Sip and savor the Naperville Wine Festival this weekend
Wine and food and friends.
It's sorta like cookies and milk. Peanut butter and jelly.
But better.
You can relish in the adult version of your old childhood favorites Friday and Saturday, Aug. 24-25, at the 10th annual Naperville Wine Festival where there will be more than 300 wines to sip.
“Wine and food and friends just go together,” said Victoria Peterson, who owns Peterson Spirits and Fine Wines, the fest's wine retailer. “There's nothing better than spending time sampling wine.”
Spoken by someone who knows: Peterson hand-selected the many wines that will be available at the fest at the CityGate Centre, 2135 City Gate Lane, Naperville.
“It has to be something that I would personally drink,” Peterson said. “I am very, very particular.”
Guests will enjoy the fruits of her labor time and time again.
Tickets include a souvenir wineglass, 10 tastings, food and wine seminars, cooking demonstrations and entertainment. Additional tasting tickets are available for purchase at the event.
The fest footprint is three football fields wide and gives ample room for the more than 8,000 people expected during the two-day party.
In addition to wine, guests can stop by the Belgian Beer tent sponsored by Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Leffe where they can taste Belgian beers and learn to serve and pair them with food.
Local restaurants CityGate Grill, SugarToad, Bullhead Cantina, Melting Pot, Sullivan's and Eddie Merlot's will have food available for purchase.
The Lloyd Dobler Effect, a musical fusion of modern rock with Latin rhythms, performs both nights.
A handful of winemakers will travel from California to present at the show.
Winemaker Jeff Farber speaks from 6:15 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. Friday on behalf of Opolo Vineyards, followed by Naperville native Jeff Jarvis representing the California-based Jarvis/Tomei Winery at 6:50 p.m.
On Saturday, Eric Anesi presents on behalf of Gauchezco Vineyard and Winery at 5:20 p.m.
During those presentations, guests can sample wines from select barrels that aren't available otherwise at the festival.
The extensive list of featured wines include Fess Parker, Montinore Estate, Wente Vineyards, Opolo Vineyards, Cooper's Hawk, Barefoot Wines, Maryhill Winery, Chateau Julien, Gauchezco, Cannonball Wines, Cass Winery, Mutt Lynch Winery, Laird and Company, Martin Ray Winery, Hahn Family Wines, Vintage Point, E&J Gallo Winery, Maritime Wine Trading, Bronco Wine Company and many more.
Guest may order their favorite wines at the festival for a discount and pick them up later at Peterson Spirits and Fine Wines.
“People get excited. They have the opportunity to talk with different people and to each other at each table. It's also a big source of wine education for the public,” Peterson said. “It's just a nice relaxing event, something that you can go and do with friends, and it's just a great time.”
A portion of the proceeds supports the Naperville Area Humane Society.
The Naperville Wine Festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday.
Tickets are $28 in advance and $35 at the door. Designated driver tickets are $10.
After-party events take place on site in the Hotel Arista lobby bar and at the CityGate Grill.
“The party doesn't have to end at our closing, it can go on right there on the site,” said Scott Janess, president of Barrington-based inPLAY Events.
Free parking is available about 75 yards from the front gate.
For details, visit napervillewinefestival.com or call (877) 772-5425.