Wine Classes: Eno

By Lisa Shames in Food on Aug 28, 2007 6:00PM

Scott Harney must have been very very good in a previous life. Well, that is, if you believe in that sort of thing. How else do you explain having a job where you have to spend—emphasis on the have to—large amounts of time eating high-end chocolate and cheese, followed by drinking lots of very good wine? Okay, we know that his job as wine director at Eno also involves doing some work-like tasks, too, but we’re sure even he would admit he’s got a sweet deal.

Fortunately, Harney’s willing to share his hard-earned wine, cheese and chocolate knowledge—stints at BIN 36, Signature Room, Dine, among others—to others at weekly classes at EnoVersity. Every Monday night from 6 to 7 pm, a small group of ‘students’ take over the back room at this year-old spot in the InterContinental Hotel for some wine talk and, natch, drinking. The new classes are informal but well thought out, and include not only samples of wine, but cheeses, charcuterie and chocolate to match the night’s theme, not a bad deal for $25 (if the class has whet your whistle for more, you’ll get 15 percent off all purchases, both retail and service, that evening).

Chicagoist attended Eno’s class on Tuscan wines and learned a bit about the area’s history, as well as details on the grape varieties, geography, climate and soil (we’re sure we learned more than that but our notes are a bit fuzzy). We liked the stories Harney told about the winemakers almost as much as the vin santo (sweet dessert wine) we tried that had aged 18 years in oak and was from the last case shipped from Italy to Chicago.

Eno is located at 505 N. Michigan Ave., 312-321-8738.

As part of our goal to learn more about wine, Chicagoist is always on the hunt for interesting wine shops, classes and events. If you know of any great grape nuts we should check out, let us know.