Geneva's Festival of the Vine celebrates food and wine

Notice the color. Swirl it, and then smell it. Take a small sip and let it slide around your tongue, from front to back and side to side. Swallow a small amount, or spit it out, if offered the choice.

These are the skills and the senses you will put to good use at this weekend's annual Festival of the Vine in downtown Geneva.

For 30 years, this festival has been the quintessential wine tasting party, with several local businesses offering the best in both selection and atmosphere.

Sample more than 70 different wines at The Little Traveler, 404 S. Third St. Wine tastings will be held in various rooms of this historic house, as well as on the lawn. You don't have to worry about bees, as The Traveler will have plenty of inconspicuous bee traps on hand.

“We're very excited this year. We have 10 different vendors, five of which are local wineries,” Jane Bristow, the store's buyer for gourmet said. “We carry some of the tried and true, but we're including some wonderful surprises, some of the most delicious wines we've ever seen, such as Spanish wines, and a fun, cute wine from California.”

Special guest German winemaker Gunther Schlink, owner of Schlink Haus in Germany, will be on hand to sign purchased bottles of wine.

“He's coming from Germany with his family. He's a wonderful vintner,” Bristow said.

In addition to introducing new wines, Bristow said, “I think this will introduce new people to the store, and certainly sales will be boosted.”

The first three samples of wine will be free to customers (21 and older). Additional samples may be purchased for a small price, and all proceeds will benefit the charities served by the Geneva Community Chest.

The Little Traveler's wine tasting hours will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Staff responsible for handling wines have all received Basset Certification training.

For a wine experience worthy of the gods, make a date to spend time at 318 Coffeehouse (located at 318 S. Third St.), where Graham's fine chocolates will be paired with a supreme selection of wines.

“It's a really big weekend of chocolate awesomeness,” said Jayni Wunderlich, graphic designer and head of pastry at Graham's Fine Chocolates in Geneva, which expanded to include 318 Coffeehouse five years ago. Wunderlich is also the owner's daughter at this family-run business.

“It's our 22nd year (of participating in the Festival of the Vine). We're calling this year ‘Bacchus Meets Quetzalcoatl,' as it's like two gods — chocolate and wine — meeting each other.”

Customers will get to sample seven wines paired with seven chocolates. Sweet and dry whites and full-bodied reds will be poured, with a few from the Food Network's newly launched wine collection.

And the chocolates, well, you'll have to see (and taste) for yourself.

“We're launching five new delicious, secret truffles,” Wunderlich said.

This unique experience will come with homemade focaccia bread to cleanse the palette between tastings. And local musicians will perform live, to round out the transformative experience.

This unique offering is by reservation only, with “seatings” at 6:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $22 per person. Call (630) 232-6655 to reserve your spot.

Not to be missed is the wine tasting at Preservation Bread and Wine, 513 S. Third St. Opened just 15 months ago, this is the business's second year participating in the festival.

“I'm offering three wine and three cheese tastings. European wines are the focus; it's what we do here, anyway, with wines from France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and more,” said owner and resident sommelier Lawrence Colburn, who trained through the International Sommelier Guild.

Wine and cheese tastings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. No reservations are needed, and a reasonable set price will be charged.

Local entertainment is planned, and, weather permitting, both the tastings and the music will take place outside this cafe wine bar. Regular cafe service will also be offered throughout the event.

These three fine locations are just part of the tastings, both of wine and of food, offered throughout the weekend's festival. Be sure to check out the tastings at Galena Cellars Winery, 477 S. Third St., as well as the Flavor Fare at West State and North Fourth streets. Include Geneva Commons on Randall Road in your plans on Saturday, where, from 4 to 8 p.m., food, wine and more will be featured outdoors at the Bell Tower.

For a complete schedule, call (630) 232-6060 or visitgenevachamber.com/festivalofthevine.html.

If you go

What: Festival of the Vine, an autumn harvest celebration featuring fine food, wine tasting, flower markets, food and flower demonstrations, arts and crafts show, live music, kids' activities and more.

When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11.

Where: Third Street and West State Street, Geneva

Parking: Public parking is available throughout the downtown area, courtesy of Geneva merchants. Visit genevachamber.com for locations.

Cost: Admission is free; there is a fee for food and wine tastings.

Details: Call (630) 232-6060, or visit genevachamber.com/festivalofthevine.html