Chicago Wine Report | August 19, 2022

Greetings! Apologies for the lateness of this newsletter/podcast: We had technical difficulties last week and this week has been jam-packed. We should be back on our regular schedule next week.Sadly, the above-mentioned technical difficulties meant that our episode on California Chenin Blanc was unusable. However, we really did love the wines we tried, both from Independent Spirits:LIE DIT CHENIN BLANC SANTA YNES VALLEY 2019LEO STEEN SAINI FARMS CHENIN BLANC DRY CREEK VALLEY 2019FIELD TRIPSThis week’s field trips were to:Red & White WinesDoor 24L & M Fine FoodsWINE REPORTSThis week we focused on two white wine blends from France!Château Laubarit Entre-Deux-Mers 2020 from Red & White $24Eric Texier Adéle 2020 from Door 24 $22.99Wine EventsAugust 20, 2022: All Together Now has a pop-up booth at the Mt. Joy Concert at the Salt Shed. August 24th, 2022:" BottlesUp! hosts Burgundy Basics class at 7 pm, $45 per person.August 25th, 2022: Door 24 hosts an orange (skin contact) wine tasting class at 7 pm. The cost is $30 and you can sign up online.August 28, 2022: All Together Now hosts The Great Wine Down with Alexander Great from 3-6 pm.Regular wine bar/bottle shop tastingsBelow is a list of regularly scheduled tastings at local wine bars and shops. Many are free or low-cost, but it is always a good idea to contact the shop/wine bar ahead of time to be sure.This list is hardly comprehensive, though I hope it will eventually become so. Please let me know if you’d like to recommend a spot or need to correct any information:57th Street Wines holds tastings on Thursdays from 5-7 pm and Saturdays from 3-5 pm. Tastings are usually themed and occasionally the schedule switches up a bit, so be sure to check out their website and call ahead to avoid disappointment. (Hyde Park)Augusta Food & Wine offers free tastings on Thursdays between 6-8 pm. No sign-up is required. (Lincoln Square)BottlesUp! First Friday tastings take place the first Friday of every month and include free wine tastings plus new, in-store art. Door 24 holds regular tastings every Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. These are free and no sign-up is required. Get on their social media pages for updates on their Friday night lineup! (Bucktown)In Fine Spirits advertises regular free wine tastings Wednesdays from 5-7 pm and Saturdays from 3 to 6 pm with an occasional Thursday tasting (which will be announced on their social media and in their newsletter). (Andersonville)Konbini & Kanpai holds regular wine tastings (often on Wednesdays and usually free), plus additional tastings of beer, sake, and spirits throughout the month. I strongly recommend checking out their online calendar and getting on their mailing list so that you can stay informed. (Lakeview)Independent Spirits is holding wine tastings from 5-7 pm on Thursdays. Tastings are free and information about the tastings appears on social media. Tastings are free and there is no charge. (Edgewater)Picnic Wine & Provisions holds wine tastings from 5-8 pm on Thursdays. Free with purchase.Red & White Wines continues to offer tastings each Saturday from 2-5 pm. The cost is $10 and their wine club members get to participate at no added cost. The Red & White Wines newsletter usually releases information about the tastings the day before. I recommend getting on the mailing list so that you’ll know what to expect. (Bucktown)Taste Food & Wine hosts $5 tastings on Tuesdays and Fridays from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. 10% off the featured tasting bottles if you take one home that evening. Snacks are available at an additional charge. (Rogers Park)Uvae Fromagerie & Tasting Room offers free hosted tastings from 6-8 pm on Tuesdays. Wine flights of four one-ounce pours are also available for $10 when the tasting room is open. As of publication, their hours are Sunday & Monday 1 pm – 8 pm and Tuesday to Saturday 12 pm – 9 pm. (Andersonville) Get full access to Chicago Wine Report at chicagowinereport.substack.com/subscribe