Here’s a special freebie for my fellow Chicagoans! The Windy City Wine Festival is taking place at the Daley Bicentennial Plaza this weekend, Friday, September 11th and Saturday, September 12th… do you have your tickets yet? If not, you’re in luck because I have some tickets to giveaway!
Compliments of Black Box Wines, they have provided me with a couple of festival tickets that one of my Chicago readers can enjoy this weekend. Black Box Wines is the first U.S. vintner to offer super-premium, appellation-specific, vintage-dated wines in a box – wines whose last sip is reliably as good as the first. Before you start judging boxed wines, let it be known I’m a fan! Here’s why…
- They’re affordable: Decent boxed wines range in price from $15-$25 dollars per box, which is roughly about 4 bottles of wine… so that’s about $4-$6 a bottle.
- They’re a great shape: Being a box, they fit perfectly in your refrigerator. No need to adjust the shelving to accommodate a tall bottle.
- They keep wines fresh: Boxed wines involve a vacuum-sealed bag inside which keeps the wine fresh for weeks. This means you don’t have to worry about finishing a whole bottle to prevent the wine from going bad. Just simply drink what you want knowing it will be fresh until you finish it.
- They’re convenient: You won’t need a corkscrew or worry about having a glass bottle to be careful of. Bring them outdoors or share them with friends, it’s a perfect box of fun.
If you plan on going to the Windy City Wine Festival whether you win the tickets or not, I encourage you to check out Black Box Wine’s Lounge, where they will have wines to sample so you can taste how good boxed wines can be.
As for the festival, it provides an opportunity to sample more than 250 wines from around the world. You’ll be able to learn about new wine varieties from the experts too. Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, area chefs and restauranteurs. There will also be food available from some of Chicago’s finest restaurants and caterers. And top to top off a night of wine and food, local musical talent will be performing live on both days of the festival.
Friday, September 11th from 4pm – 10pm
Saturday, September 12th from 3pm – 10pm
2 Windy City Wine Festival tickets I’ve got to give away!
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the Chicagoland area since the winner must be able to pick up the tickets.
– You must have a valid email address (within your comment or blog link) so that you can be contacted if you win.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment answering:
– What is your favorite wine varietal and why?
Deadline: Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
ONE WINNER will be randomly chosen by Random. Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Thursday, September 10, 2009. Good luck!
free wine! I'm favorite wine is a Spanish Rioja
My favorite varietal is Malbec b/c you can serve it with any type of food and it adds flavor and thought to the wine and food.
I love classic red Sangria made from scratch with lots of fruit!
My favorite wine is Riesling because i like the sweet citrus-y flavors
I love Malbec because you can still get a full flavor without overwhelming your palette. Great with food.
My favorite is a nice chilled glass of Piesporter. It's not dry and very refreshing!
tamtran876@yahoo.com
Argentinian Malbec simply for sentimental reasons…takes me back to the parillas of Buenos Aires.
I love Pinot Noirs because they're complex and have smokey flavors I love!
janeytyler@yahoo.com
My favorite it Malbec because it pairs well with spicy foods and steak AND because it comes from a not as popular wine region which means lower prices for good quality wine.
Pinot Noir from Oregon, I just love the complexity of the fruit in this red.
I love the spice of red Zinfadels (plus I think it's funny to watch the reaction of friends who think I'm asking for a rose when I order it!) 🙂
My fave is the simple rose. It's cool, light, fruity, not too tart, and refreshing in the warm/mild weather.
I like Sauvignon blanc simply because it tastes delicious!
I like German Reislings because they are sweet and so tasty 🙂
My favorite wine is a Pinot noir because it is light enough to drink on it's own and can have such interesting, delicate flavors.
I pick a Cabernet Sauvignon for its rich body, berry flavor and earthy undertones.
-JRG
Ooh–Cabernet Sauvignon. Dry tannins and a warm, velvety body call up memories of fine dark chocolates, exquisite olives, and passionate nights–but that's just me!
Genevieve
Pinot Noir
Wow u like most wines. My current favorite is called mountain pink from Linganore winerys on the east coast. Subtle fruity and great with dinner or desert.
Cabernet Sauvignon – I love the richness and smoothness that lingers in my mouth.
When I was at Oxford years ago I fell in love with English port wine, which is sweet and rich. I had never been able to find the equivalent here until I recently discovered that some Balaton cherry wines from Wisconsin and Michigan are similar in taste.
I like a homemade sangria with a ton of fruit … preferbly chilled almost so that it has a slushy consistancy….
For summer, definitely sauvignon blanc. It's just light crisp and refreshing….perfect for lounging outside during lazy summer evenings!
My favorite it Malbec because it is complex, but easily accessible and easy to drink. Malbec can be paired with most foods and it is very reasonably priced. Plus, I was recently in Argentina and I loved it there!
My favorite wine, especially for autumn is a Shiraz that has rich cherry and currant fruitiness with hints if oak.
Over the past year I've gotten away from drinking whites, although I still enjoy a reisling from time to time. I'm a simple wine drinker preferring reds which are not dry, and more on the slight, to very sweet side. Among my go-tos are Shiraz, Syrah, Merlot, and many blends with Cabernet (I've only been purchasing vegan wines and found a good selection). I've tried boxed wine before and have enjoyed them.
My go to white has always been chardonnay, but lately I'd have to say that Sauvignon blanc has been my new fave.
It is so crisp and refreshing and I think its a really classic flavor that pairs easily.
Pinot Grigio!
I lurve Malbec! Big, bold, earthy, smooth – this baby has it all. That isn't to say that I don't love all my other little wine friends too!
My favorite wine is Sauvignon Blanc. I love that it goes great with fish and that it picks up the aromas of citrusy fruits.
I love and defend Pinotage every chance I get … partially out of my love of South Africa, but it's a damn good red, if you ask me!
Pinot noir from Burgundy – wonderfully fruity dry flavors, AND they remind me of places I used to go to…..
chardonnay
I can't lie, after this summer my favorite is a chilled Moscato.
I love a good Bonarda, like a Malbec except more earthy, I find it pairs nicely with a grilled steak. yum!
BTW, Black Box Wine Rocks!
I LOVE a good riesling! And I hope I win since it's my birthday weekend! 😉
My favorite is Malbec! Such a unique and robust flavor.
I'm generally a pinot noir gal myself.
Ice Wine because it's a wine that I can't taste the alcohol
I love Spanish and French wines with variety of fruit flavor and aroma
Svetlana
lrflint@yahoo.com
I love a nice red zinfidel. Fruity and dry
Pinot Grigio because that's the only wine I've really tried and liked
I love pinot grigio…it is the perfectly balanced wine!
I love red Chardonnay.I also enjoy Shiraz, Merlot,
Sauvignon Blanc in the summer, for sure. Particularly, a nice New Zealand Marlborough. Yummmm-o. I need to pick my winter wine. Zin maybe?
A light to medium bodied pinot noir. The aroma, flavor texture of the wine is fabulous. The aroma is reminiscent of black cherry, raspberry or currant and that is very captivating
Pinot noir…because it's so darn high-maintenance, and totally worth the work!
ooohh…tough one. I'd have to say Pinot Noir too. So full and sexy!
Moscato di Asti. It's light and bubbly and so yummy. It's perfect any season, sitting at home, or celebrating!
Thanks,
Lori
lorimw1 at gmail dot com