Inside Chicago's Wine Scene, The Best NYC Wine Events Happening This October, and a Mythical Swiss Producer

Hey guys!

The Fall season is ramping up, and there’s a lot to get excited about. This week, we’re diving into Chicago’s wine scene, some fun wine events in New York this month, and one of Switzerland’s most intriguing producers. Enjoy🍷

Some wine notes from a weekend in the Midwest’s capital

This past weekend, I was in Chicago for VinItaly, one of the largest gatherings of the Italian wine trade in the world. I was there as a moderator and went solo, which meant no real itinerary most nights, but honestly, those are often the best kinds of trips in my opinion. Traveling alone lets you wander around and stumble into places without worrying about dragging along an unwilling friend.

I had a small amount of time to explore Chicago’s growing wine scene, and there are definitely some gems worth checking out if you’re ever in town. Here’s a few highlights:

I met up here with a college friend who’d just moved to Chicago, we were just planning to catch up over a glass or two, nothing major. I was pleasantly surprised to see their bible-sized wine list with well-priced bottles of Alice and Olivier De Moor, Labet, and more, stuff you’d never see on a list in New York. We took our server’s advice and ordered the burger (which was phenomenal) and a bottle of 2022 De Moor Chablis, which was exactly what we needed. It was a casual but impressive experience overall.

This was a recommendation from a Chicago native friend and it definitely lived up to the hype. It’s a brand new spot, maybe a month old, and serves as the second act to Elske, the restaurant next door with its own great wine list. Creepies has a surprisingly big footprint, spanning what feels like two connected buildings. I had a Chardonnay from Llewelyn Wines, one of my favorite new U.S. producers, and a breaded saucisson with pistachio mustard that was easily the best thing I ate all weekend. If you’re in town, get here now, before it inevitably gets crowded.

This was the most recommended wine spot of the trip, but unfortunately, I didn’t have time to make it. It’s won plenty of awards and looks like the kind of place you could easily spend hours in. It’s also right around the corner from Red & White Wines (which is sadly closing after nearly 20 years). Definitely top of my list for the next visit.

Honorable Mentions: Lula Cafe, Noisette, Le Midi Wine, Elske, Acanto, Cafe Yaya, Pops for Champagne

Fall wine season hits full stride with parties, pop-ups, and a stacked lineup of events.

We’re officially in the Fall stretch, or as industry folks call it, “OND” (October, November, December). It’s the busiest season of the year for food and beverage, and there’s a lot happening to kick off Q4. From wine raves to champagne parties to one of the biggest Eastern and Central European wine fairs in the world, here’s your quick rundown:

Saturday, October 11th - The Knockdown Center 📍

NY Beverages is back with their annual collab with the beloved San Francisco bar, Bar Part Time. If you remember the event we did with the NY Beverages team this Summer, you’ll remember it was a wild one. Expect another night of wine, music, and dancing. The Ruins at the Knockdown Center make for an unreal setting too. Grab tickets here 🎟

Friday, October 24th - Nine Orchard Hotel 📍

La Fête du Champagne is hosting an Apéro ahead of their main fair and gala dinner later this month, and it’s going to be an evening to remember. Full transparency: tickets are pricey (around $350), but once you see the Champagnes they’re pouring, you’ll understand why you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. Get tickets here with a little discount 🎟

Saturday, October 25th - Domino Square, Brooklyn 📍

One of our favorite wine fairs of the year is back, Karakterre, the biggest gathering of Central and Eastern European winemakers, lands in a brand new Brooklyn venue later this month. If you’ve followed us for a bit, you’ll know Karakterre happens twice a year: Austria in the Spring, New York in the Fall. It’s a perfect way to dive deep into wines from that part of the world, and drink a lot of them. Find tickets here 🎟

Every Second Thursday of the Month at Win Son Bakery East Village📍

We’re teaming up with Win Son Bakery in the East Village and Swurl Media to host a monthly wine bar pop-up, starting this Thursday. Expect rotating wine lists, DJs, and food from the Win Son kitchen. Come hang! First one’s this Thursday, October 9th. No tickets needed for this one.

One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: we’re constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvées from our friends. We’ll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!

The first shipment is officially out and should have arrived by now! We’d love to hear what you think of the first month, and if you have any questions or feedback, don’t hesitate to reach out.

If your box hasn’t arrived yet, double check which month you signed up for. There’s usually a cutoff for enrollment that may have placed your first shipment in the following month. If there are any other issues, please let us know and send a message here

If you aren’t a member yet, you can sign up here if you’re interested! It’s 3 bottles per month for $105.

That’s it for this week! Hopefully you get a chance to check out one of these Chicago spots, hit a wine event in NYC this October, or track down a bottle of Mythopia along the way.

Thanks so much for reading along and, as always, drink responsibly 🥂