CHICAGO – Pinot Days Chicago is back for its second year, bringing together more than 50 of the world’s best pinot producers, and over 150 of the best pinots on the market today. Its signature event, the Pinot Days Chicago Grand Festival, is designed to allow trade and consumers to taste a variety of pinots representing every major growing area, including California, Oregon, New Zealand, Burgundy, Ontario and Michigan. From hard-to-find and the most critically-acclaimed pinots, attendees explore new producers, find wines they love and can afford, learn more about terroir, clones, and up-and-coming vineyards, all while broadening their experience with this food-friendly varietal. The festival also features a number of local specialty food purveyors, and a silent auction offering a limited number of intimate Winemaker Dinners to take place Saturday evening following the Grand Festival. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Tanzanian Women’s Sewing Project, a trade school for destitute African mothers, the work of which empowers these women for economic independence within a system of poverty and disease. The Pinot Days Chicago Grand Festival is Saturday, November 15, 2008 at Navy Pier in Festival Hall B, and is open to the public from 1pm – 5pm and trade only from 11am – 1pm. Event tickets are $50 and available for purchase at www.pinotdays.com. Call 415-246-2967 for more information.

Pinot Days Chicago’s 2-day festival kicks-off with a Pinot Days Winemakers “Table Hop” Dinner at Bin 36, Chicago’s most renowned wine venue. “Table Hop” Dinners allow Winemakers to move tables with each dinner course, enabling them to interact with as many guests as possible. Dining guests will enjoy over 16 acclaimed wines, perfectly paired with a four course, pinot-focused dinner prepared by Executive Chef John Caputo, whose passion for pinot is reflected in his culinary creations. Pinot Days Winemakers Dinners are unique because they combine the broad exposure to pinot that the festival offers with the chance to “go deep” with a few winemakers whose wines and personalities are paired with each dinner course. Pinot Days Winemakers “Table Hop” Dinner is Friday, November 14, 2008 from 6 – 11pm at Bin 36 – 339 North Dearborn at Marina City. The cost is $130 and very limited seating is available.

About Pinot Days

Pinot Days, the world’s premiere Pinot Noir festival, is produced by the Bay Area Wine Project, a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of pinot noir. Annual wine tasting events are held in San Francisco, and Chicago, and plan to expand into other cities. The Bay Area Wine Project is committed to helping those in need. With the generous donations from their pinot producers, the organization has been able to raise over $57K for the needy since its first festival auction in 2006. For more information visit www.pinotdays.com.

Posted: 10|14|08 at 8:54 am. Filed under: News.