8 Great Chicago Wine Events To Catch This June
By John Lenart in Food on May 31, 2016 6:33PM
Photo courtesy of City Winery
What June's slate of wine events lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. Here are our favorite wine events in June.
June 1
LUTUM Wines Seminar
City Winery (1200 W. Randolph St.) 7 to 9 p.m.
$60
Join one of California's most interesting and up and coming winemakers, 27 year old Gavin Chanin, to taste his incredible LUTUM Wines. The seminar focuses on the expression of wines based upon different soil types and sites. Enjoy a side by side comparative tasting of an exciting lineup from LUTUM.
For tickets click here
Sommelier for a Day
III Forks (180 N. Field Blvd.) 5 to 7 p.m.
$20 per person.
III Forks' Sommelier Brian Speh will lead guests through a sampling of six different wines from South Africa paired with an array of hors d'oeuvres by Executive Chef Cedric Harden. Guests taste each wine, then vote on their favorites, which will be featured for the month.
Wines to be poured:
Capensis Chardonnay 2013
Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2010
Protea Chenin Blanc 2014
Raats Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2013
Meerlust Rubicon Bordeaux Blend 2010
Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Call: 312-938-4303 to reserve a spot.
June 2
Riedel Wine Glass Seminar and Tasting
City Winery at The Riverwalk (11 Chicago Riverwalk) 6 to 8 p.m.
$90
Can the glass you drink from really make a difference in how a wine tastes? In this informative seminar and tasting a representative from Riedel, one of the finest glass makers in the world, will lead guests in a hands-on comparison of how the shape of a glass can profoundly affect a wine’s bouquet and flavor. City Winery exclusively uses varietal Riedel glassware for all wine service.
Guests will receive a four glass set—Sauvignon Blanc / Oaked Chardonnay / Pinot Noir / Cabernet Sauvignon—of Riedel Veritas stems. (Retail value of stemware is $138)
June 11
Wines of Italy Tasting Class
Spiaggia (980 N. Michigan Ave.) 1 to 3 p.m.
$78
Join Spiaggia's Sommelier Rachael Lowe for a Wine Tasting Class focused on Italy. Rachael will offer a comprehensive view of some of the great wine regions of Italy. Taste wines from the Northern-most to the Southern-most regions. Rachael will also discuss ways to approach wine lists when ordering the wines of Italy. Spiaggia's Chef de Cuisine Joe Flamm will prepare light bites to complement the Italian wines.
June 12
Brooks Winery Dinner
Blackbird (619 W. Randolph) 6 to 10 p.m.
$145 per person inclusive
Blackbird chef Ryan Pfeiffer prepares a five course meal to pair with the wines from Brooks Winery, a pioneer in organic and biodynamic in Oregon. Brooks Winemaker Chris Williams and Director Janie Heuck will be onsite to guide guests through their wine journey for the evening. The menu includes:
White asparagus, duck skin, strawberries, white chocolate Halibut, duck fat, mussels Duck leg sausage Duck breast Coconut tapioca, pistachio, fresh strawberry, chamomile white chocolate ice cream
June 13
Chateau du Cedre & Domaine Garnier Round Table Tasting
Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe (824 Sunset Ridge Rd., Northbrook) 6 to 8 p.m.
Complimentary
Join Pascal Verhaeghe of Chateau du Cedre in Cahors and Jerome Garnier of Domaine Garnier in Chablis for a Round Table Tasting with their wines.
Wines to be poured:
Chateau du Cedre - Cahors
2015 Cedrus Blanc
2014 Chateau du Cedre ‘Heritage’
2012 Chateau du Cedre ‘Chateau du Cedre’
2005 Chateau du Cedre GC
Domaine Garnier - Chablis
2014 Domaine Garnier Chablis
2014 Domaine Garnier Chablis Mont de Milieu 1er Cru
2013 Domaine Garnier Chablis Montmains
2014 Garnier Chablis Fourchaume 1er Cru
2013 Garnier Chablis Vaudesir Grand Cru
Tour des Gendres - Bergerac
2014 Anthologia Blanc
2014 Tour des Gendres Bergerac Blanc Cuvee Conti
2013 Tour des Gendres Bergerac Blanc Contine Perigourdine
2014 Tour des Gendres Bergerac Rouge Tour des Gendres
June 16
Sicilian Aeolian Wine Dinner
avec (615 W. Randolph St.) 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
$55 for prix fixe menu, $35 for optional wine pairing
Sommelier Eduard Seitan’s love of island wines is the inspiration for this dinner, which spans Sicily and Santa Marina Salina, Vulcano and Lipari.
The five-course prix fixe family style menu will include:
Scaccia Bread with Charred Onions and Wine Cured Pork Belly
Paired with 2014 Hauner Salina Bianco IGT (unoaked inzolia, catarratto from Santa Marina Salina Island)
Baked Fresh Ricotta with Artichoke Caponata
Paired with 2014 Pietradolce Rosato (nerello mascalese from the northern slopes of Mount Etna, Sicilia)
Charred Squid and Shrimp with Oregano and Limoncello Vinaigrette
Paired with 2014 Pietradolce Etna Bianco (carricante from Mount Etna, Sicilia)
Wood Roasted Swordfish with Roasted Fennel and Sun Dried Olives
Paired with 2013 Hauner Hiera (alicante, nocera and nero d'avola from Vulcano Island)
Pistachio Gelato with Stewed Apricots and Brioche
Paired with 2011 Hauner Malvasia delle Lipari (malvasia and corinto nero from Lipari Island)
June 23
Burgundy Seminar with Specialist Jen Tietz
City Winery (1200 W. Randolph) 7 to 9 p.m.
Cost: $65
Join wine expert Jen Tietz as she explores the amazing world of Burgundy. Featured in this tasting are the delicious and accessible wines of Chateau de Mersault and Chateau de Marsanny.
Seminar Wine Menu: White Chateau de Meursault Chateau Bourgogne Chardonnay Chateau de Meursault du ChateauRed
Chateau de Marsannay Rouge
Chateau de Marsannay Savigny Les Beaune
Chateau de Marsannay Gevrey-Chambertin
Chateau de Marsannay 1er Cru Clos de Chenes, Volnay
Weekly Events
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.
June 2nd - Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc (Chenin Blanc) 2014 - Loire Valley
June 9th - Castello di Cacchiano Chianti Classico 2009 with special guest, owner Giovanni Ricosoli - Tuscany
June 16th - Le Casematte 'Peloro Rosso' & Pietradolce Nerello Mascalese with special guests Michele and Gianfranco from the winery - Sicily
June 23rd - Margerum 'Riveria Rose' 2015 - Santa Barbara County
June 30th - Frank Cornelissen 'Munjebel Bianco' 2014 - Sicily
Terroir Tuesdays
Table, Donkey and Stick (2728 W. Armitage Ave.)
Each Tuesday, Table, Donkey and Stick features glass pours of rare and older vintage wines poured at their cost.