Hundreds toast Elgin's second-annual wine fest

Even though he doesn't consider himself to be a "wine guy," at least in public, Chris Pogue was a good sport Saturday.

Pogue and girlfriend Jillian Ackermann, both of Schaumburg, were among the hundreds sipping pinot noirs, cabernets and Chardonnays at Elgin's second-annual Wine Festival.

Until 5 o'clock hit.

"He kept saying, 'We're in a time crunch.' That he had to be out of here in plenty of time for the (Blackhawks) game," Ackermann said.

The "Blackhawk effect" didn't appear to affect the festival's attendance much.

By midafternoon, hundreds were sampling the more than 120 wines from two dozen vendors under an enormous tent in Festival Park.

Attendance was expected to hit at least 2,000 by 7 p.m., organizers said.

Along with the wines, local restaurants, including Biaggi's of Algonquin and Prime BurgerHouse, were on hand selling bites to eat and offering cooking demonstrations.

Several vendors held interactive wine seminars.

The festival was organized by Barrington-based InPLAY Events.

The Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, a cooperative of 13 park districts and cities in McHenry County and portions of Lake, Cook and Kane counties, was again to receive partial proceeds.

Since 1976, NISRA's year-round community recreation programs, camps and trips have enriched the lives of local children and adults with disabilities.

Executive Director Brian Shahinian said the city guaranteed at least a $5,000 donation to the association.

"That gave us a sense of security," he said.

More than 20 NISRA volunteers worked the festival's admission gate and beverage sales, he said.

Cindy Cnota of South Elgin said she and girlfriends Anna Murphy of Bartlett and Nicole Conner of Montgomery were attracted by the reasonable ticket prices and the chance to learn more about local wines.

Tickets ranged from $25 to $35 and included admission, a souvenir glass, 10 tasting tickets, and access to demonstrations, as well as the chance to purchase wine at a discount.

Cnota learned of the festival from her father, who lives in Texas.

"He sent me an e-mail that this was right in our backyard," she said.

"This is a great girls' afternoon."