Toast Summer with Wine Dinners

A crisp glass of wine is one of the best antidotes to summer heat, and there are several opportunities this summer to explore the wines of a certain region while feasting on delicious dishes.

First up is the Robert Mondavi 100th Birthday wine pairing dinner, which takes place at Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses in Chicago and Northbrook on Thursday, June 13. To celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Mondavi’s birthday, there’s a five-course meal paired with wines from the California winemaker. Dishes include watermelon, goat cheese, and toasted almond salad, grilled lamb chops with lemon-herb gremolata, and steamed lemon pudding cake.

Vie is hosting monthly wine dinners this summer that focus on a particular region or style of wine. Rosé gets things started on Wednesday, June 19 at 6:30 pm, and the dinner includes an hors d’oeuvre reception and four courses with wine pairings. Dishes include roasted beets with wood-grilled strawberry vinaigrette, rabbit with fennel and polenta, and white chocolate sorbet with strawberry basil sauce. The second dinner, on July 17, features wines from Spain and Portugal, and the third dinner celebrates wines from Languedoc and the Loire Valley on August 21.

City Winery hosts a La Follette Wines and Quivira Vineyards wine dinner on June 20 that features dinner in the City Winery Barrel Room, a discussion with the winemakers, and a four-course dinner paired with wines from each winery. Both wineries are based in California and you’ll learn about the soils and viticultural techniques of each.

Vie
4471 Lawn Avenue #100, Western Springs
(708) 246-2082
Website

City Winery
1200 West Randolph Street, Chicago
(312) 733-9463
Website

Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Website

431 North Dearborn Street, Chicago
(312) 321-2725

933 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook
(847) 498-6889