The Windy City Wine Festival returns for its fifth year to Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park (337 E. Randolph St.), just east of Millennium Park, Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, for an unforgettable celebration of wine, food, music and friends.
Set in the shadow of Millennium Park and framed by the breathtaking Chicago skyline, The Windy City Wine Festival brings more than 250 international and domestic wine varieties, presented by more than 40 festival vendors, to the scenic Daley Bicentennial Plaza.
For a complete list of participating wine vendors, visit windycitywinefestival.com.
Festival guests have the unique opportunity to interact face-to-face with wine makers and brand experts, expanding their wine knowledge and discovering the blends that best suit their taste. To complement the wine’s finish, many of the Chicago area’s finest restaurants will offer gourmet specialties.
Beer lovers will enjoy The Blue Moon Beer Garden, a beer garden experience within the festival, which features ample sampling of Blue Moon beer varieties.
“We are excited to celebrate our fifth year returning to Daley Bicentennial Plaza, one of the most beautiful locations for a festival in the city, with an international selection of new wine blends,” said Scott Janess, one of the Windy City Wine Festival organizers. “The relaxed setting takes the fear and mystery out of learning about wine. Our festival is the perfect opportunity for everyone from the wine enthusiast to novice to have a good time with friends and walk away with a new appreciation for wine.”
Interactive wine seminars and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs and wine experts such as Chef Scott Walton and Chef Thomas Rice of Markethouse Restaurant, The Hearty Boys and Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado, Director of Wine Education for Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois, will educate guests on new recipes and the best food and wine pairing combinations.
A music stage will be set up where live jazz, blues and light rock will be played by top local talent. The Michael Heaton Band, a self-described “bluejean rock” band, will have festival-goers dancing on Friday night as they play original hits inspired by the likes of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp and John Hiatt. The Erin Bode Band, the melodic jazz band will serenade guests on Saturday evening with unique twists on pop classics. Soulful songstress Kim Massie of St. Louis follows to entertain the crowd with her powerful bluesy voice. [Please see entertainment schedule below].
Participants can easily navigate their way throughout the park and make note of their favorite wines with a detailed map of the festival vendors. A list of all of the wines being sampled with prices will be provided. Binny’s Beverage Depot will offer 10% off any wine ordered at the festival, which can be picked up at any of their 22 area stores.
Fletcher-Jones Audi will be displaying select models of their latest Audi Q5 on-site at the festival. Audi specialists will be available to answer questions.
Meet the Experts
Executive Chef Scott Walton and Chef Thomas Rice of Markethouse join the festival to share recipes from their acclaimed restaurant, which boasts an original menu marrying Heartland basics with fresh, regional specialty ingredients from around the globe. Chicago-area native Scott Walton brings more than 15 years of culinary talent. A graduate of the Joliet College of Culinary Arts and the Culinary Institute of America, Walton recently served as the executive banquet chef for the Sheraton Chicago Hotel Towers.
In addition to serving in various capacities at noted Chicagoland restaurants, Walton also ran his own catering and restaurant consulting business, Culinary Creations by Walton. Walton resides in Willow Springs, Ill. and is currently a member of the American Culinary Federation and Club Chefs of America.
An accomplished culinary professional with 12 years of experience in classical and modern cooking techniques, Thomas Rice serves as chef de cuisine of Markethouse. Rice is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, after which he worked for more than two years with renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten at Jean-Gorges and spent time in France under the tutelage of acclaimed Chefs Alain Ducasse and Paul Hamberlin at their respective Michelin top-rated restaurants. Rice resides in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood and is a Chicago native.
Jessica Bell founded The Midwest Wine School (MWS) in June 2007, which is an organization dedicated to providing high-quality and unbiased wine education in a relaxed and fun atmosphere for wine lovers throughout the Midwest. Bell received a Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London and a certificate in Viticulture and Vinification from the American Sommelier Association in New York City.
Most recently she has been designated as an Ambassador of Armagnac and an accredited instructor of several French wine-making regions, after extensive travels and passing the Master-level exam. She has also worked for a winery in Spain and subsequently became an accredited Spanish Wine Educator. Jessica currently offers wine-related classes in Milwaukee and Chicago, consults for area restaurants and retailers and is the Beverage Expert on the television program Wisconsin Foodie. Bell received her Bachelor degree in Economics and Spanish from Duke University.
Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier, is the Director of wine education for Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois as well as an Ambassador of Cotes du Rhone Wines, shares food and wine demonstrations both days of the festival. After moving to Chicago in 2001 to work alongside Chef Charlie Trotter at his famed restaurant, Alvarado’s passion for wine was launched into a successful career. In October of 2005, Serafin received the Bill Rice distinguished “Sommelier of the Year Award,” and most recently, Crain’s Chicago Business Magazine included Serafin Alvarado in its “40 Under 40″ issue.
Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh of The Hearty Boys, one of Chicago’s most beloved caterers and restaurateurs, bring their charm and unparalleled knowledge of food and wine to the Windy City Wine Festival. Best known for their hit Food Network TV show “Party Line with the Hearty Boys,” Smith and McDonagh share fun and interactive cooking demonstrations with guests, Friday, Sept. 11.
Event Information
The Windy City Wine Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 11 from 4 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 12 from 3 to 10 p.m. in Daley Bicentennial Plaza in Grant Park, just east of Millennium Park. For each night of the festival, ticket sales end at 8:30 p.m., alcohol sampling and sales end at 9:30 p.m.
Ticket Information
Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the gate. Advance tickets can be purchased through Sept. 10, 2009. This ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings, a Festival Program and food and wine demonstrations and musical entertainment.
Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. For $5, guests will receive 10 additional tastings.
Designated Driver Tickets are $10 in advance or at the gate. This ticket includes two non- alcoholic drinks, a Festival Program, food and wine seminars, access to cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Attendees under 21 are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult.
For groups of 15 or more, tickets are $22.50. To reserve group tickets call 847.382.1480 or GroupTix at 1-877-4GRP-TIX (447-7849). For more information, visit grouptix.net.
Tickets can be purchased online now at windycitywinefestival.com or by phone at 847-382-1480. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site at Daley Bicentennial Plaza on the day of the festival. Parking is available in city lots and at the Monroe Street Garage located directly beneath the park.
A portion of the Festival proceeds benefits The Grant Park Conservancy.
The Windy City Wine Festival sponsors include Fiji Water, Binny’s Beverage Depot, Blue Moon Beer, Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Black Box Wines, WILV 100.3 FM, Cotes du Rhone Wines and Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois.
Windy City Wine Festival ENTERTAINMENT schedule
Friday, September 11
6:00-6:30 pm Cooking/wine demo by Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado
6:35-7:05 pm Cotes du Rhone wine seminar with Jessica Bell
7:10-7:40 pm The Hearty Boys Cooking Demonstration
8:00-9:45 pm The Michael Heaton Band performs
Saturday, September 12
4:00-4:30 pm Cooking/wine demo by Chef Scott Walton and Chef Thomas Rice
of Markethouse Restaurant
4:35-5:05 pm Cooking/wine demo by Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado
5:50-7:20 pm The Erin Bode Band performs
7:30-8:00 pm Cotes du Rhone wine seminar by Jessica Bell, Founder of Midwest Wine School
8:15-9:45 pm The Kim Massie Band performs
Audi Q5 really great car, the Volkswagen Tiguan uses the same engine from the very top of a car. 2011 model, very beautiful design of the Audi Q5.