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Un-wined: 7 local summer fests and events for suburban wine lovers

Why should beer drinkers have all the summer fun?

While craft beer fests abound in the suburbs, there are also events aimed at those who like to sip a chilled sauvignon blanc on a warm night or enjoy pinot noir with live jazz at an outdoor tasting.

With summer winding down, here are seven wine fests and events to help you savor the rest of the season:

The sixth annual Deer Park Jazz and Wine Festival

Grammy Award-winning artists Frank Catalano and Jimmy Chamberlin headline this Saturday, Aug. 5, festival, which also features Judy Roberts with guest vocalist Wayne Messmer, the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Tim Fitzgerald's Full House Tribute to Wes Montgomery and the LowDown Brass Band.

Noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, in the gazebo area of the Deer Park Town Center on Rand Road. Admission is free; food, wine and craft beer will be available for purchase. shopdeerparktowncenter.com.

Wednesday Woods and Wine events pair music and wine at Lisle's Morton Arboretum. Courtesy of Morton Arboretum

Wednesday Woods and Wine at Morton

The Morton Arboretum offers wine and live music every Wednesday through Aug. 30. You can bring your own food or buy some there. Bands playing through the end of the month are Cadillac Groove on Wednesday, Aug. 9, Summer Son on Aug. 16, Pirates Over 40 on Aug. 23 and R-Gang on Aug. 30.

5 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Aug. 30 at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Admission is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers; includes a glass of wine. Additional wine, beer and nonalcoholic beverages are available for purchase. Must be 21. mortonarb.org.

Wheaton Wine Walk

“Sip, stroll and shop” sums up this Thursday, Aug. 10, event pretty well. A free trolley takes participants to bars, restaurants and shops. Locations include Tasting deVine, Andrew's Garden, Art & Glass Studio, Dry City Brew Works, Ivy Restaurant, Muldoon's Irish Eatery, Naperville Running Company, Suzette's Creperie and The Sipping Muse. Tickets include 12 1-ounce tastings, a souvenir wineglass and a swag bag.

5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, in downtown Wheaton. $35. Must be 21 to participate. downtownwheaton.com.

  Katie Guerin, left, and Lori Jurjovec, right, both of Naperville, enjoy the 13th annual Naperville Wine Festival, as they sample from over 300 wines from around the world. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com

15th Annual Naperville Wine Festival

Samples from more than 250 wines from around the world will be available at the 15th Annual Naperville Wine Festival Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26. The event also features wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, live music and food. Tickets include a tasting glass, 20 tastings, seminars, entertainment and wine discounts.

5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 25-26, at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Alcohol sampling ends a half-hour before closing. Tickets cost $35 in advance or $45 at the door. Flex passes, VIP packages and $15 designated driver tickets available. Patrons younger than 21 admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. napervillewinefestival.com.

Festival of the Vine

Sample from among 26 different wines, check out the food tent and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides at Geneva's Festival of the Vine Sept. 8-10. The event also includes live music and a nearby arts and crafts show on Saturday and Sunday.

11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 8-9, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at North Fourth and State streets, Geneva. Free admission; tasting ticket packages cost $5-$16. genevachamber.com.

Windy City Wine Festival

Choose from among more than 300 wines while enjoying a late-summer Chicago evening. The Saturday, Sept. 9, festival also offers wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, live music and food. Tickets include a tasting glass, 20 tastings, seminars, entertainment and wine discounts.

5 to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, and 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Buckingham Fountain, 301 S. Columbus, Chicago. Alcohol sampling ends a half-hour before closing. Tickets cost $40 in advance or $50 at the door. Flex passes, VIP packages and $15 designated driver tickets available. Patrons younger than 21 admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult. windycitywinefestival.com.

McHenry Downtown Uncorked

Enjoy samples of wine and food at McHenry businesses Saturday, Sept. 16, for McHenry Downtown Uncorked. At the end, participants receive a bottle of wine, a commemorative wineglass and a bag full of wine-related gifts.

1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, starting at 3516 W. Waukegan Road, McHenry. $35 in advance; $45 at the door. Advance registration recommended. Must be 21. mchenrychamber.com.

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