Do This: Blend Your Own Signature Wine At Bin 36

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 9, 2012 7:00PM

Practically all wines are blended. Different grapes, different vineyards, different styles; all come together to make something great, if the winemaker is good enough. Or, alternatively, all come together to make vinegar if the winemaker is terrible. We've always wanted a hands-on look at this process. Now you can get one at Bin 36 this Sunday.

Bin 36 is hosting their 10th Anniversary Harvest Festival. There will be wine and munchies, but the highlight of the event is a chance to blend your own wine with Wine Director Brian Duncan. He'll walk you through the process of adding a bit of this and a bit of that until you end up with just the right wine..

Duncan is a winemaker himself, so he knows what he's doing. You'll start at the Aroma station, sniffing the various flavor elements that make up a great wine. Then you'll move to the Blending station, mixing a variety of red wines. Each wine starts with a Cabernet Sauvignon base, but where it ends up is up to you.

The cost for the experience is $36. If you decide you actually want your own wine, Duncan will blend and bottle it for you. Plus, you get a customized label. You'll be able to pick it up six weeks later—what an awesome holiday gift. Six bottles are $95.

The event runs from 1-4, and tickets are available online. For more information, call (312) 755-9463.

Bin 36 is located at 339 North Dearborn.