Wine Tasting in Chicago: 10 Places You Have to Try
Chicago is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan which is the 4th largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. It has helped a lot with the diversity of life in the city and Chicago is home to over 600 parks that bring in nature lovers from around the globe.
It is a multicultural and lively city with diverse attractions and unique people found in every one of the 77 neighborhoods. Chicago has 24 beaches making it a great place to go for soaking up the sun as well as over 200 venues for theater, dance and music concerts. You will have no shortage of activities to keep you occupied during the day and if you want to keep busy after the sun goes down, check out these things to do at night in Chicago.
Aside from live entertainment, Chicago has a great sports industry (head to the United Center for a game) and fantastic local cuisine. When it comes to drinking this city is no stranger, and even wine lovers will have lots of places to visit. If you are looking for places to take some classes, go on tours or do wine tasting in Chicago we've got you covered! Before you start knocking places off of this list, stop by a Chicago luggage storage facility so you don't have to drag your belongings with you to the wine spots.
City Winery Chicago
Let's begin our list with one of the best options for any wine related activities in Chicago. The City Winery Chicago in the West Loop is the first place that you should check out for wine tastings, tours or events! Their tasting room is fully equipped with award-winning wines that you are sure to fall in love with, so consider bringing a bottle or two home with you. Tastings can be done in groups of up to 10 people.
While you are here for a tasting why not go on a tour of the winery as well? You will get to learn all about the winemaking process and get a deeper understanding of how things are done. If you are interested in making your own wine they offer an incredible hands-on experience where you can be there every step of the way (you'll just have to keep visiting Chicago!). The City Winery Chicago can also set up personalized wine and food pairings and they even have a wine club that you can join.
Address: Their address is 1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607.
Cooper Hawk's Wine Club
Cooper Hawk is a fantastic restaurant and tasting room located in Chicago, IL. This is a great place to go for an elegant dinner date with your loved one or just as somewhere to try delicious wines! They have a lovely Napa-style wine tasting room where you can sample glasses from their extensive selection.
You will definitely be impressed by their wine tower which has over 1,600 different wines from Cooper Hawk, Cult and Classic & Famous. They feature wines from around the world so there will definitely be flavors that you've never tasted before. The tower is 50 feet tall and you can spend all afternoon exploring it! If you just want to come in for a nice dinner with a tasty glass of wine or wine-centric cocktails we recommend visiting for their happy hours which happen every week from 3 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Friday.
Address: You will find the Copper Hawk's Wine Club at 58 E Oak St, Chicago, IL 60611.
RPM Seafood
You might not think of going to a seafood restaurant to try wines but the truth is that wine pairs wonderfully with fish and mussels. Plus, RPM Seafood now offers a fantastic Sommelier Experience: Go for $225 where you will get to try carefully selected wines that are paired perfectly with unique dishes in an exciting 6-course dinner. The flavors and textures of the chef's dishes are incredible and you definitely won't regret signing up for this activity!
You will also be treated to semi-private seating and will get to speak to your sommelier face to face throughout the dinner. Take this opportunity to ask them questions as new wines and dishes come and go. Every night the menu changes so you never know exactly what you will get and can come back more than once if you want to!
Address: RPM Seafood is located at 317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654.
The Fromagerie and Tasting Room
The owner of The Fromagerie and Tasting Room is an experienced wine connoisseur, sommelier and educator. They do their best to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that everyone can enjoy, and they do a great job at making it casual and fun. Come sign up for one of their themed events for about $35. Some of them include Cork Dork Thursdays which happen at 6 pm, or Some Pick Saturdays at 3 pm every week. The space also acts as a cheese shop so you can buy all sorts of cheeses to go with your wines.
At the weekly wine tastings, you will have the choice to eat more than just cheeses if you want to. Order a duck pate for about $12 or a plate of charcuterie for around $20! Each tasting will include 4 different four-ounce pours of wine. The Fromagerie and Tasting Room also hosts monthly four-course dinners paired with wines made by various talented winemakers and the event will only cost about $90 per couple.
Address: Head to 5555 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640 to pay them a visit.
Sable Creek Winery
Sable Creek Winery is a Plainfield vineyard that grows much more than just grapes, but other fruit as well. Cherries, peaches and blackberries are some of the other produce grown here. The grapes that they do have come from several different states like Missouri, California, New York, Michigan and Illinois. Just imagine the different kinds of wine that are available for you to sample!
Aside from drinks, the Sable Creek Winery also offers plates of cheese or charcuterie that will pair perfectly with your glass of wine. They have a lovely outdoor patio where you can sit in the summertime, plus wine slushies that you can sip on to keep cool. If you have a sweet tooth you might want to order their s'mores tray that you can roast right at your table. Keep an eye out for other special events put on by Sable Creek Winery like bingo, trivia nights or live music performances.
Address: Come check them out at 14912 Eastern Ave Ste 103, Plainfield, IL 60544.
Funkenhausen
This wine shop is a local neighborhood favorite that we are sure you will fall in love with, too. They have recently revamped their curated wine list and like to focus on underrepresented winemakers or small producers who are less well-known. It is a great spot to expand your palette and try something new! Who knows, you might even find a new favorite wine.
Their new menu is full of unique varieties that aren't always available in other wineries, like organic wines or orange wines. Some of them even come from places far away like Germany, Switzerland, Austria or Alsace. Of course, they also offer traditional varieties like reds, rosés, sparkling and white wine. Take a trip to Funkenhausen the next time that you are in Chicago.
Address: Their full address is 1709 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622.
Volo Restaurant Wine Bar
Volo Restaurant Wine Bar is one of the best spots to go for sampling wines in Chicago for several reasons; they have good food, great wine and a fantastic outdoor patio to enjoy the nice weather while you eat! Their selection of wines is quite extensive so come see what they have to offer.
While you are probably here for the wines you might as well order some food to go along with it. They have a great Happy Hour deal where dishes are even more affordable so we hope you've brought an appetite! Volo Restaurant Wine Bar is also a venue for regular special events that are great to attend alone or with friends. If you want to meet new people with similar interests, consider signing up for their next tasting party.
Address: To get to Volo make your way to 2008 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618.
Broken Earth Winery
If you want to try wines from outside of Chicago, IL but don't want to leave the city then you might like it at Broken Earth Winery. They are situated in Long Grove, California but their wine grapes are grown in Paso Robles and you can try all of their flavors at their wine bar! If you like what you taste you can bring a bottle home from their gift shop as well as a variety of accessories to make your next drinking experience even better.
Sign up for their wine flight which will let you sample four two-ounce pours complemented by plates of charcuterie or cheese. If you can, we recommend visiting on Friday or Saturday nights when they have live entertainment from all kinds of music genres. Ready to go to Broken Earth Winery?
Address: They are situated at 219 Robert Parker Coffin Rd, Long Grove, IL 60047.
Soif Wine Lounge
Soif Wine Lounge is arguably one of the best places to go for wine tasting in Chicago. They are a hidden gem that can be a bit hard to find since you will have to go down an unmarked staircase, but if you manage to find them you will definitely be happy that you did. This place is low-key and perfect for hanging out with friends while sipping delicious wines!
Their menu is mainly composed of French wines but they have a few others drinks as well, like bubbly champagne. If you want any advice or to learn more about the wines that you are drinking their knowledgeable staff will be an amazing help. You will find this well-kept secret right in the center of Logan Square.
Address: Their full address is 2456 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
Birch Road Cellar
Looking for somewhere to host your own special event, or just somewhere to hang out with others that share your passion for wines? Consider stopping by the Birch Road Cellar in Chicago. It is a private club where you can find all of your favorite kinds of wine and it is temperature-controlled so they will always taste their best.
The Birch Road Cellar also hosts its own wine tastings and similarly themed events regularly making it an amazing spot to mingle with other wine lovers. You won't want to miss your chance to visit them during your trip to Chicago so make your way to one of their two locations.
Address: 1113 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 and 2002 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618.
Experiencing Wine Tastings in Chicago, IL
Due to the hard winters that Chicago experiences (it is called Windy City thanks to its windstorms, after all!) you might not expect them to have many vineyards and wineries, and there are definitely fewer than you would find on the West Coast.
However, there are actually some great restaurants and bars serving wines from both local regions and places around the world. You can learn a lot about wines if you visit different places around town, from Downtown Chicago to the Magnificent Mile and even the Old Town!
Order a meal with your glass of wine and you will have an unforgettable experience. While you aren't tasting wines, keep your holiday happening by trying one of the activities on our itinerary of 3 days in Chicago!
