Chicago Wine Report | 3.16.2023
Updates | New Podcasts | Massive Wine Crush
Changes at the Chicago Wine Report
Greetings, and our apologies for the delay in getting this newsletter to you. We’ve been making some changes in how we operate. Never fear: We will continue to bring you news of wine businesses and events here in Chicago and will also continue to produce in-depth interviews with local wine professionals and enthusiasts. Our changes are as follows:
We are no longer doing our weekly radio show on WCGO. The shows were great fun, and we’d love to get back on the air at some point, but for now, we’ll be sticking with podcasts, social media content, and this newsletter.
Podcast interviews will continue! We plan to record two or three podcasts per month.
We will be back on a weekly schedule with this newsletter.
If you aren’t following us on Instagram, please do so! That’s where we are most active. Check out our story feed regularly: We share news/events posted by local wine businesses there.
Look for us to take a more news-focused approach to our reports. We want people in Chicago (and the suburbs) to know about wine happenings and businesses.
We thank you all for your ongoing support!
OUR RECENT PODCASTS
You can find our podcasts on most podcast services and via our host, Spreaker. Below are direct links to our three most recent shows via Spotify:
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
The Chicago Wine Report is brought to you by our paid subscribers and our sponsors Pyne Properties and Velocity Courier:
Contact Velocity Courier at (312) 944-0754 for your business delivery needs. Yes, they do deliver wine!
(Interested in becoming a sponsor? Drop us an e-mail at ChicagoWineReport@gmail.com.)
WINE CRUSH
I (Lainie) love the free Friday night wine tastings over at Independent Spirits in Edgewater. This week’s tasting was exceptional, featuring winemaker Coralie Delecheneau, and a gorgeous lineup of Loire Valley wines.
I selected the Chenin Blanc to bring home and am SO glad I did. I served it at our most recent business meeting and Chip just had to crow about it!
As of March 16, 2023, La Grange Tiphaine’s “Clef de Sol” Chenin Blanc 2021 can be found in at least two shops in the Chicago area:
Independent Spirits in Edgewater
CHICAGO WINE NEWS & EVENTS
March 16th (tonight): Picnic Wine & Provisions hosts its regular Thursday night wine tasting from 5 to 8 pm. This week features women winemakers, and the shop’s fabulous staff pours the wines! Tastings are $5, free for wine club members.
March 17th: Independent Spirits hosts its regular wine tasting Friday night from 5 to 7 pm, featuring Sardinian wines. Tasting is free.
March 18th: Printers Row Wine in Printers Row/South Loop continues its “Readings,” series at 2 pm. The wine bar is open for purchases. This reading will include poetry from the shop’s late owner, Flavio Gentile, and short readings by six other writers.
March 18th: Red & White Wines hosts Collin Moody of Vom Boden at its regular Saturday afternoon tasting (2-5 pm). Collin will be opening the wines of Stefan Vetter for your tasting pleasure. Cost is $10, free for Red & White wine club members.
March 19th: Easy Does It in Logan Square hosts a “Ludes Fundraiser,” with proceeds supporting The Abundance Setting. Ludes is a Mosel producer, and a dozen wines will be available for sampling. 3-9 pm, tickets are available online for $45. Sponsored by Vom Boden and Riesling Kenner.
March 19th: Beautiful Rind in Logan Square hosts a “Rhone Around the World: A tasting of Global White Wines inspired by the Rhone” class from 6 to 8:30 pm. The cost is $40 per person, and in-person and virtual options are available. You can purchase your ticket via the Beautiful Rind website.
March 25th: LUSH Evanston hosts a bottomless brunch from 1-4 pm. Three courses (sweet and savory options available) and bottomless selected drinks. Please note that this event is at the Evanston location only.
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 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 complimentary 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. (Southport)
Galleria Liquors holds free wine tastings at both its locations on Fridays from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturdays from 3 pm to 6 pm. (Southport & Old Town)
In Fine Spirits offers 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)
Juice@1340 holds free community tastings from 5-7 pm on Thursday nights.
Konbini & Kanpai holds regular wine tastings (often on Wednesdays and usually free) and additional beer, sake, and spirits tastings 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 Fridays. Tastings are free, and information about the tastings appears on social media. Tastings are free. (Edgewater)
Perman Wine Selections offers an informal Saturday tasting: Come to the shop, ask what is open, and Craig Perman pours you a taste. The store is open from 11 am to 7 pm. (Near North)
Picnic Wine & Provisions holds wine tastings from 5-8 pm on Thursdays. $5 charge; 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)