Sunday, November 25, 2007

Turns out, having a wine under your own label isn't just for the Francis Ford Coppolas of the world. At the new Carafe Wine Makers in Old Town Alexandria, customers can play lord or lady of the vineyard, selecting wines that are bottled for them with customized labels.

The drill is simple: You pick a wine from the menu of 21 varieties, then work with the staff to design a label with whatever lettering and photos you like. Carafe then ferments your batch in four to six weeks, prints the labels and bottles your wine ($8-$24 a bottle).

Virginia Beach native Lamar Brown, 29, opened the fourth U.S. location of the Canada-based franchise after recognizing two things about Washingtonians: They love to throw parties (the bottles make great favors), and they love wine.

"The D.C. area is one of the most wine-centric in the country, so I think we'll fit right in," says Brown, who by day works in IT security at Lockheed Martin.

It's not exactly like owning your own Chateau Lafite, of course. Patrons are limited to the pre-blended wine selections, so there's no adding a note of butterscotch or a soupcon of cassis. But for hosts looking to surprise with a themed house wine, or for brides and grooms who want to present guests with a drinkable take-home gift, it's a fun concept.

The shop itself is warmly inviting, with a toasty fire in the fireplace and walls the color of merlot and chardonnay. A long bar is for tasting, and the cozy leather armchairs are for lounging -- while mulling what to name your very first vintage.

-- Emily Heil

Carafe Wine Makers, 111 S. Alfred St., Alexandria, 703-739-5850, http://www.carafewines.com.