Wine? That's a Wine!!

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jun 12, 2006 2:50PM

Chicagoist tries to drink a little bit of wine when and where we find ourselves in an opportunity to do so. We'll attend free tastings, wine-and-food pairings, region-specific classes, steal your boxed wine, and even take a free pull at Jewel paired with the pizza that's not supposed to taste frozen (it always tastes frozen, by the way).

Our inbox has been flooded with reminders the past month of this tasting happening tomorrow night at Soldier Field's Cadillac Club, the "Wine Australia Festival." It's a tasting of over 250 Australian wines, which will test even the strongest of palates. Specific wine varietals will be paired with appetizers from Adobo Grill, Ben Pao, Dine, Entourage, Fornetto Mei, Karma, Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro, and Sinha Elegant Cuisine. Attendees will also have the opportunity to talk with Australian wine makers about regional differences and the details of their winemaking processes.

Chicagoist is high on Australian wines. The land that gave us Foster's (we prefer VB) and AC/DC (ANGUS!!!) has a well-earned reputation for making some of the most affordable and tasty wine on the planet. From spicy, full-bodied shiraz and cabernets to buttery chardonnays and sweet muscats to dry rieselings and silky pinot noirs, Australia makes a wine for everyone.

If you're interested in attending the Wine Australia Festival, the cost is $50 in advance. You can make a reservation, which Chicagoist suggests as this could sell out, by going to www.localwineevents.com/Chicago-Wine. You can also learn more about Australian Wines by visiting the website for the Australia Wine and Brandy Corporation.