DC's First Winery To Open In Late Summer

WASHINGTON, DC — DC's first winery is coming to Navy Yard later this summer, with an on-site wine production facility, multipurpose private event space and a full-service restaurant.

Co-founders Brian Leventhal and John Stires are opening District Winery at the 385 Water St SE. The space spans 17,000 square-feet across two levels and has an expansive rooftop terrace.

“We’re honored to take our successful Brooklyn Winery concept and give it an identity of its own for D.C.” Leventhal said in a statement. “It's exciting to introduce people to D.C.’s first winery and it’s encouraging to see so much enthusiasm from the community."

District Winery will feature a full-service restaurant serving a collaboration of seasonal American fare from chefs Michael Gordon, of Brooklyn Winery and formerly of Bouley and Manhattan’s Mandarin Oriental, and Benjamin Lambert, DC-local chef formerly of 701 Restaurant, Restaurant Nora, Goodstone Inn and Wit & Wisdom.

The fully functioning winery will allow for tours, wine tastings and retail purchases. With impressive water views, the second floor event space can be used for a myriad of special events including weddings and corporate functions. The event space also expands into a wraparound, outdoor terrace complete with a green roof and canopy, allowing for multi season use.

As the first ever commercial winery operating in Washington, D.C., District Winery will source grapes from across the country with an emphasis on California regions.

“This project has been three years in the making. Seeing it finally come to fruition is incredibly humbling and rewarding” Stires said in a statement. “Soon it will be a place where people will get married, a destination for a glass of wine and dinner with friends, and so much more."

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