At Chicago Gourmet 2009

It was a cloudy, but beatiful weekend, and a great chance to enjoy outstanding wine and local food at Chicago Gourmet 2009.  My wife and I headed down on the Green Line, and then walked over to beautiful Millenium Park, where all the festivities were being held.  There were tents set up everywhere- in case of rain, each one filled with samples from Southern Wine & Spirits brands or local food and beverage options.  It was time to dive in, eat, drink, and enjoy!

We darted for the food tents first, to see what was cooking.  We were greeted by a huge pig on a grill, being cooked and sliced by the chefs from Jose Garces' Mercat a la Planxa.  This was extremely delicious, and started us off with a popular theme now being used by many chefs- pork.  Just recently looked down upon, the "other white meat" is reaching new heights in culinary acclaim.  I have always been a fan, and use pork as a key flavor component in many of my own home dishes.  This can also be served in a group setting at Mercat with advanced reservations.  We also started off with some great pork belly served up by the Four Seasons, smoked sturgeon from Blackbird, and heirloom tomatoes and mozzarella from Keefer's.  Countless other restaurants were onhand, giving out great samples like The Gage, Sunda, Spring, Arun's, Japonais, Hugo's, Mexique, Piccolo Sogno, L20, Carnivale, and C-House.  This was an awesome display of the Chicago culinary scene- one of the best in the world.

Next we headed for the Terlato tent, which was definitely the most awesome wine display.  Many prestigious brands were being poured like Two Hands, Sokol Blosser, Il Poggione, Bollinger (James Bonds' fav Champagne), M. Chapoutier, Chimney Rock, Rust en Vrede, and Terlato Family Vineyards.  Credenzas and couches were set up for ambience and comfort, and it may have been the most relaxed, yet festive tastings I've been to.  We had the fortune of running into Anthony Terlato, who could not have been more inviting.  We were looking forward to his cooking demo with Fabio Vivani.

We made it to a few demos, which were held in the Jay Pritzker Pavillion.  The first we witnessed was with a great trio of chefs: Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate, Bill Kim of Urban Belly, and Stephanie Izard of highly anticipated The Drunken Goat.  They would be cooking with pork and peaches, with recipes that may be included on their own menus.  Chef Kim went with a pork belly sandwich, which may be featured at his new restaurant, Belly Shack, while chef Izard went for pork belly over seared tofu, for a healthy, yet savory offering.

Next, it was time for Anthony Terlato, offering his Santa Margherita Prosecco to the audience, and Fabio Vivani, of Top Chef and Cafe Firenze, cooking up some simple seared tuna.  This was not only a very good sparkling wine, but also an excellent pairing.

There were also many other great demos, including the artistry of seafood & salt, seasonal cuisine, asian delights, and farm to table. 

 

I was amazed by all the fine food, wine, and spirits onhand.  It was filled with delight after delight for the senses!  If you have never been to this 2nd annual event, make sure to be looking for Chicago Gourmet 2010.  It will be worth it!

Friday Evening at Windy City Wine Fest '09

It was a beautiful Friday evening, and I had a plan- take the Green Line train to east Randolph Street, meet my wife just after work, and enjoy the Windy City Wine Festival.  Everything worked out as scheduled, and we headed to Daley Bicentennial Plaza, which has an amazing view of the city to go along with excellent greenery and flowers.  There was a short line at will call, where we picked up our wristbands and drink tickets, and headed into the fest!

We moved past the stage, where the demonstrations were being held, and decided to circle the park and booths before sampling.  While walking with our sample glasses, my wife received many dirty looks- she is pregnant.  Her only intention was to smell, taste, and spit the wine, but I fear there are too many judgmental individuals in our society.  Feeling uncomfortable, she turned in her souvenier glass for a bottle of water.  It's funny how those same people would say nothing if they saw a pregnant woman smoking or consuming unhealthy or "fast" foods, which could be harmful to a developing baby, while moderate consumption of wine during pregnancy has proven, through reseach, to be helpful in development.  Everything in moderation is the key to life, and unfortunately, a good portion of America has yet to learn this.

So we headed into the tastings, and I decided to go with Illinois wineries.  First was Cooper's Hawk winery and restaurant, located in Orland Park, IL.  I tried their house white blend of mostly Alsatian varietals, and it was a bit off-dry, fruity, and pleasant. 

Next was Illinois Cellars, which makes estate wines in Carrollton.  I tried their white Chardonnel, Apple Wine, and red Norton.  The wines are of decent quality, and when you consider the pricetag ($6.99/bottle), are quite a value for locally grown examples- definitely worth a try! 

We then saw Greg Fischer, of BevArt and Wild Blossom Meadery, from the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago.  Greg owns local bee farms here in both Illinois and Indiana, from which he gets the honey to make mead.  I've tasted much of his product before and it's fantastic, especially when heated or added to beer.  There was quite a line, so I said hi and proceeded onto my favorite Illinois winery, Lynfred.

Lynfred Winery is located in Roselle, IL., and makes wines from local and California grown varietals.  They have a miriad of styles, from sweet fruit wines like cranberry, peach, and rhubarb, to Viognier and award winning Cabernet Sauvignon.  Make sure to visit them and say hi to Christina and the crew (pictured above)!

As for the rest of the wines, I thought the selections were mostly pedestrian.  Many of the labels are nothing different from what I have seen widely available in your local Jewel-Osco or Dominick's.  That is not to say the wine was bad, but just that it was nothing special.

As far as the food goes, many very good restaurants were represented.  Markethouse, Zocalo, and Billy Goat Tavern were among the Chicago reps, with many other goodies from the 'burbs as well.  It was a huge pleasure to meet Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh (pictured to the right) of Hearty Boys catering, and soon to open (November '09), Hearty restaurant.  They are an awesome duo, and Chicago is very fortunate to have them growing in the city.  They even put on a great and informative cooking demo for all to see and learn.

The night was made even better after we left, as we were able to experience part of the performance from the Lyric Opera House in the Pritzker Pavillion.  Even though the venue was packed, we had a great time, and both Millenium Park and Chicago are awesome in the summertime.  

If you unfortunately missed this event, you can still catch the Naperville Wine Festival this coming weekend, or Chicago Gourmet September 26 & 27.  Make sure you enjoy everything Chicagoland has to offer, and tell me about it!

Old Town Wine Crush Music & Comedy Fest

September is bringing alot of wine fun to Chicago, and this festival is centered in the great Old Town neighborhood.  One of the main attractions of Old Town are its comedy clubs, and they will be in the mix this weekend, September 12 &13.  Comedy will be featured in the O'Brien's parking lot on both days, while music will be at the North Avenue stage, highlighted by the Gin Blossoms on Saturday.  Here are more specifics:

There is a $7 gate donation which will give you access to all music, activities, and demonstrations.  The money will also benefit the Old Town Merchants and Residents Association, along with Chicago 2016.  For an additional $40, you will receive a souvenier glass and 10 tastings (1 oz. pours), from a choice of over 30 premium wines.  Marimar, Chateau Graville-Lacoste, Au Bon Climat, Flowers, Ridge, and Bodegas Fernandez are some of the highlights.  $15 for an additional 10 tastings. 

A cooking stage will feature demos from Old Town Brasserie, Kamehachi, The Fudge Pot, Adobo Grill (go say hi to Matt), and Dinotto Ristorante.  There will also be some grape stomping, a la "I Love Lucy", available through preregistration of two-person teams for competition.  There is only room for 8 teams per day, so make sure to get on the list quickly.  If you need more info, check out their site.  Go have some fun, and tell us all about it!

Chicago Community Crush Kick-Off

This past Wednesday, Community Crush: Chicago was launched at our kick-off party held in Rogers Park.  Taste Food and Wine was our host, and they are an awesome wine shop and Euro deli, which had ample space to accomodate all new members of the Community.  Onhand were  four Community Crush: San Francisco 2008 Pinot Noirs to taste, each very different, and gave all a sneak peak at what our Pinot Noir could be like next year. 

This was the first of what will be many gatherings and chances to meet other people who are enthusiastic about wine and Chicago.  Make sure to join the Community online, become part of our wine's life cycle, and say hi to both myself and my co-leader Carol Ludwick.  Our next event is being held at South Loop Wine Cellar next Wednesday, September 16, from 6:30-8:30pm.  We will be tasting more Crushpad wines, and tasting some freshly picked Pinot Noir grapes from the Two Pisces Vineyard, the source of our 2009 wine.  See you there!

Naperville Wine Festival

There is alot going on that involves wine this month in the city, and that also includes the 'burbs.  For the 7th year in a row, the Naperville Wine Festival will be delighting Chicagoland with food and beverage.  Not only will there be over 250 wines present, but also some great local restaurants, and lots of entertainment and demos.  Check out the info:

The event will be held in the historic Naper Settlement at 523 S. Webster St. on Friday, September 18, and Saturday, September 19.  If you are coming from downtown, the Metra will get you there quickly, and the stop is closeby.  You can purchase tickets in advance for $25 through the website or by calling (847)382-1480.  Tickets can also be purchase at the door for $30, and includes a souvenier glass, a Festival program, 10 tastes, and access to food, demos, and music.  An additional 10 tastes can be purchased for $5, while designated drivers can enter for $10, with the same benefits, except their 10 tastes are replaced by 2 non alcoholic drinks.  Groups of 15 or more receive a 10% discount.  A portion of all proceeds benefits the Naperville Area Humane Society and Naper Settlement.

If you are not the biggest wine fan, you can still enjoy the fest.  Not only will there be lots of food and entertainment, but a Belgian Beer Cafe will be onhand.  It is sponsored by Stella Artois, and will also include Leffe and Hoegaarden beers.  No matter what you like, I guarantee you will enjoy this trip to Naperville and its gorgeous riverwalk.  Treat yourself to a day away from the big city with some wine and Naperville!

5th Annual Windy City Wine Festival

Attention all wine, food, and beverage lovers.  Make sure to pencil in the Windy City Wine Festival on your calendars!  The event will be taking place on September 11 &12 at Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park (337 E. Randolph).  This is a chance to meet winemakers and experts of 250 different wines, along with some of Chicago's finest restaurants featuring a taste of their cuisine.  Here are the specifics:

For $25 in advance or $30 at the gate, you have access to all seminars, demonstrations, musical performances, a Festival program, a souvenier glass, and 10 tastings.  An additional 10 tastings can be purchased for $5.  For $10, designated drivers get the same treatment, except their 10 tastes are replaced by 2 non alcoholic beverages.  A 10% group discount is offered for 15 or more.  Purchase tickets online or call (847) 382-1480.  A portion of the proceeds benefits the Grant Park Conservancy.

Go have a good time, enjoy some music, wine, food, and Blue Moon beer.  And make sure to say hi if you see me at the event!

Chicago Gourmet Food Festival 2009

Chicago Gourmet is on the way- a food and wine festival taking place on September 26 & 27 in Millenium Park.  This is just its second annual occurrence, and it will be a celebration of our city's culinary culture and history, highlighted by Chicago's best chefs and restaurants.  Also, hundreds of wines, local sommeliers, and wine experts will be onhand for tastings and seminars.

Many Chicago personalities like Mayor Daley will be in attendance, along with Chicago's favorite chefs: Rick Bayless (winner of Top Chef Masters) of Frontera Grill, Jose Garces of Mercat a la Planxa, John Coletta of Quartino, Dirk Flanigan of The Gage, Marcus Samuelsson of C-House, Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno, Stephanie Izard (Top Chef winner) of The Drunken Goat, and lots of other local greats.

Awesome food is not the only think on the menu, as wines from Robert Mondavi, Mionetto (one of my favorite sparkling wine producers), and Gaja Wines presented by Gaia Gaja, will be there for tasting, along with famed importer and producer, Anthony Terlato of Terlato Wines International, and his amazing portfolio featured at the Festival's largest tent.

Tickets can be purchased beforehand for $150 for a single day, or $250 for the two day weekend.  There are also upgrades for those who don't mind spending extra, such as Grand Cru tastings for $175 featuring some of the finest wines in the world presented by Master Sommeliers.  Here is a little hint to avoid the ticket price, which may be worth your while: Chicago Dine Around.  Starting now through September 27, if you dine at five different restaurants using their special prix-fixe menu, and attach each receipt to the Chicago Gourmet Dine Around Passport (available at all participating restaurants), you will be eligible for a free one day pass to the Festival.

Make sure to plan ahead and get in on Chicago's greatest food and wine event!

Community Crush Chicago

Winemaking.  It can be mysterious and seem difficult.  I want to start off by saying that anyone can make wine.  But without access to quality vineyards, equipment, winery space, and expertise, making a great wine is almost impossible.  But thanks to Crushpad, the average person has access to all of this.  Choose your varietal, and your grapes will be gathered from California or Bordeaux single vineyards, then turned into a full barrel (about 500 bottles)of great wine by their experts, with prices starting at $5,700. 

Now if you don't want to make that kind of commitment, Crushnet might be for you.  You can be involved with a community barrel, or one that you started with friends, with commitment starting at one bottle purchase.  And for Chicagoans, we have been given the unique opportunity to become part of a remote hands on experience in the creation of a wine.  I have just become co-leader of Community Crush Chicago, an interactive experience with the 2009 vintage of the Two Pisces Vineyard Pinot Noir.  For the low price of $26 per bottle, you will have access to a post-harvest grape tasting, winemaker Noah Dorrance, video updates and live streaming of the wine, post-fermentation and barrel sample wine tasting, designing of the label, and parties with your community of fellow Chicago winemakers!  A full barrel of wine or 511 bottles will be made, so make sure join the group, reserve your bottles, and join the community.

Food & Beverage at Lollapalooza '09

It happens once a year- numerous bands along with thousands of fans flood Grant Park for a weekend of live music, fun, sun, and Chicago.  The neighborhood will be rockin' until 10pm from Friday, August 7 thru Sunday, August 9, as Lollapalooza invades the Windy City.  Big names like Pearl Jam, Depeche Mode, The Killers, Jane's Addiction, Tool, Lou Reed, and Snoop Dogg will be performing for the mobs.  But who will be providing food and drink for the masses?

The lineup for food and beverage is almost as impressive as the music, as many of Chicago's best will be onhand to dole out the grub.  Fast food stallworths like Buona Beef and Greek Delights gyros will be onhand as well as entertaining options like Cans Bar, Adobo Grill, Goose Island Brewpub, and O'Brien's.  Even haute cuisine from Graham Elliot will be available- in a quick and fun version.  Click here for the full menu and here for the map.

As far as beverages go, you can get yourself a best lemonade, Sweet Leaf Tea, or a smoothie.  For adult refreshment, quite a few beers will be representing like Beck's, Hoegaarden, and Stella Artois.   So make sure you enjoy all that Chicago has to offer and drink responsibly!

Italy Comes to Chicago

This weekend, July 17-19, Italy will be coming to Chicago's Navy Pier.  It will be a fabulous invasion of food, wine, dance, fashion, and art.  Many workshops and classes are being offered such as cooking, dancing, painting, pottery, and fencing.  You can even go to take some beginner Italian language classes!  Meet some local Italian chefs like John Coletta of Quartino and Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno.  Some Italian American celebrities will also be onhand- Ernest Borgnine and Chicago's very own Dennis Farina.

So come out to the Italian Expo at Navy Pier.  It should prove to be a great cultural experience for all of Chicago.

Fun, Sun, and Wine

If you are looking for something to do during your lunch hour today, try some Twister!  Make your way to the Park Grill in Millenium Park.  Always a good spot for some food, but today, there will be a rather large Twister mat set up under a tent in the south patio from 11am to 3pm.  Almost 1000 sq. ft. of Twister mat, expecting over 1000 contestants on a beautiful sunny Chicago day. 



For adult refreshment, complimentary Seven Daughters Winemaker's Blend will be onhand and sure to please.  A California blend of Chardonnay, Riesling, Muscat, and Gewurztraminer with tons of fruit and a bit of spice.  The wine will also be available on the Park Grill's extensive list, which, along with their beer selection, will offer some great summer drink options. 

So treat yourself to a stress reliever, enjoy the weather, and grab some vino!

Naperville 4th of July Weekend Ribfest

Independance Day 2009 is here, and the Windy City Wine Guy and family decided to head out to Naperville for Ribfest.  If you like smokey BBQ, rock and roll, and good suburban family fun, you should make your way out there.  Many tips on how to get there, best plans, and food and beverage for this yearly event are up for grabs in this article.

If you are coming from the city, like us, you have many options.  We drove straight there using I290 to I88, but you can also take the Metra straight there.  Once we arrived, we parked in the Burlington parkling lot, where the Metra drops off, and proceeded to the free shuttle which took us to Ribfest- extremely convenient.  The shuttle runs all day, from multiple lots. 

You will have no problem finding food and drink, as it is spread throughout the park, with the BBQ close to both music stages.  We tried ribs from Sgt. Oink, and they were flavorful, meaty, and tender.  They seemed more Texas in style, with a flavorful dry rub, accompanied by smokey sauce.  We also sampled pulled pork sandwiches from Aussom Aussie BBQ Co. which was extremely tender and rich.  They had an extremely spicy sauce to try on the side which was at an atomic level!  Both made good cornbread.  I really wanted to try a double deck sandwich made by Porky 'N' Beans of pulled pork and beef brisket, but had no room left.  I did save a bit of room for some fried dough covered with powdered sugar.

The beverage options were limited.  They had vending machines and fresh squeezed lemonade for non-alcoholic choices, while Miller Beers MGD and Miller Lite was there for adults at $5 each.  Zinfandel and Chardonnay from Dancing Bull Wines in California were the wine choices, a great option for mass vending- definitely offers value.

If you go, bring a blanket and some foldup chairs.  Pick out a spot to camp out that is in close proximity to food, beverage, Port-o-lets, music, and an exit.  Fireworks are always on July 4th, with Chicago fireworks being on July 3rd.  For all additional info, check out the Ribfest site- they offer detailed maps, transportation options, entertainment schedules, and the menu.  Hope you all have a great time and stay safe!

Planning Your Wine Tasting Event

Everyone loves to do it.  Invite some friends to your home, offer some beverages and tasty food, entertain.  But how do you impress?  How do you make sure everyone has a great time and a memorable experience?  There are many ways to approach this, but the most important is planning.  With adequate time and imagination, you will be more than half way to success! 

The best way to plan is to start at the beginning.  The two most crucial determining factors in planning your event are the why and who.  Why are you planning an event and who are you going to invite?  Events could be anything from a baptism to the Superbowl, while you could be inviting friends, co-workers, family, etc.  This will help you with your theme, unless you are having people over just to have people over.  In that case, you will determine your theme.  The theme will translate to the components of your event. 

You should start dividing your event into components- food and beverage.  Determine which of these is most important, then pair the other off that.  Superbowl party with wings and dogs?  Grab some beers, wines, and other refreshments to compliment.  Inviting others over for some bubbly?  Pair up some rich cheeses or dessert. 

Once you narrow down your options, get your source.  Are you going to cater or cook?  Delivery or pick-up?  Search your local area for the best vendors and help.  Use the advice of these "experts" along with some internet research to finalize your selections.

Finally, you've reached presentation.  Survey your space and configure everything to make access easy for your guests.  If you have a large kitchen, that can be an ideal place to stage the food and beverage- there should only be ONE spot to retrieve both.  This will also hopefully be your main social area- a central area will make for easier cleaning afterward.  Make sure a bathroom is close and accessible.  And provide entertainment- throw on a movie or sporting event in an alternate area.  When people want a small escape from socializing, a television is ideal.  Also, make sure your guests will be able to get home safe.  Not only are you possibly legally responsible, but morally as well.  They are, after all, your guests.

If you are having any difficulty, consult some experts, like the Windy City Wine Guy.  You may have to pay a bit for some help and advice, but this will be further assurance that your event will be a success.  No matter what you do, if you follow these steps, you and your guests will be having a delicious and wonderful time.  Take pictures and grab your bragging rights!

Heritage Wine Cellars Gala 2009

Today I attended one of the Midwest's largest yearly wine events, the Heritage Wine Cellars Gala.  Heritage is an extremely large importer and distributor of wines- there were almost 200 producers present.  They put on quite a show at the Chicago Ritz-Carlton in the Grand Ballroom.  So much wine to taste, wine sales reps and producers willing to pour and give out info, gourmet food, espresso, and bottled water everywhere!  Now you may ask yourself, with so many wines, what do you do, and where do you start?

As one who is involved with wine buying, I start before I even go.  I look at my wine bottle and glass pour list, and write down what I am missing and in need of.  Then, I will go to the event and, with the price sheet, will set a fast priority on items I would like to see on the list.  After that business is done, it's time for pleasure!  I then seek out items I have wanted to try, even if I have no intention of purchasing them in the near future.  This also aids in tuning my palate, and adding to my memory of varietals and wines I have tried.

Now, some of the wines I loved.  My favorite was the 2006 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove.  It is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  The vintage turned out excellent and, though it could use more aging, is so complex and full of flavor.  There is rich red and dark fruit, tobacco, leather, and spice.  I also really loved the 2006 Mitolo GAM Shiraz.  It is a huge Aussie Shiraz, with sweet ripe cherry, licorice, smokiness and spice.  Other big hits were the Terra Valentine single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignons, Marchesi di Gresy Nebbiolo delle Langhe and Barbarescos, Tenuta Sant'Antonio Valpolicella and Amarone, 2006 Klinker Brick Old Ghost Zinfandel, 2005 M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, Domaine Serene Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and Au Bon Climat 2004 Hidegard white blend.

Overall, a great time, and an event not to be missed.  If you can get your hands on any of those wines, try them out, and let me know what you think!

And the Winner Is...

Chicago's Best Palate 2009.  Four reputable sommeliers.  Three wines, blind tasted.  About thirty guests in attendance, blind tasting the same wines.  The pressure was on!

This event was held yesterday at the Hotel Sax Crimson Lounge.  Our sommeliers were up for quite a challenge- as a sommelier myself I was almost jealous!  Not only would the winner receive the title, but also a gift pack donated by event wine sponsor, Terlato Wines International.  This gift pack was comprised of the three-bottle Terlato "Peak Series" (Angel's Peak, Devil's Peak, and Cardinal's Peak), all excellent Napa Valley Bordeaux blends.  On to the tasting!

Blind tasting is a difficult challenge, even for the most fine tuned palate.  It takes good senses- sight, smell, taste.  But it also takes a bit of knowledge and deductive reasoning.  By using your senses, you can rule out certain varietals and wine regions in the world, while narrowing down the your choices.

Our sommeliers and guests had twenty minutes to narrow down their choices, and try to score points in a number of areas like varietal (grape variety, ie. Merlot), location (which included country, region, appelation, and bonus points for producer), and vintage (year the grapes were harvested).  After that time, the sommeliers revealed their picks and how they narrowed them down.  It was very informative, and I believe our guests learned alot.

Next, it was time to reveal the wines:

1. 2007 Michel Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage "La Petite Ruche" Blanc.  It is comprised of 100% Marsanne, a grape grown in the Rhone Valley. 


2. 2006 Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino.  A medium bodied red made from Sangiovese, grown around Montalcino in Tuscany.


3. 2004 Rust en Vrede Shiraz.  A full bodied red made close to Stellenbosch, in the West Cape province of South Africa.

We were finally about to find our winners and give out the prizes.  By a narrow margin, Scott Tyree of Tyree Wine Consulting is the winner of Chicago's Best Palate 2009!  Congratulations!  Also, congratulations goes out to our Amatuer Audience Best Palate Winner, Addie Braun, who went away with two wines donated by Eno, a sparkling rose made by M. Lawrence, and a Pinot Noir made by J. Wilkes.  We also had a winner of a gift certificate for Eno/Intercontinental Hotel for picking our winning sommelier.  Fun, drink, knowledge, and prizes- a win-win situation for all!

I want to thank our audience for attending, our sommeliers- Scott Tyree, Michael Taylor of the Italian Village, Alain Njike of Park 52, and Lucas Henning of C-House, my partner Theresa Carter- The Local Tourist, Terlato Wines International, Eno and the Intercontinental Hotel, and the Hotel Sax. 

I invited many Chicago sommeliers, and will invite many more next year- looking forward to having some female representation, as this city has some of the best in the world.  Can't wait for 2010!

Chicago's Best Palate 2009

Spring is upon us, and it's time to put our taste buds to the test.  That is why I have teamed up with The Local Tourist to bring you Chicago's Best Palate.  We have invited Chicago's most prominent sommeliers to compete for this prestigious title, the first of its kind.  They will be blind tasting three wines picked by the Windy City Wine Guy, and try to figure out as much as they can about each using only their senses and experience. 

We would like you to join us, and blind taste along with the sommeliers!  This event will be held at the Hotel Sax Crimson Lounge on Sunday, April 26, beginning at 7pm.  You will be given your chance to blind taste the same wines, compete for prizes, and meet the sommeliers, who will be talking about their restaurants and blind tasting secrets.  There is limited seating, so make sure to RSVP for the event before it fills up!

WhiskeyFest Chicago 2009

Whiskey.  A liquor made from a distillation of fermented grain mash aged in oak casks, and also one of my favorite quotes from Raiders of the Lost Ark.  There are many types of whiskey, and I was about to run through them all at the 8th Annual Chicago WhiskeyFest held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Located in the Grand Ballroom, there was over 200 whiskies from around the globe, along with some beer and a few other spirits.  There was also a small spread which included build-your-own-mashed potatoes, poached salmon (perfect with whiskies), stir fry, carving station, and desserts.  After a small snack, it was time to try some of the product.

I started with Bulleit Bourbon.  Bourbon is an American mostly corn whiskey with a style that started in Bourbon County, Kentucky.  Bulleit was first created in the 1830s by Augustus Bulleit, but ended production after his death.  It was reintroduced by his great-great-grandson in 1987 and has become a huge success.  It is made of a high rye content (30%) for a bourbon, and has a bold but smooth flavor- vanilla oak spice, coconut, and honey.

Scotch, a whiskey made in Scotland, was the biggest hit at the event.  There are three types of Scotch:

1. Blended.  A Scotch whiskey distilled at more than one distillery and made from a combination of malted barley and other cereals.


2. Blended Malt.  A Scotch whiskey distilled at more than one distillery made from malted barley.


3. Single Malt.  A Scotch whiskey distilled at one distillery made from malted barley.

There are also five different regions (some consider the Islands as a sixth), each with their own distinct aromas and flavor profiles:

1. Speyside.  Elegant and complex, with refined smokiness.  Located on a portion of the northeast coast, with the largest concentration of Single Malts.


2. Lowlands.  Soft flavors of malted barley, located south of Perth.


3. Highlands.  Round and firm character with a slight peatiness.  The largest region, located north of the Lowlands.


4. Islay.  Seaweed, iodine, phenolic character- very much like the sea.  Located on the northwest islands.


5. Campbeltown.  Very distinct and briny.  Located on a peninsula just west of the Lowlands/Highlands border.


6. Islands.  Jura, Orkney, and Skye Islands, each with their own distinct character.

I am more of a Speyside guy, so my favorite was The Macallan, a Scotch with a rich tradition.  Traditionally aged in one year old Sherry casks, giving caramel and nuttiness.  They also released a Cask Strength (a whiskey bottled straight from the cask, with no additional spring water added), which is smooth and extremely flavorful, aged between 10-12 years.  I also really like The Glenrothes, which is unique in the fact that it is bottled by vintage, not age.  Made not far from The Macallan, they have an old tradition of additionally using Bourbon casks to age the Scotch.

After all the whiskey, I needed to tone down, and visited the Goose Island stand.  Many small batch production beers were onhand such as the Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale, the Pere Jacques Vintage Belgian Style Abbey Ale, and the Sofie and Juliet Champagne drinkers ales.  Keeping with the whiskey tradition, there was also a Bourbon County Stout, aged in Bourbon casks.  It is very rich and chocolatey, an excellent winter beverage.

A special thanks to Malt Advocate for the VIP tickets and to my wife for accompanying me and finding out how these products could appeal to women.

A Day with Dan Aykroyd

This past Saturday morning, the Windy City Wine Guy was invited to a sommelier brunch at Feast Gold Coast with Chicago Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd.   The event was in conjunction with the release of his Dan Aykroyd Discovery Series Sonoma Wines and Crystal Head Vodka to Chicago.  We met Dan Aykroyd, along with his friends and coworkers.  It seems they are all very close and have been traveling and working together for over thirty years!  This was all taking place before a bottle signing event at Binny's South Loop.  Now on to the wines!

Dan Aykroyd entered into a partnership with Jean-Charles Boisset of Boisset Family Estates to create his Discovery Series Wines.  Mr. Aykroyd has had a love of wine for a long time, even before his Blues Brothers fame.  After meeting Jean-Charles in Canada, they discussed wine and the Boisset family purchase of vineyards in Ontario.  Soon after, they began to collaborate on a wine project out of DeLoach Vineyards in Sonoma, and the Discovery Series was born.  The wines are meant to bring a great $20 value to consumers.  They created two wines:

2007 Chardonnay.  A more crisp, Burgundian style from California.  Less oak flavor, it was aged in a mixture of new and neutral French oak.  There is good citrus and tropical melon accompanied by a light creaminess.

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.  A small amount of Merlot and Carmenere were added to the blend to round out this medium-heavy wine.  There are still some grippy tannins along with black fruit and spice.  Ideal with grill meat and rich stews.

After enjoying some wine along with a fluffy vegetable quiche and some good conversation from Chicago local sommeliers, I headed to Binny's along with my wife to get an interview with Mr. Aykroyd.  It was quite a scene as hundreds of people were in line to get an autographed bottle- I think my hand would've cramped up after that!  Here is a video interview conducted by my beautiful and talented wife, Blagica Bottigliero, with some questions we came up with for Mr. Aykroyd:
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I also got a close look at the Crystal Head Vodka.  It is a cool bottle, and I could see it sitting on many a shelf.  To prevent this, the vodka strategists have future plans to release bottles with silver and gold teeth, kind of like pimp skulls!  The vodka is triple distilled through Herkimer diamonds (quartz crystals).  I have yet to taste it, but received good feedback from Binny's staff- they sold over 800 bottles this weekend!  It retails for $47.99.

Dan also makes Discovery Series Ontario wines, but they are unfortunately unavailable here in the states.  If you make your way north of the border, you can grab a bottle of either his Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet-Merlot, or Cabernet-Shiraz, each for about $15.  There is also an award winning Vidal Blanc Icewine for around $65.

It was a great experience to meet a great celebrity like Dan Aykroyd.  He is not only an honorary Chicago's own, but he actually cares about these products he helped create.  He did not merely slap his name on any of these for money, like so many others do.  I want to send out a huge thank you to Mr. Aykroyd, and John Wardzala of Boisset Family Vineyards for working with my wife (big thanks to her for the video!) and I to set all of this up.

April Eno-Versity with the Windy City Wine Guy

For those of you who cannot get enough of wine pairings, wine knowledge, and wine regions, ENO has something for you.  ENO-Versity, a small class geared toward learning about wine, regions, history, and pairings, is taught monthly. 

Next month, on Monday, April 6, the Windy City Wine Guy will be conducting a class on Oregon and Washington wines.  Wine from these two states have been and currently are gaining world renown, with the Burgundian style Pinot Noir from Oregon and world class Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington, along with many other varietals and styles.  They also produce some of my personal favorite wines.  Here are a bit more specifics:

We will be tasting four wines, paired with cheese and chocolate:

1. 2006 Cristom Vineyards Estate Pinot Gris with Piave Vecchio Italian cow milk cheese


2. 2007 Lange Winery Reserve Pinot Noir with Humboldt Fog goat milk cheese


3. 2004 Isenhower Cellars "Red Paintbrush" Bordeaux blend paired Lago Rosso truffle from Chocolate Garden


4. 2006 Gordon Brothers Gewürztraminer Icewine with Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue cow milk cheese

ENO is located at 505 N. Michigan Ave., inside the Intercontinental Hotel. 

The class will be an hour long, from 6 to 7pm.  The cost for the class and pairings is $25, and can be paid at ENO.  There will be limited space for the event, so make sure to RSVP by phone: 312.312.8738, or email: jennifer.bingham@ihg.com.

See you there!

Sparkling Wine 101 Event

Spring is upon us, so no better time to have a Sparkling Wine 101 tasting and seminar from the Windy City Wine Guy.  The event took place at the Binny's South Loop Tasting Room.  It was an intimate setting with a gorgeous view of the Chicago skyline, including the Sear's Tower.  My guests were set to taste three sparkling wines paired with cheese, and a whole lot of info.

The tables were pre-set with three Riedel sparkling wine glasses and the pouring began.  The sparkling wines we were about to taste are simple and affordable examples geared to give occasional bubbly fun, without the need to splurge on a Champagne.  The three samples included:

1. Mionetto "Il" Prosecco.  This is a great, every occasion, sparkling wine.  It is light and bubbly, with simple peach and pear flavor.  The perfect apéritif!


2. Gran Sarao Brut Cava.  Cava is always made in the méthode champenoise, and this is a great value example.  Green apple and light, doughy flavor.


3. Dm. Ste. Michelle Blanc de Blanc.  A Washington state sparkling Chardonnay produced in the traditional method.  Dry, tart, and rich, with pear, pineapple, and toasty coconut.

We also had three perfectly paired cheeses to go along with the wines:

1. Brie le Chatelain.  This creamy, buttery, soft cow milk cheese from northeast France is delicious inside and out.  A perfect rich texture to accompany the crisp acidity of a sparkling wine.


2. Mimolette.  This semi soft cow milk cheese from northwest France has a Parmesan-like sweetness and nuttiness.  Perfect with sparkline wines.


3. Gorgonzola Dolce.  Dolce in Italian means sweet, but it also means young when referring to this cow milk blue cheese.  It hails from northwest Italy (Lombardia).  The creamy texture and mild, salty flavor make it ideal for sparkling wine.

The lecture ranged on subjects from differing sparkling wine viniculture methods to Dom Perignon and the history of Champagne.  There was a very informative Q&A segment, followed by a pour-off of the remaining wine.  A great time had by all!  I want to thank the Binny's staff, especially GM Juan Torres, and all the attendees.  Ciao!