Do you like champagne? I used to reserve it only for weddings and New Year’s Eve, but in the last year or so I have found that I enjoy a bit of bubbly to add a sense of occasion to an otherwise dull weeknight, or as a special treat in the form of a mimosa at brunch!
Our friends at Devon Seafood Grill have put together a fabulous Sparkling Wine Tasting Event, where you will be whisked away to France’s wine country by tasting a variety of champagnes, perfectly paired with …

Looking for someting to do this weekend?
Macy’s Culinary Council will be doing a food & wine pairing demonstration this Saturday, July 17 at noon.  Culinary Council Chef and Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson will be showing us the basics of proper food and wine partners.  Andrea will also be introducing her new line of stemware called “The One”, which is suitable for both red & white wines.  Culinary Council Chef and restaurateur Takashi Yagihashi will demonstrate how to entertain using seasonal ingredients.  Andrea will be available to sign her new cookbook, …

As a foodie, people often ask me, “What’s your favorite food?”  This is an impossible question!  It all depends on my mood, the weather, or what my current obsession is.  However, there are a few things that I simply cannot live without.  If I ever get stranded on a deserted island, there had better be grapes and some kind of livestock, because I need my WINE and CHEESE!  These are 2 of my 4 main food groups – Wine, Coffee, Chocolate and Cheese. 
I had been watching the space now occupied by Vintage …

Attention all winos!
Devon Seafood Grill is hosting a wine face-off TONIGHT, where guests will taste a variety of wines from Napa and Sonoma and vote for a winner!
Guests will have the opportunity to taste 4 wines from Napa and 4 from Sonoma while snacking on some delectable appetizers.  Wine representatives from both regions will be on hand to educate the tasters.
Prep your palate and come join the sniffing & swirling fun!  Cost is $29 for 8 glasses of wine and appetizers. 
Reservations are recommended, as space is limited.
Wine Battle: Napa v. …

The third annual Pinot Days Grand Festival tasting is under way this weekend at Navy Pier. If you’re a purveyor of great wines and food, don’t miss out on this event!
This year will feature 50 producers of wine and will offer up to 300 tastings of Pinot – let’s not forget the food that will be served to pair with these delicious wines!
This is a casual affair designed to attract wine lovers of all levels – learn from industry professionals and the people who make these wines!
www.pinotdays.com

Here at CFW, we are always interested in exploring new wines from different regions. I’m recently had a great interest in New World wines, particularly those from Australia! There’s no better way to learn about different varietals and regions than to TASTE!

Winemaker Dean Hewitson from Hewitson Winery out of South Australia released his latest Shiraz – the 2006 “Mad Hatter” Shiraz on October 6, 2009. In doing so, the winery will be going on a “Mad Hatter Tour” around the US. For the Chicago stop, the winery will …

It’s hard for me to convince my husband to go out on a school night but with the help of my two friends who just started dating one another, they were able to get him out for dinner at the Tasting Room at Randolph Wine Cellars! Even better that you can park your own car in a free lot. There’s also a beautiful patio in the front which gets a lot of sun nearing sunset. Inside, I highly recommend the upstairs dining area with views of the …

I think I have found Sandwich Nirvana. It happened after I ate the duck confit sandwich at Pastoral.
Before I get everyone salivating all over their computers, let me just say that this is a great store to have in the city. The wine and cheese selections are not huge, but you can tell that each item has been thoughtfully chosen by someone who is passionate about what they do.
I randomly stopped in here one day after work to check it out. I started talking to the cheese guy, and …

I think I have found Sandwich Nirvana. It happened after I ate the duck confit sandwich at Pastoral.
Before I get everyone salivating all over their computers, let me just say that this is a great store to have in the city. The wine and cheese selections are not huge, but you can tell that each item has been thoughtfully chosen by someone who is passionate about what they do.
I randomly stopped in here one day after work to check it out. I started talking to the cheese guy, and …