14 April Wine Events To Put On Your Calendar

By John Lenart in Food on Mar 30, 2016 5:31PM

If you're a fan of Italian wines or Burgundian varieties, April brings a number of great wine events to fill your calendar.

April 2

The Art of Celebrating - Champagne Taittinger & Caviar Live from Pebble Beach Food and Wine
Seven Lions Restaurant
130 S. Michigan Ave.
12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.
$100
Click here for tickets.

Do you love champagne and caviar, but can't make it out to Pebble Beach this weekend? Well, no problem. Head over to Seven Lions and join Master Sommelier and Owner Alpana Singh as she co-hosts a live stream of “The Art of Celebrating - Champagne Taittinger & Caviar” from Pebble Beach Food and Wine. Thanks to live-streaming capabilities, guests attending Seven Lions in Chicago will be able to interact with and ask questions of the panelists in California, including Maple and Ash sommelier Belinda Chang. Come and sip on the same Brut La Francais and other Champagnes as attendees in Pebble Beach, while indulging in delectable caviar.

April 5

Division Winemaking Company Winemaker Dinner
Cherry Circle Room
12 S. Michigan Ave.
7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Cost: $90
For tickets click here.

Cherry Circle Room wine director Andrew Algren is joined by winemaker Thomas Monroe, of Division Winemaking Co., one of Oregon's most exciting new wineries. Division wines, being poured include; chenin blanc, rosé, gamay noir, and syrah, paired with a four course dinner from Cherry Circle Room’s executive chef Pete Coenen. Thomas and Andrew will be discussing the wines and pairings with guests.

April 6
Sommelier for a Day Italy!
III Forks
180 N. Field
6:00 p.m.
$20 per person
RSVP by calling 312-938-4303

Italian selections paired with hors d'oeuvres. Guests taste each selection and then vote on their favorites, which will be featured for the month.
Wine Selections:

Paolo Bea 'Santa Chiara' Pagliaro, White Blend, Umbria, Italy 2012

Livio Felluga Colli Orientali del Fruili, Pinot Grigio, Friuli-Venezia-Giulia, Italy 2012

Occhipinti 'Il Frappato', Frappato, Sicily, Italy 2013

Ruffino 'Riserva Ducale Oro' Grand Selezione, Sangiovese, Chianti Classico, Italy, 2010

Perticaia, Montefalco Sagrantino, Red Blend, Umbria, Italy 2010 

Giacomo Grimaldi, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, 2011

Willamette Valley Takeover with Pure Bathing Culture 
City Winery
1200 W. Randolph St.
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
$45
For tickets click here.

City Winery hosts an evening of wine tasting and music!  Eight Willamette Valley wineries are featured, with the winemaker or owner pouring several wines produced at each winery, all from Oregon's Willamette Valley. As the evening progresses, the Portland based band, Pure Bathing Culture takes the stage. Wines will be paired with hors d'oeuvres, cheese and charcuterie.

Featured Wineries:
Anne Amie Vineyards
Chehalem
Division Winemaking Company
Elk Cove Vineyards
Goodfellow Family Cellars
Grochau Cellars
Montinore Estate
Patton Valley Vineyard
 
April 7

Lynfred Winery Barrel Tasting
Lynfred Winery
15 South Roselle Road
Roselle, Illinois 60172
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: $54.13
To reserve, call 630-529-WINE

Join Lynfred Winery in their cellar for a barrel tasting of red wines being released in 2016. Winemakers Andres Basso and Rodrigo Gonzalez will be pulling wines that will be bottled and released from the cellar's barrels for your enjoyment. Lynfred chef Celeste Pasag will be pairing up bites to accompany the tastings.

April 9

Island Wine Tasting Class at Spiaggia
Spiaggia Restaurant
980 N. Michigan Ave.
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
$78.00
For tickets click here.

Sommelier Rachael Lowe hosts a tasting class focusing on wines from the islands. Sample and discuss red and white wines from Corsica, Sardinia, Sicilia and Ischia. Compare the varying terroirs and discuss the parallels and idiosyncrasies between the native grapes, wine making styles and wineries. Light appetizers from Chef de Cuisine Joe Flamm will be served.

April 12

Illahe Vineyards Wine Dinner
Vie
4471 Lawn Avenue
Western Springs
6:00 p.m.
$150 per person, all-inclusive
For reservations, call 708-246-2082

Joining guests for this event is Bethany Ford, national sales manager for Illahe, to talk with guests about Illahe’s wines and winemaking process. Each course of this five course dinner will be paired with an Illahe wine. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase bottles of the wine served. 

April 14

Burgundy Tasting of Château Marsannay and Château de Meursault
Plum Market Old Town
1233 N. Wells St.
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: 20.00
To reserve, call 312-229-1400

This is a great opportunity to taste classic examples of French Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the famous communes of Meursault, Gevrey-Chambertin, and Marsannay. Also being poured are the Bourgogne Blanc and Rouge, which represent considerable value. From Château de Meursault guests will taste the 2013 Bourgogne Blanc Clos du Château, 2013 Meursault du Château and 2012 Savigny-les-Beaune. From Château de Marsannay the 2013Bourgogne du Château, 2013 Gevrey-Chambertin, and more.

"Attack of the Clones" Wine Dinner with Reuling Vineyards.
Knife & Tine
1417 W. Fullerton Ave.
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Cost: $75
To reserve call: 773-697-8311

Reuling Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast produces exceptional chardonnay and pinot noir. Dinner will feature Reuling Vineyards Limited Edition "Clonal Collection" battling against the winery's sustainable bottlings. Guests will have the opportunity to discuss the wines with Owner Tim Reuling.

Menu FIRST COURSE Grilled giant calamari, green tomato sweet and sour chutney 2013 Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast

SECOND COURSE
Foraged mushroom "baklava", cultured crème fraîche
2013 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast VS 2013 “R” Clone

THIRD COURSE
Lamb sirloin, bonito flakes, sunchoke rangoon, cucumber gremolata
2013 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast VS 2013 “C” Clone

FOURTH COURSE
Hazelut cremeuix, fennel, cardamom toast crunch
2013 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast VS 2013 “L” Clone

April 16

9th Annual Pinot Days Grand Festival
Navy Pier, Lakeview Terrace Room
600 E. Grand Ave.
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Cost: $75
Click here for tickets.

Sample over 100 pinots from regions including, Russian River Valley, Oregon, Carneros, Santa Lucia Highlands, Anderson Valley and Sonoma Coast. Taste highly acclaimed wines, and talk with the winemakers who create them.

April 18

Round Table Tasting: Martine's Wines Portfolio Tasting
Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe
824 Sunset Ridge Road
Northbrook, Illinois 60062
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Complimentary Educational Tasting with the option to buy wine after.
To reserve click here.

Join Martine's founder Martine Saunier to taste through the wines of this iconic importer & wholesaler. Don't miss this opportunity to taste through some of the iconic wines imported by Martine's.

April 19

Guided Wine Tasting: Orange Wines
Eataly Chicago
43 E. Ohio St.
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $40 per person
To reserve click here.

Have you ever wondered what "orange wine" is? Or maybe you already know and want to explore more of them. This guided tasting will provide a crash course in Italian-produced orange wines. Guests will sample three different orange wines, paired with complementary antipasti. Sessions last approximately 45 minutes. 

April 21

Domaine William Fèvre 2014 Chablis Seminar
Plum Market Old Town
1233 N. Wells St.
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Cost: 40.00
Click here for tickets.

Chablis produced some of the purest expressions of chardonnay. William Fèvre's wines are all hand-harvested, fermented with native yeasts, and 100 percent organically grown. 2014 was an incredible year in Chablis and guests will taste single vineyard premier crus “Montée de Tonnerre” and “Vaillons” and Grand Cru wines from “Les Clos” and “Bouguerots”, plus a 2011 “Montée de Tonnerre.” The seminar and tasting will be hosted by Plum Market's Anthony Minne, Advance Sommelier, and Katie Parker from Henriot.

April 22

Italian Wine Basics, from Grape to Glass
Eataly Chicago
43 E. Ohio St.
5:30p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Cost: 65
To reserve click here.

Navigating an Italian wine section can be a daunting task. In this beginners wine class, guests will explore the different wine regions within Italy, indigenous Italian grapes and the proper method to sip, swirl and taste. Guests will be guided through a selection of five Italian wines accompanied by Italian antipasti.

Weekly events:

Terroir Tuesdays
Table, Donkey and Stick
2728 W. Armitage Ave.

Each Tuesday, Table, Donkey and Stick features glass pours of rare and older vintage wine poured at their cost.

April 5 - Monthelie Douhairet Porcheret
Monthelie Clos du Meix Garnier Monopole 2003
Monthelie Clos du Meix Garnier Monopole 2006 (Magnum)
Monthelie Clos du Meix Garnier Monopole 2008 (Magnum)
Volnay 1er Cru En Champans 1993
Volnay 1er Cru En Champans 2008 (Magnum)

April 12 - Clos Cibonne Rose Party
Cotes de Provence Rose 'Tentations' 2015
Cotes de Provence Rose Cuvee Tradition 2014
Cotes de Provence Rose Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes 2014
Cotes de Provence Tibouren Rouge 2013

April 19 - Winemaker visit with Michael Reinisch of Johanneshof Reinisch. J. Reinisch makes great wines from the traditional grapes of the Thermenregion in Austria, including Rotgipgler and Zierfandler for whites and St. Laurent and Zweigelt for reds.
Pinot Noir Grillenhugel 2007
St. Laurent 2011 and 2013
St. Laurent Frauenfeld 2009 and 2012
Zweigelt Vom Steinfeld 2008 and 2013
Rotgipfler 2014
Zierfandler 'Spiegel' 2013

April 26 - Cru Beaujolais from Jean Foillard and Guy Breton. Two of the so-called "gang of four" who led the charge in making "serious" wines in Beaujolais. Taste a range of coveted wines open from multiple vintages.
Foillard Morgon 'Cote de Py' 2011
Foillard Morgon 'Cote de Py' 2012 (Magnum)
Foillard Morgon 'Cuvee Corcelettes' 2013
Foillard Morgon 'Cuvee Corcelettes' 2014
Breton Morgon 2013
Breton Regnie 2013

Three Liter Thursdays
Acanto
18 S. Michigan Ave.
Each Thursday, Acanto pulls the cork on a three liter bottle and pours it by the glass.

April 7 - Donnafugata 'Mille e una Notte' Nero d'Avola 2007 - Sicily

April 14 - Siduri 'Keefer Ranch' Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley, CA with special guest - Winemaker Adam Lee!

April 21 - Poliziano 'Vigna Asinone Riserva' Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2011 - Tuscany

April 28 - Domaine la Barroche Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2012 with special guest Laititia Barrot