Navy Pier Chicago Illinois- Things to do in Chicago- Blog
Pinot Days Chicago is a marvel for both novice and seasoned wine drinkers. Like a fine bottle of wine, the tasting affair has been perfected over the years. Whether you meander to a newcomer like the Benziger Family Winery booth, eager to share its biodynamic practices, or head over to an old favorite like the Trombetta Family Wines booth, you won’t be disappointed by the enthusiasm and gusto with which a winery representative will pour you a sip of pinot noir.
As Navy Pier’s Lakeview Terrace populated with Pinot Days go-ers last Saturday, the quiet excitement of unscrewing wine bottles filled the room. Ask wine connoisseurs the best way to taste test wine, and you’ll undoubtedly get many answers. The most common is to compare several options side by side in order to create a nice range of palate. However, Dena Drews from Amalie Robert Estate hit a note with us when she quoted David Lett: “it should be approached like a beautiful woman – with respect, some knowledge, and great hopes.” Ironically, that was the mood of the crowd as well – some wine tasters were knowledgeable already, some were just hopeful to learn more, but all treated the experience with the utmost respect.
The regions and soil can have great significance on the tastes of each pinot noir. For example, Kendric Vineyards grows its grapes in Marin County, a location with a long growing season that can produce robust flavors of fruit or spice. Other grapes are grown in the Petaluma Gap, where a cooler climate produces full-bodied wines with a balanced taste. While the majority of the Pinot Days vineyards are located in the California area, there were a few from other regions, like Cornerstone Cellars Oregon. No matter what the location though, one thing was certain: all the wines were most definitely made from grapes. (A little wine humor for you.) For those of you looking to take your tasting skills out into the real world, we learned that most pinot noir wines can be paired with a serving of duck, pork, or salmon for a mouthwatering combination. The specialists at Sojourn Cellars even suggest serving up mushroom pizza with their bottles!
Even though choosing a favorite pinot noir would be like choosing a favorite child to most winemakers, we were pleasantly surprised that most would recommend another winery to try next on the stroll through Lakeview Terrace. But, we think Dena Drews from Amalie Robert Estate said it best, “my favorite wine is the one in my glass!” It was impossible to choose a favorite, because each winery brought a different story and flavor to the table. One thing’s for certain – we are most definitely fans of the vino!
If you attended Pinot Days Chicago over the weekend, we’d love for you to share your experience in the comments. If you missed it, keep an eye out for next year’s event – and check out the other events coming up at Navy Pier!
