely wine shop. It is set up perfect for tastings. It's looks and feels like a nice…read moreplace that's easy to hang out in. They specialize in Latin wines from Chili and maybe Portugal. What they have is limited but targeted. These are nice wines. I was there for a friend looking for a very specific wine. They only had one bottle. But, they ordered more for me. By the time the remaining bottles were delivered, I was part of their wine club and received a nice discount. The staff was excellent and helpful. I'm looking for a good excuse to return.

For a friend's bachelorette event, I booked a wine tour with Vino 301 Wine Concierge, and I'm so…read moreglad I did! What a great company! Booking was super easy and once that was done, I received regular emails from Vino 301 and texts until the day of the tour. We were picked up this past Saturday (4/20) at the appointed location and time. We boarded a very well appointed van with about 4 rows of seats that accommodated us all. I felt very safe on the rides to and from the wineries. Our host and driver were super friendly and treated us like royalty. Prior to arriving at each venue, we were provided some background and things we should know in advance. She more or less herded us from place to place, which was actually quite comforting. I felt very well taken care of AND seen as I was the only one on the tour not drinking, but I was provided water and other beverages over the course of the day. Oh, and the lunch we received was AMAZING. So much food! I had the roast beef BLT, which came with a bag of chips, pasta salad, and a dessert. Definitely recommend!

This tour does not disappoint! My gal pal booked Vino 301 for my bachelorette party for a group of…read moresix ladies. I had by far, the BEST time ever! Pro's -Transportation provided and your choice of music (Bluetooth connection to phone) -The girl's and I felt like royalty! -Carla our tour guide was amazing! She and our driver, Patrick, were on time, and very friendly when I first met them. Carla was very knowledgeable. She knew the history of the wines, taste, pairings, and the owners of each winery. -Carla and Patrick made us all feel like family -Each winery we visited didn't feel rushed and we were allotted plenty of time for tastings, enjoying the ambiance (live music), and purchases. -Each guest was gifted a wine holder bag, bottle of water, wine tumbler, and snacks. All the essentials!! -Got to tour three different wineries in the Chesapeake Beach area (Robin Hill, Romano, JaneMark) -All of us were wiped from the tours, tastings, and fun we had. We would definitely do another tour! Con's -I just didn't want the experience to end!

Shout out to both knowledgeable bartender Kareem and the female cheesemonger (didn't catch her…read morename!) who helped us have a lovely, relaxed brunch with friends. They graciously let us sit on the patio and customize our sun/shade preferences. Cork was an old favorite of mine when I lived in DC years ago, and it was just as nice as I remembered. Kareem helped us pick a unique bottle of bubbles, and we enjoyed a nice cheese and charcuterie board to share. Both the savory breakfast biscuit sandwich and the shakshuka with lamb were favorites at our table, too.

3.5/5 stars. Stumbled upon this wine bar with a quaint patio during an outing in DC. The server was…read morevery friendly and the food tasted good but was overpriced for the portion size. The shakshouka was $20 and came in a tiny cast iron with only one egg. The beet salad was good but also a pretty small portion for how much they charged. Note that they also charge a 5% service charge to all guest checks (separate from the tip).

First time here Jenny was super friendly and directed me to…read morea tasting that they were having. Nick was behind the counter of the tasting, he was very knowledgeable and explained what they were sampling thoroughly He was very pleasant and I enjoyed speaking with him. This location just opened up, I think the design of the store was very helpful and laid out nicely. I'll definitely be going again Sadly, I did not take pictures, but I promise I will take pictures next time

This way first time at this location and I had a wonderful experience!! Excellent and efficient…read morecustomer service! The staff was kind and wanted to make sure I had everything I needed. Service was pleasant and delivered with smiles!!!

Our family ate their Christmas Eve and they were busy which is always a good sign. Loved the…read moreatmosphere. Two of us ordered the short ribs that were a big disappointment. Comments were that they tasted more like pot roast/beef stew; however, the polenta that it was served with was very tasty. One ordered the Filet of branzino which was pretty bland. Two of us ordered the Agnolotti. While the filling of spinach and ricotta was tasty, the cream sauce was on the thin side and not the best I've had. The beet and apple salad was very salty. The bread was very good. I know they were very busy, but the service was not what we expected either. For the money we spent, we were not impressed and probably will not eat there again.

From the owner: Girasole is hosting a tasting of Italian summer wines on Sunday and a poultry cooking class on…read moreTuesday.