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WWBG: Valentine’s Rosé

By WTOP Staff

Editor’s Note: This weekly sponsored column is written by Arash Tafakor, owner of Georgetown Square Wine and Beer (10400 Old Georgetown Road).

You’ve bought the Valentine’s Day gift, bought the flowers, got the meal all planned — the only thing left to dazzle your special someone this Valentine’s Day is that perfect sparkling Rosé wine.

Rosé sparkling wine is a perfect way to celebrate romance. It’s beautiful pinkish color and flowing bubbles definitely excites the romantic senses. Rosé sparkling wine is the same thing as white sparkling wine except for one part done early in the wine making process. Winemakers leave the red grape skin in contact with the wine for a short amount of time, usually 12-24 hours. Red wines are made with the skin being in contact with the wine for several weeks, but only leaving them in contact for a short period of time leaves the wine color a beautiful pink.  This is the same process that produces rosé wines as well.

Rosé sparkling wines come in a variety of price ranges. You can find a domestic sparkling rosé for fewer than 10 dollars, but the quality will not be there and a headache will ensue. You can also purchase a high end rosé champagne that can cost well over 100 dollars, but after purchasing a gift, flowers and dinner, money might be a little tight for that. Here is a list of quality sparkling rosés that you do not have to break the bank for.

Gruet NV Rose New Mexico, U.S.A

When I first was introduced to Gruet sparkling wines, I was a bit skeptical about the grapes being from New Mexico. New Mexico isn’t exactly known for top quality wine growing, but once I tasted these sparkling wines, I was astonished by how well-made they were.

Using the same method as champagne, this rosé is under 20 dollars, and is an excellent value at the price point. Exhibiting a bright floral nose and hints of strawberry, raspberry and cherry, this sparkling rosé will be a perfect match for Valentine’s Day.

Simonnet–Febvre Crémant De Bourgogne Brut Rose Burgundy, France

This sparkling rosé is a perfect alternative from your pricey rosé champagne. Made in Burgundy, France, this sparkling rosé is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes.

A fresh a vivacious style showing powerful aromas of red fruit, fine bubbles, and a beautiful rosé color this sparkling rosé is a great match for an aperitif or a chocolate dessert. It retails for about 25 dollars.

Moet & Chandon Nectar Imperial Rosé Champagne, France

The real deal Rosé, Moet has been producing top Rosé champagne for decades now. This is the perfect Rosé champagne to really impress your valentine.  Made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay, this Rosé has flamboyant color and delicious red fruit that will pair with anything sweet to cap off the perfect Valentine’s Day.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of BethesdaNow.com.

Community discussion guidelines: Our sponsored columns are written by members of the local business community. While we encourage a robust and open discussion, we ask that all reviews of the businesses — good or bad — be directed to another venue, like Yelp. The comments section is intended for a conversation about the topic of the article.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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