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Sonoma in the City recently came to Chicago’s favorite wine bar and restaurant, Bin 36 on 339 North Dearborn Street led by Chef John Caputo, to showcase nothing else but the fabulous wines of Sonoma County, California.  With about 52 wineries present at the event, it is truly a wine enthusiast and experts paradise!

I got to be a guest at the event and talk to some wine representatives and wine makers themselves about some tips about wine and how to incorporate it in our Great Everyday Meals..and celebrations!!

On Tuesday, April 24th, Sonoma in the City will be headed to Los Angeles, California at The London West Hollywood, 1020 San Vicente Boulevard where Chef Gordan Ramsey currently has a restaurant!

Here were some of the wineries I spoke to at Sonoma in the City:

J Vineyards & Winery showcased their Chardonnay and Pinor Noir, but the star of the winery was definitely the NV Brut Rose`. This brut is perfect for your upcoming Easter affair, any ladies brunch event, and of course Mother’s Day! A single mother of two, Judy Jordan speaks to all the working mothers out there. How cool would it be to have your own winery ladies?!! So cool!

Jemrose let me taste their Viognier and told me that it’s a French-style viognier. When choosing a white wine, try venturing away from your typical Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio, to a Jemrose Voignier! They told me it’s “other white wine”!

Kendall-Jackson is a household name so I couldn’t pass up a chance to ask about their featured wines. For those who love Chardonnay, KJ recommends their Grand Reserve Chardonnay for your Easter pairings. They told me, this one will “renew your love for chardonnay”.

For those who would like a chardonnay that’s less dry on the palate, Lost Canyon Winery‘s Ruxton Vineyard Chardonnay is exactly what you’re looking for. It has all the great characteristics of a good chardonnay with a more tender mouth feel. (Is “tender” even a term used in describing wine? Hey, I never said I was the wine expert!) 

Martinelli Winery had a great tip for me about entertaining with wines. They recommend making wine a fun experience at your Easter table and choosing a more progressive wine list. They recommended possibly starting with familiar wines and then slowly introducing new wines you and your friends and family may not regularly (or have never) drink. It’s fun to surprise people, and it will definitely make for a memorable dinner party!

I then snagged some one-on-one time with Chef John Caputo, Executive Chef and Partner at Bin 36 and asked for his suggestion for wines that would go well with our Easter spread. But before that, he told me some information about him that ties him in perfectly with Sonoma in the City. Chef Caputo was a chef at the renowned Jordan Winery Restaurant in Sonoma before opening up his own critically acclaimed, Socca Restaurant in San Francisco, which he told me French/Mediterranean cuisine.

Chef Caputo lived in San Francisco for fifteen years, in the Cow Hollow neighborhood off 22nd and Geary. Today, he lives on the north side of Chicago and we’re so happy to have him here!

Chef Caputo recommends a Rose` to pair with an Easter spread. He says it’s a “great food wine” and a drink to have fun with! He also says it’s great with fish and vegetables, as well as all the classics like lamb and pork.

Bin 36 offers an Easter Brunch on April 8 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

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