Wine tastings at suburban clubs becoming popular affairs

Seventeen years ago, members gathered at the Kemper Lakes Golf Club in Kildeer for its first wine tasting. At the time, 50 people sampled wines from five vendors, recalled clubhouse Manager Jessica Trzop.

Over the years, “it got bigger and bigger” said Trzop, organizer of the now annual event, which takes place this weekend.

Over two days, more than 700 members will sample wines from more than 30 vendors during the apres ski-themed event, which transforms the venue into a ski lodge of sorts with a bonfire, comfort food and a s’mores dessert bar.

“It's a way for members to get together in the fall to stock their cellars,” she said, adding that increasingly popular wine events like Kemper’s enable enthusiasts to purchase bottles wholesale, for less money than they would spend online or at a store.

Kemper isn’t the only private club hosting such events. White Eagle Golf Club in Naperville hosts several wholesale wine expositions annually for members. According to a representative, they include 25 vendors and attract about 250 people.

Ruth Lake Country Club in Hinsdale also hosts wine tasting events for members.

Members’ passion for wine prompted Kemper to initiate the monthly tastings. But the November tasting — open to members and their guests — is its “marquee event,” so popular “people cancel their plans to come,” Trzop said.

That popularity led Kemper Lakes to expand the event to two days, she said, pointing to the challenge of sampling in one evening up to 10 wines from 30 participating vendors showcasing wines from California, Oregon, Chile, Argentina, Italy, France, Australia and elsewhere.

Wine-loving members will enjoy a “getting to taste a little bit of something from everywhere,” Trzop said.