Happy New Year from all of us at the Chicago Wine Report!
Our newsletter and show will be back on a regular schedule starting later this week but wanted to get today’s show to you as soon as possible. We also want to send our heartfelt thanks for the support we’ve received from all of you. . .we could not have come this far without your support.
POST-HOLIDAY BUSINESS SCHEDULES
Many wine shops, wine bars, and restaurants of all kinds are either closed this week or operating on an abbreviated schedule as everyone rests up from the busy holiday period. Check first before venturing out to your favorite business to avoid disappointment!
BOOK REVIEW
Tom presented a review of Wine Simple by Aldo Sohm during this week’s show. The verdict? He strongly recommends giving this book a read!
Disclosure: The above image/link is to Amazon’s affiliate program. We receive a small commission if you make a purchase.
CHICAGO WINE NEWS & EVENTS
Are you in the wine business and hosting an event? Have some news for the Chicago wine community? Please send it to us at ChicagoWineReport (@) gmail.com for possible inclusion in our newsletter and radio show/podcast. Our deadline for consideration for the Sunday morning show on WCGO is 11 am CT on Fridays.
January 5th: Door 24 hosts a Tuscan Wine Class at 7 pm. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online. (Bucktown)
*January 12th: Wine Goddess hosts The Great Wines of Piedmont, Italy at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased online.
January 14th: I|O Godfrey Hotel hosts the Godfrey Wine Fest - Wine Tasting at I|O Godfrey Rooftop from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. Ticket price runs from $25 to $35 per person depending on your reservation date. Purchase your tickets on Eventbrite.
January 22nd: Beautiful Rind hosts Rhone Around the World: A tasting of Global Red Wines inspired by the Rhone from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online. (Logan Square)
January 25th: Binny’s is hosting the UGC 2020 vintage Bordeaux tasting at the Drake Hotel on Wednesday, January 25th, 6-8 pm. Over 90 estates are represented. Tickets are $100 each, and can be purchased online at Binnys.com.
February 27th: Wine Goddess Academy focuses on The Wine Regions. Five-class series. Sign up online on Eventbrite. The cost is $395 per person and a certificate of completion is provided. (Evanston)
REGULAR WINE TASTINGS IN THE CHICAGO AREA
Below is a list of regularly scheduled tastings at Chicago area wine bars and shops. Many are free or low-cost, but it is always a good idea to contact the shop/wine bar ahead of time to be sure.
This list is hardly comprehensive, though we hope it will eventually become so. Please let me know if you’d like to recommend a spot or need to correct any information:
57th Street Wines holds tastings on Thursdays from 5-7 pm and Saturdays from 3-5 pm. Tastings are usually themed and occasionally the schedule switches up a bit, so be sure to check out their website and call ahead to avoid disappointment. (Hyde Park)
Augusta Food & Wine offers free tastings on Thursdays between 6-8 pm. No sign-up is required. (Lincoln Square)
BottlesUp! First Friday tastings take place the first Friday of every month and include free wine tastings plus new, in-store art. (Lakeview)
Door 24 holds regular tastings every Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. These are free and no sign-up is required. Get on their social media pages for updates on their Friday night lineup! (Bucktown)
Ella Elli holds a monthly “20 for 20” tasting (20 wines for sampling, tickets are $20). Their kitchen is open during the tasting for snacks. Reservations are required and space is limited.
In Fine Spirits advertises regular free wine tastings Wednesdays from 5-7 pm and Saturdays from 3 to 6 pm with an occasional Thursday tasting (which will be announced on their social media and in their newsletter). (Andersonville)
Konbini & Kanpai holds regular wine tastings (often on Wednesdays and usually free), plus additional tastings of beer, sake, and spirits throughout the month. I strongly recommend checking out their online calendar and getting on their mailing list so that you can stay informed. (Lakeview)
Independent Spirits is holding wine tastings from 5-7 pm on Thursdays. Tastings are free and information about the tastings appears on social media. Tastings are free and there is no charge. (Edgewater)
Picnic Wine & Provisions holds wine tastings from 5-8 pm on Thursdays. $5, reservations are appreciated but not required. (Rogers Park)
Red & White Wines continues to offer tastings each Saturday from 2-5 pm. The cost is $10 and their wine club members get to participate at no added cost. The Red & White Wines newsletter usually releases information about the tastings the day before. I recommend getting on the mailing list so that you’ll know what to expect. (Bucktown)
Taste Food & Wine hosts $5 tastings on Tuesdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. 10% off the featured tasting bottles if you take one home that evening. Snacks are available at an additional charge. (Rogers Park)
Table, Donkey and Stick holds its “Terrior Tuesdays” every, you guessed it, Tuesday, selling a wine or wines by a featured producer by the glass at wholesale cost. Events sometimes include wine producers as special guests. (Logan Square)
Uvae Fromagerie & Tasting Room offers free hosted tastings from 6-8 pm on Tuesdays. Cork Dork Thursdays and Somm Pick Saturdays offer more extensive wine knowledge. Sign up and pay for your tickets online.
Uvae Fromagerie also offers pre-set wine flights of four one-ounce pours for $10 whenever the tasting room is open. (Andersonville)
Vin Chicago: Tastings on Saturdays from 12-4 at all three stores (Chicago, Barrington, and Highland Park). Free. No RSVP is necessary. Check out Vin’s Instagram for more details.
The Wine Goddess: $5 tastings every Saturday from 3-5 pm. Tastings feature four different wines. (Evanston)
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