Blooming Good: TheList’s List of Good Drinks

Spring Ready? The DMV is trading hot toddies for spritzes, rosé, and cocktails that taste like sunshine. Bars are opening their windows, patios are filling up, and beverage pros across the region are shaking, stirring, and pouring the flavors of the season.

At TheListAreYouOnIt.com, we’ve rounded up the can’t-miss sips and spirited experiences to welcome spring in style.

-Make a night of it, see a show and grab a great pre- or post-theatre drink or dinner with our theatre + dining guide (here).
-This week's list of The List's favorite food finds, here.
-From cocktail pop-ups to wine tastings and brewery events, spring drinking events are blooming everywhere (here).
-You don’t need an excuse to visit a woman-owned business or celebrate women history month…here’s the list.

So much more refreshing, glass-raising goodness below:

MARK YOUR CALENDAR 

Napa Valley Barrel Auction: The Napa Valley Barrel Auction takes place Friday, June 5, 2026, at the newly reimagined Robert Mondavi Winery, opening in May. Featuring more than 100 participating vintners, the Barrel Auction brings together wine enthusiasts and winemakers for a day of tasting wine directly from the barrel and bidding on lots. More info here. 

The Judgement of Paris: Museum of American History: The Museum will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famous 1976 “Judgment of Paris” wine tasting competition and the nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the eighth annual Smithsonian Winemakers’ Dinner April 14. This year’s signature fundraising event, “The Judgment of Paris: There’s more to the story…” will bring together visionary vintners, culinary leaders and supporters of the museum to celebrate the intertwined histories of American wine, food and democracy. The evening will commemorate the history of three Napa Valley wineries that took part in the 1976 tasting and are still producing fine wines that reflect the best of Napa—Freemark Abbey, Clos Du Val, and Mayacamas. The dinner’s culinary experience will be developed in collaboration with Nora Pouillon, chef and owner of Restaurant Nora in Washington, D.C., which was America’s first certified-organic restaurant and a pioneer of the farm-to-table movement. More info here. 

DC Brau Anniversary: On Thursday, April 16th, Dc Brau is celebrating it's 15 year anniversary. As DC’s first production brewery since the 1950s, DC Brau helped spark the city’s modern craft beer movement, making this a meaningful milestone for the local food & beverage scene. They will be doing “15 Beers for 15 Years” featuring rare and specialty DC Brau pours, cask beers and limited offerings and more. Get tickets here. 

Smithsonian Museum of American History Annual Wine Dinner: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is hosting the 2026 Winemakers’ Dinner—a signature evening that brings together visionary vintners, culinary leaders, and supporters of the Museum to celebrate American wine, food, and history. In 2026, as the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Winemakers' Dinner on April 14, will be one of the Museum's most significant events in this landmark year. The dinner marks the 50th anniversary of the Judgment of Paris—the 1976 blind tasting that stunned the wine world when American wines placed ahead of France’s most celebrated Bordeaux and Burgundy. Get your tickets here. 

Blue Duck Tavern Anniversary:  Blue Duck Tavern will toast 20 years in the nation’s capital as one of the city’s most iconic restaurants in June 2026. To honor this monumental occasion, nationally recognized chefs, who formerly spearheaded Blue Duck Tavern, will return to prepare their signature dishes for a special dinner gathering accompanied by merrymaking over 2006 vintages from Blue Duck Tavern's Sommelier selections. The five-course feast will take place on Wednesday, June 10, with a champagne reception and hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m. blueducktavern.com

NEW & NOTEWORTHY: 

Mediterranean Moments: NAJA Mediterranean welcomes the season with the launch of its new spring cocktail menu. Try the Sirocco: A personal favorite of owner Tariq Alaeddin, the Sirocco features reposado tequila, a shatta-infused liqueur made using his grandmother’s red shatta recipe, and pineapple, all finished with a spicy salt foam and an Aleppo salt rim.  2911 District Ave Unit 140, Fairfax, VA 22031; najamediterranean.com

Arak without Alcohol: At Tapori, Bar Director EJ Apaga set out to challenge the predictable world of spirit-free cocktails, and to create something that truly drinks like an extraordinary adult beverage. Frustrated with the current state of non-alcoholic cocktails, which often use lemonade, ginger or capsaicin as a base, he drew from his experience with Arak. The result, after three months of refinement, is the Pom Star Soda: a sparkling, crystal-clear, non-alcoholic arak-inspired drink with layered spice, balance, and a distinctly grown-up profile. 600 H Street NE; taporidc.com

Spring Fling: Spring Wine Fling, presented by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), returns with two-course dinner menus paired with wine at more than 30 restaurants across the region. Each restaurant will offer a two-course dinner with two glasses of wine for $55 per person. Spring Wine Fling is available only during dinner service. More info here. 

Festival of Friendship: Inspired by the historic gift of cherry blossom trees from Japan to the U.S., Silver Lyan raises a glass to the spirit of friends near and far with their Festival of Friendship. Silver Lyan will welcome some of its favorite industry friends behind the bar for a limited-time menu of collaborative cocktails and snacks created alongside DC standouts Your Only Friend, Minibar, Moon Rabbit, and Bar Betsie. 900 F St NW, Washington, DC; riggsdc.com

Flora Garden Pop Up at Lulu’s: Lulu’s Winegarden will soon celebrate DC’s long-awaited spring season with the return of its popular “Flora Garden” – a springtime pop-up bringing floral cocktails and petaled patios to the U Street bar. Lulu’s is showcasing a bouquet of spring flavors and spirits in several creative floral cocktails, including the edible flower-topped First Bloom with botanically-driven Citadelle Jardin D'ete gin, elderflower and Aperol; a slightly-savory garden margarita infused with black pepper tequila; a shiso-pineapple crush; a spicy-citrusy sour with yuzu and jalapeno aguardiente; and a bubbly Chandon Hugo Spritz. 1940 11th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001; luluswinegarden.com

Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves: Immigrant Food: Immigrant Food offers a flight of wines from all female producers and winemakers throughout March and Centrolina’s Chef Amy Brandwein participates in MITA’s “Culture Sunday” series (3/8). Plus, female owned-and-operated restaurants to visit this March include Lapis, Joon, Maison Bar à Vins, Pascual, Lutèce, Centrolina, Immigrant Food, and more. 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue; immigrantfood.com

Sisters Are Doing It for Themselves: Annabelle’s Alison Paige Sachs: This March, in honor of Women’s History Month, Annabelle in Kalorama is spotlighting women leaders in wine and spirits with a month-long, all-female by-the-glass program. Wine Director Alison Paige Sachs curated a global selection of wines made and/or owned by women from France, Argentina, Australia, Spain, Italy, and the U.S., including standout producers from Château La Freynelle, Vasse Felix, Susana Balbo Wines, Jansz Tasmania, and Canard-Duchêne.  2132 Florida Avenue, NW, 20008; annabelledc.com

NOT NEW, BUT NOTEWORTHY: 

New on the Block:  South Block is continuing its rapid expansion with a brand-new location inside Western Market, bringing its handcrafted acai bowls, smoothies and cold-pressed juices to one of the city’s most popular food hall destinations. The new location will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., offering guests South Block’s signature superfood bowls layered with fresh fruit and house-made granola, alongside handcrafted smoothies, cold-pressed juices and other delicious favorites designed to fuel guests throughout the day. 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; southblock.com

Pikilia, Ouzo, & Amari (Happy Hour Alert):  Iron Gate has a new Pikilia Happy Hour. They have a traditional “Pikilia” platter nightly, including our favorite Greek snacks, for just $22. They're offering $10 classic cocktail riffs, $7 Ouzos and Amari, and an assortment of $12 Amaro Flights. 1734 N ST NW, WASHINGTON DC 20036; irongaterestaurantdc.com

Thin Mints + Vino: Little Blackbird is having a monthly wine club, curated each month by General Manager & Wine Director Sara Peregoff. Available for pick-up after the first of each month, the Silver Membership is priced at $29 per month and includes one carefully curated bottle of either white or red wine selected by Peregoff.  3309 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Littleblackbird.com

Lunedì Aperitivo (Happy Hour Alert): Acqua Bistecca, Washington, D.C.’s Italian-inspired steakhouse at City Ridge, invites you to unwind with its signature Happy Hour experience. The curated menu offers a taste of Italy through refined small plates, vibrant cocktails, and approachable wines and beers. The drinks menu highlights house cocktails such as the Positano (mezcal, lime, raspberry-basil granita), the Atrani (tomato-washed gin, grapefruit, club soda), and the sparkling Amalfi (vodka, pear, lemon, prosecco), alongside $10 wines and $6 Peroni.  10 Ridge Square, City Ridge Development, Washington, D.C; aquabistecca.com

C’mon Get Happy (Happy Hour Alert): Flight Club has a new happy hour. The revamped happy hour is now available introducing a refreshed menu daily from 4–6 p.m. Guests can enjoy $2 off all draft beer, liquor, and wine by the glass, plus specialty cocktails starting at $8. A highlight is the Jungle Bird cocktail ($8 during happy hour) and is a classic tiki drink originally created at the Aviary Bar at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton and is considered one of the last original tiki cocktails before the genre faded in the disco era. 641 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001; flightclubdartsusa.com

Martini Hour (Happy Hour Alert):  Elegancia has a new Martini Hour, a stylish and elevated take on the classic happy hour, celebrating the timeless cocktail through a Latin lens. From Tuesday through Friday, you can enjoy a curated selection of handcrafted martinis for $10 each, including the Mango Martini, the Espresso de Olla Martini, and a Classic Vodka or Gin Martini. 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002; Elegancia.com

Bloody Well Good: Motorkat's new Bloody Mary program asks you "Are You Going By land or by sea? The by land drink includes Pork Belly, Candied Bacon, Wagyu Wiener, Andouille. The by sea drink includes Fried Oyster, Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled Octopus. 6939 Laurel Ave, Silver Spring, MD; .motorkat.com