Here Are 13 Great Wine Events For October
By John Lenart in Food on Oct 1, 2015 3:00PM
From South America to Germany and wine regions in between, here's your guide to wine events in Chicago during October.
October 2
Chicago Wine Opener
Revel
440 W. Randolph St.
6:00 p.m. For VIP, 7:00 p.m. For General Admission
General Admission Tickets $85, VIP Tickets $175
Six of Chicago's top sommeliers present an “Around-the-World” themed wine tasting to benefit The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Guests enjoy hors d'oeuvres and over 30 wines poured by Rachel Driver Speckan of City Winery, Charles Ford of The Bristol, Arthur Hon of Sepia, Rachael Lowe of Spiaggia, Elizabeth Mendez of Vera and Dan Pilkey of Cattier Champagne. VIP Guests will also be able to attend a side by side blind tasting seminar put on by the somms and a VIP Lounge with exclusive wine selections. A portion of each ticket is tax deductible, ($47 GA and $120 VIP.)
Tickets can be purchased here.
October 5
Milbrandt Winemaker Dinner
Geja's Cafe
340 W. Armitage Ave.
6:30 p.m.
$55 per person, inclusive.
Get your fondue when Geja's welcomes Milbrandt Vineyards for a winemaker dinner. The evening begins with a reception where winery representatives engage guests in tastings and discussion of Milbrandt Vineyards wines followed by a fondue dinner paired with Mibrandt wines. To reserve call 773-281-9101.
October 6
Terroir Tuesday: Schafer Frohlich Grosses Gewachs
Table Donkey and Stick
2728 W. Armitage Ave.
Taste the rieslings of Schafer-Frohlich Grosses Gewachs poured by the glass from magnums at wholesale cost.
October 7
The Merano Wine Festival
Eataly Chicago
43 E. Ohio St.
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$40 per person
The Merano Wine Festival, an exclusive celebration of Italian wine making, returns to Chicago for the second consecutive year. Meet over 30 of the most celebrated and historic Italian wine producers from throughout Italy as they pour different wines. Complementary appetizers will be included throughout the event. Tickets can be purchased here.
October 12
Canard-Duchêne Champagne Dinner
RPM Italian
52 W. Illinois St.
6:30 p.m.
$129 per person (plus tax; gratuity not included)
RPM Italian presents a wine dinner with champagne house Canard-Duchêne. Dinner includes seven different champagnes—including four Grandes Cuvées. The five-course dinner menu, by Chef Doug Psaltis, will feature items which include Champagne-Poached Scallop with Tuscan White Truffle, Four Story Hill Farm Sweetbreads with Louisiana Crawfish Raviolini and Prime Aged Beef Medallions with Oyster and Caviar Béarnaise. Reservations available by calling 312-222-8888 or email rpmitalianparties@leye.com.
October 14
“Wine and Swine” Alsatian Wine Dinner
Paris Club Bistro & Bar
59 W. Hubbard St.
6:30 p.m.
$75 per person (plus tax; gratuity not included)
Paris Club Bistro & Bar hosts “Pork and Vin” wine dinner. This five-course event will feature a whole Slagel Farms pig prepared several ways and will pair all Alsatian wines—handpicked by wine director Ryan Arnold. The menu includes Pork Rillette with sage and thyme, Choucroute—the classic dish of Alsace with sausages and sauerkraut—and Prime Chops with Apples and Pork Belly. Reservations can be made by emailing parisclubparties@leye.com or calling 312-595-0800.
Wines of Portugal Producer Showcase 2015
City Winery
1200 W. Randolph St.
6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
$60 per person
Discover more than 200 wines from Portugal, one of the most exciting and best value wine regions in the world. Wines in this walk around tasting will be paired with a selection of light appetizers. Tickets available here.
October 15
RPM Steak Wine Dinner with Blackbird Vineyards
RPM Steak
66 W. Kinzie St.
6:30 p.m.
$159 per person (plus tax; gratuity not included)
Join Napa Valley powerhouse Blackbird Vineyards for an evening of Bordeaux-style wines. Wine highlights include a jeroboam of 2008 Paramour and 2012 vintages of both Contrarian and Illustration. The five-course menu includes Maine Lobster Carpaccio with Osetra Caviarand, Dry-Aged Porterhouse with Red Wine and Bone Marrow Béarnaise, and more. Reservations can be made by calling 312-284-4990 or email rpmsteakparties@leye.com.
Photo credit: Geja's
October 20
Terroir Tuesday: Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Table Donkey and Stick
2728 W. Armitage Ave.
Meet winemaker Matt Brady as he pours great syrah and other Rhone varietals from the Santa Barbera winery Jaffurs wine cellars. All wines will be sold by the glass at wholesale cost.
October 21
Wines of South America: Wine Dinner with Evan Goldstein, Master Sommelier
City Winery
1200 W. Randolph St.
6:45 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $120.00 with book, $95.00 without book
Join Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein, author of “Wines of South America” for a three course dinner paired with wines from South America. Goldstein will guide guests through the ABC's (Argentine, Brazil, and Chile) while discussing the wines, grapes, geography and history of these diverse wine regions. The ticket price of $120 includes a copy of "Wines of South America," or $95 for the dinner only. Tickets available here.
October 27
Tasting and Winemaker dinner with Nicola Trabuco of Trabuco winery from Campania
Acanto
18 S. Michigan Ave.
Cost: $35 for tasting or $90 plus tax and tip for Dinner
Join Acanto and Nicola Trabuco of Trabuco winery in Campania for a unique three-course dinner paired with Nicola's 100% Aglianico from Falerno del Massimo in Campania called 'Rapicano'. Dinner and the tasting will feature eight vintages of the same wine in three flights, from 2004-2011. Reservations are recommended, but the tasting menu will be available all night, so no specific seating time is required.
October 29
Tasting and Wine Dinner with Andrea Sottimano of Azienda Agricola Sottimano
Osteria Langhe
2824 W. Armitage Ave.
Tasting from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Winemaker dinner at 8:00 p.m.
Tasting $15 (Fee waived for those dining at the restaurant that evening) Winemaker Dinner (Limited to 12 people) $225
Join Osteria Langhe and Andrea Sottimano for either a tasting of the wines of Azienda Agricola Sottimano or an exclusive winemaker dinner featuring a special truffle menu. The tasting fee of $15 is waived for those dining at the restaurant that evening. The VIP dinner is limited to 12 seats and can be reserved by calling (773) 661-1582.
October 30
Tasting and Winemaker dinner with Andrea Sottimano of Azienda Agricola Sottimano
Acanto
18 S. Michigan Ave.
Cost: Tasting $25 for four wines. Dinner $75 plus tax and tip.
If you missed dinner with Andrea Sottimano on the 29th at Osteria Langhe here's your chance to taste his amazing wines. Guests can taste the 'Brice del Saito' 2013 Dolcetto d'Alba DOC, Pairolero' 2012 Barbara d'Alba DOC, 'Pajore' 2012 Barbaresco DOCG, and the 'Fausoni' 2012 Barbaresco DOCG or order a special three course tasting menu to be paired with these wines. It's truffle season! (wink wink!) Reservations are recommended, but the tasting menu will be available all night, so no specific seating time is required.