Whether you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day or not, there is nothing wrong with treating yourself to a nice glass of wine. The list below contains all our personal favorite spots for a relaxing wine tasting in Chicago, including some adjacent suburbs! With this weather being bitter cold, and us in the middle of the Hygge month, a rich glass of red sounds just about right.
Soif Wine Lounge
2456 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
Located in the heart of Logan Square, Soif Wine Lounge is our new favorite spot for a girl’s night out, and easily the best place for a wine tasting in Chicago! Down an unmarked staircase in Logan Square’s esteemed Testaccio, Soif is a wine lounge with the exclusivity and low-key attributes of a speakeasy.
Their extensive menu centers around French wines, but also has a wide variety of Champaigns for those going for the bubbles. The crew is so knowledgeable and will help you pick the right wine to match your mood and food. So, if you haven’t been to Soif, check them out next time you’re in the area. You’ll love this place!
City Winery
1200 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
Every Chicagoan has heard of City Winery. It’s not the easiest thing to find a venue that has music, good food, and one of the most extensive wine lists in town all in one place. So, make a reservation at their Barrel Room Restaurant and Bar, or check out their wine experience, including virtual tastings, winery tours and tastings, and wine blending demos. You can also join the wine club for more exclusive benefits.
El Che Steakhouse & Bar
845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
With a Jury Prize from World’s Best Wine Lists and an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator in 2021, El Che is on the rise to become one of the superstar locations for a wine tasting in Chicago. Their beloved Wine Class by the Glass program has gained a ton of popularity since its relaunch. This month, they’re featuring Rose for Valentine’s Day!
Birch Road Cellar
1113 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Birch Road is the perfect place to host your own wine tasting events and meet fellow wine lovers. This private club comes with temperature-controlled storage to house all your favorite wines. The club itself also hosts various wine tastings and other events regularly. So, come here hang, mingle, and enjoy some delicious wine. You’ll fall in love with this place!
Uvae/The Fromagerie Tasting Room
5553 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
Volo Restaurant Wine Bar
2008 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618
Rated #1 hidden city patio by Chicago Magazine, Volo is one of our favorite wine spots in town. Their extensive wine menu keeps us coming back, and the Happy Hour food deal is also quite irresistable. Volo hosts special events, such as wine tastings regularly. Right now, they have a tasting party dedicated to Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14th. Reservations can be made here.
Picnic Wine & Provisions
7301 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60626
Picnic Wine & Provisions is another fantastic spot for wine and cheese lovers! Right now, they’re doing weekly wine tastings on Thursdays from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Reservations are $5 per person, or free for the Picnic Wine Club members. Each tasting features different wines and sometimes has a special theme. For more information, follow them on Instagram!
Lure Fishbar
616 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611
Whoever said wine and sushi don’t go together hasn’t been to Lure Fishbar. This is our go-to place for a casual friend’s wine tasting in Chicago, especially if we’re craving authentic nigiri! For the month of February, you can also enjoy their special Winter Retreat Weekdays prie fixe menu for $45, plus $45 per bottle of wine!
Quality Crab & Oyster Bah
1962 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Find out the perfect wine for your favorite oyster. Are you team west coast or team east coast? Quality Crab & Oyster Bah has a wide selection of bubbles, roses, whites, and reds. You’ll find a perfect drink to go with your meal, whether you’re diving in the ocean or feasting on land. They’re also doing Bubbles, Oysters, and Fried Chicken Dinner on Feb. 24! Reservations can be made here.
RPM Seafood
317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
Wine and seafood is the divine combo, especially if you’re coming for RPM Seafood’s The Sommelier Experience!
The seafood driven prix fixe tasting menu (typically 8-courses) from chef Michael Coté changes daily and is curated to guests’ tastes and dietary restrictions, all with expertly paired pours from Richard and his team. The Sommelier Experience at RPM Seafood is available Tuesday – Saturday with two seatings at 6:00 PM and 8:30 PM. This experience, starting at $225 per person plus tax, takes approximately two hours and seats up to 4 guests.
Bonus: The Wine Exchange
1 Illinois St # 140, St. Charles, IL 60174
Have you heard? The Wine Exchange in St. Charles is doing super Saturday every month where you can sip through 4 vendors and 25+ wines! All it takes is a $20 admission, and you can fill your glass for as many times as you want. If you can’t make it to the super Saturday, this local gem also does regular tastings on the rest of the Saturdays of the month. Anyways, we better get our reservations in. See you there?
Featured Image Credit: City Winery
The post Our Favorite Places For a Relaxing Wine Tasting in Chicago appeared first on UrbanMatter.
