On December 3rd, The Mariano’s at Halsted and Monroe in Chicago hosted a “Local Wine Craft Cider and Cheese Event.”
Nine regional wineries from three Midwestern states participated in the event which was attended by several hundred guests.
“I’m impressed how busy the event was for a Monday night, ” said Marie Chantal Dalese, Director of Marketing at Chateau Chantal on the Old Mission Peninsula of Michigan.
“Mariano’s is a fantastic store,” see added. “It’s a coup for the Midwest to have the recognition of Mariano’s.”
Kelly Kniewel, Fresh Coast Distributors
Vince Scanio, Midwest Region Manager for Firetail Brands of St. Louis, poured Chocolatier at the event. Chocolatier is blended in Wisconsin using local dairy products. The chocolate wine is bottled at Mt. Pleasant Winery in Augusta, Missouri which was purchased this year by Firetail Brands.
“The event went very well,” Scania said, “a lot of new customers are tasting our Chocolatier and everyone really enjoyed all the wines.”
Mark Ganchiff is the publisher of Midwest Wine Press, the leading source of news on the growing wine industry in the central United States. Mark has been a wine judge at the 2012 and 2014 INDY International Wine Competition, the 2014 Cold Climate Wine Competition, the 2013 Mid-American Wine Competition, the 2012 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition and the 2013 Michigan Wine Competition. He also enjoys speaking at wine events including the Cold Climate Wine Conference, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association Annual Meeting, the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and the Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Mark's articles about regional wine have appeared in Vineyard & Winery Management, WineMaker and several regional magazines.
Mark is a Level One Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lives in Louisville, but also has a residence in Chicago.