Cheers! Wine Festival Saturday

Local wine connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers alike can lift a glass at the 10th annual Naperville Wine Festival.

The Naperville Wine Festival at is showcasing more than 300 wines from around the world today, Saturday. Festival hours are 3 to 9 p.m. Ticket sales end at 7:30 p.m. and alcohol sampling and sales end at 8:30 p.m.

“This is our 10th year, and the first year we had about 4,000 people show up and we had maybe 80 wines to sample from, and this year we anticipate 8,000 to 9,000 people and 300 wines to choose from,” said festival organizer Scott Janess. “So we’ve been growing on an annual basis, which has just been great.”

Janess added that the event gives an opportunity for wine lovers to taste and judge a wide selection of wine from different regions of the world.

“We’ve got an incredible amount of wine from all over the world,” he said. “We’ve also got live music and some great food from about eight local restaurants.” 

, , as well as other Chicago-area restaurants will be offering menu items during the event. Festivalgoers can pair gourmet specialties with featured wines like Fess Parker, Montinore Estate, Wente Vineyards and Opolo Vineyards.

The festival’s entertainment stage will hold interactive wine seminars and cooking demonstrations by experts in the field as well as modern rock Latin fusion band Lloyd Dobler Effect.

Exhibitors include General Cigar, Cabot Creamery, Gourmet Blends, Olive Tap, Chiro One, WindowWerks/HomeWerks, The Great Grape, Elite Windows, Opal Enterprises, Snobby Little Wine Club, Amerilaser, Venture Sculpture and American Laser Skincare.

In addition to wine, the Naperville Wine Festival will feature a Belgian Beer Cafe that will allow attendees to learn about the history of Belgian beer, and how to serve, taste and pair Belgian beer with food. The Cafe is sponsored by Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will help support the Naperville Area Humane Society.

Adult Wine Tasting Tickets are $35 at the door. This ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings, a festival program, access to food and wine demonstrations and musical entertainment.

Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. Designated Driver Tickets are $10 at the door.

For more details, visit www.napervillewinefestival.com or call 847-382-1480. Or, Facebook at www.facebook.com/napervillewinefestival and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NaperWineFest

Written by Collin Czarnecki