Taste through a variety of fare chosen for its affinity with bubbly, from caviar and crudo to oysters and arancini. Today, more than 140 bottles are available, with a focus on selections from smaller, family-run Champagne houses like Moussé L’Or d’Eugene Perpetuelle Blanc de Noirs, Substance Blanc de Blancs and Georges Laval Cumiéres Brut Nature. Pops for Champagne, in River North, specializes in all things sparkling since its debut in 1982. Rare Wine Wednesdays feature select bottles from some of the country’s most covetable cellars. Then move to a bottle from any of the other small producers showcased on the 100-strong list, which includes Clos Cibonne, Jean-Louis Chave and Jacques Selosse. Kick things off with a round of housemade tomato bread, patatas bravas fries, mushroom pintxos and Galacian octopus, alongside one of the Txakoli porrons. Pops for Champagne/Photo by Adam Nova Wine Bars Worth (Many) a Visit Bar RamoneĪt this River North wine bar, an expansive tapas menu ensures something for everyone. Restaurants, wine bars and shops dedicate sections and programs to these philosophies.įrom a Champagne-centric standby to an Alsace-driven tasting menu destination, here are Chicago’s best places to sip and shop for wine now. Mom-and-pop producers and minimal intervention wines are more the norm. “The consumer is more willing to explore what the sommelier is offering.”Īs the scene grows, there’s increasing opportunity for wine professionals to specialize their selections. “While the recession originally shifted the focus to less formal and emerging regions for wine, the spending has returned to high-end selections, and in big ways,” says Beteta, who also notes the increasing number of female-led programs throughout the city that include Maple & Ash, Proxi and Spiaggia. Alongside this growth was the number and diversity of wine programs across the city.įernando Beteta, Master Sommelier and education director at Chicago-based importer and distributor Tenzing, has seen the city change dramatically since the Great Recession, and it’s more wine-inclined than ever.
The city is home to more than 7,200 restaurants, 25 Michelin-starred spots and the James Beard Awards ceremony through 2027, Chicago is a food lover’s dream. “I think the digital world has made people much more adventurous, knowledgeable and curious.”
Drinkers here embrace “classic wine programs, natural programs and hyper-specific concepts alike,” Heiar adds, and credits social media with opening palates and minds. “Being far removed from a major wine-growing region and being in a major industry-driven city creates a lot of diversity,” Bret Heiar, wine director at Chicago restaurant Nico Osteria, says of the wine culture in the city. Decorative Wine Racks & Modular Systems.
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