OUR LATEST SHOW
Our December 4th, 2022 show on WCGO Radio (1590 AM & 95.9 FM) was one of our best! Our in-studio guest was Nisha Aher of Hart Davis Hart Wine Company. Nisha has so much knowledge about wine and shared so much with our team and audience. We are very grateful that she took the time to be on our show!
We also had a fantastic pre-recorded interview with Craig Garofalo and Michael Seward of Pops for Champagne. Pops for Champagne was (and is) a trailblazer in the Chicago wine scene and it was great to learn about its story as well as the culture that its team seeks to foster. If you like bubbly, you’ll definitely want to give this interview a listen.
Also, a quick reminder that our shows stream live on Facebook and YouTube while we are in the studio. While Instagram isn’t set up for livestreaming our radio show, we often do stream in-studio before the show via our IG account. Please follow us there!
COMING UP ON THE CHICAGO WINE REPORT
Tune in to the Chicago Wine Report every Sunday morning at 10:00 am (10:06 am to be exact) at 1680 AM and 95.9 FM in the Chicago area, or via the station’s website at WCGORadio.com.
On December 11th, our guest is Kim Bosse, co-founder of Birch Road, a BYOB social club with clubhouses in Chicago (Roscoe Village and Lincoln Park), Seattle, and Denver. We’ll be talking about the Birch Road concept and the many wine-related events hosted by the clubs.
Then, on December 18th, Warner DeJulio of Vin 312 Winery will be in the studio with us! Vin 312 is a craft winery based in the Ravenswood neighborhood. We are thrilled to have an actual winemaker on the show!
CHICAGO WINE NEWS & EVENTS
Are you in the wine business and hosting an event? Have some news for the Chicago wine community? 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.
December 8th: BottlesUp! in Lakeview hosts Charl Coetzee of Babylonstoren who will be teaching a South African wine class at 7:00 pm. Cost is $30. Contact BottlesUp! to reserve your seat.
December 10th: Cellar Door in Downers Grove is hosting its Grand Winter Wine Tasting from 1 to 4 pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.
December 10th: WineStyles Norwood Park is hosting its Holiday Wine Tasting from 4 to 7 pm. At least 15 wines will available. Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
December 15th: Robert et Fils hosts a Left vs Right Bank Bordeaux Tasting, accompanied by a cassoulet dinner. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online.
December 17th: Juice@1340 hosts The Squeeze: A curated wine & spirits tasting at 3:00 pm. Tickets are $60 and must be purchased in advance.
December 22nd: Robert et Fils hosts a Champagne and Caviar Tasting with snacks served throughout the event. Tickets are $50 and are available online.
December 28th: Beautiful Rind hosts the 2022 Wine Down, a tasting of the staff’s favorite wines this year. Tickets are $60 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.
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. They are also hosting vendor-led tastings on Friday nights, 5 to 7 pm, through the holiday season. (Evanston)
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