Chicago Chicagoland Wine Tasting Events Calendar Special Winemaker Dinners Gayot

November 8
The Poison Cup wine school has scheduled a regional French wine class at 5:30 p.m. The event will feature tastes of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, Languedoc, Gascony and Provence. It'll also cover the history of these coveted regions. The cost is $35. The Poison Cup, 1128 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-935-1325.

November 10
Tour the southern Rhône Valley during a wine tasting at Fox & Obel gourmet market at 6:00 p.m. The cost is $10, and participants get ten percent off purchases from the wine store after the class. Fox & Obel, 401 E. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-410-7301.

November 11
Courtright's is hosting a Silver Oak and Twomey winemaker dinner at 7 p.m. The event, which costs $125, will include everything from warm mussel, snail and crab salad with fennel confit, quince vinegar and basil emulsion (Twomey Cellars' 2008 Sauvignon Blanc) to cinnamon spaghetti squash with red wine sauce (Silver Oak's 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon). Courtright's, 8989 Archer Ave., Willow Springs, IL 60480, 708-839-8000.

November 14
Ignore the throngs of tourists and make your way to Navy Pier for the third annual Pinot Days festival, a grand tasting featuring more than 60 producers and 300 Pinots hailing from the Russian River Valley to Oregon, Carneros to the Santa Lucia Highlands, the Anderson Valley to the Sonoma Coast---including some previously unavailable in Illinois. The cost is $50, and the event takes place from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Navy Pier Pinot Days, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 415-246-2967.

November 18
Osteria Via Stato is hosting a four-course, family-style wine dinner featuring Candid Wines. The centerpiece of the meal will be a roasted Bourbon Red turkey with focaccia-sausage stuffing. The cost is $65 per person. For reservations, please call 312-642-8450. Osteria Via Stato, 620 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-642-8450.

November 23
Mon Ami Gabi's Chicago location is hosting a holiday wine dinner at 6 p.m. The event includes a wine reception and a take-home recipe book featuring wine pairings for each course. The event costs $65, plus tax and gratuity. For reservations, please call 773-348-8886. Mon Ami Gabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Park W., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-348-8886.

December 1
Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! presents a wine tasting of more than 30 Spanish wines, sherries, brandies and cavas, complete with tapas and paella samples. In addition, wines will be available for purchase at discounted prices. The event begins at 6 p.m. and costs $35 per person, excluding tax. For reservations, please call 702-258-1211. Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!, 2024 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 773-935-5000.

Tuesdays through May 5
Boka will hold a "Test Your Palate" wine tasting event each Tuesday through May 5 from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Four stations will feature a mystery decanter, and participants must guess the varietal. The winner gets a $100 gift certificate. Boka, 1729 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 312-337-6070.

Ongoing
Petterino's has launched an after-7 p.m. menu (offered seven days a week) with a corresponding number of first courses, entrées and desserts to choose from for $19.95 for three courses. Additionally, seven wines will be offered for $7 a glass, and valet parking after 7 p.m. is complimentary. Petterino's, 150 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60601, 312-422-0150.

Mondays
Bottles of wine are half price on Mondays at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook. This special is available for bottles of wine priced under $75. Mon Ami Gabi, Oakbrook Shopping Center, 260 Oakbrook Ctr., Oak Brook, IL 60523, 630-472-1900.

Second Mondays
Bin 36 offers wine tastings on the second Monday of each month, with more than 50 wines available at a walk-around style event. Light canapés are served. The cost is $25 per person. Bin 36, House Sax, 339 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-755-9463.

Mondays
ENO, a wine, cheese and chocolate lounge in the InterContinental Chicago, is now hosting an ongoing wine class at 6 p.m. The classes are thematic with flights of four classes, although the classes are not cumulative and attending out of series will not diminish the experience. Each series of four classes will focus on a different wine-producing region or varietal, starting with Pinot Noir and guiding guests through the history, pairings and origins of the wine. Four classes will be available for $75 per person, though guests are also encouraged to come when they can with single classes priced at $25 per person. Each class will include numerous tastings, cheese pairings and other items. Attendees will get 15 percent off retail and tasting purchases that day. ENO, 505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-944-4100, 800-327-0200.

Tuesdays
Pops for Champagne offers a Toast on Tuesday promotion where guests can order a 5 oz. glass of champagne and receive it for the 3 oz. glass price (prices start at $8 a glass). More than 10 selections are available by the glass including Charles Heidsieck 2000, G.H. Mumm Carte Classique and Jean Milan Blanc de Blancs á Oger. For each glass of champagne purchased during Toast on Tuesday, Pops for Champagne will donate $1 to the Chicago Jobs Council, an organization dedicated to advocating for employment and career advancement opportunities for people living in poverty. Pops for Champagne, Tree Studios, 601 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-266-7677.

Third Tuesdays
Randolph Wine Cellars hosts Third Tuesday Tastings, featuring complimentary hors d’oervres and over thirty wines. There’s also a new theme each month. The events run from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., and cost $30 per person. For more information, visit www.randolphwinecellars.com. Randolph Wine Cellars, 1415 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60607, 312-942-1212.

Wednesdays
Landmark Grill + Lounge is inviting wine-lovers to indulge on Wednesdays when the wine list is half-off, Skyy martinis are just $5 and free pizza is dished up from 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Landmark Grill + Lounge, 1633 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614, 312-587-1600.

Chicago Wine Tastings & Events