Elgin festival raises glass to wine tasting

The inaugural Elgin Wine Festival, presented by Comcast, brings more than 150 wine varieties from across the globe to the scenic Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave., along the Fox River.

Enjoy a day of wine sampling, food tasting, live music and fun from 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, May 23. Whether connoisseur or novice, all are invited to learn, and most importantly enjoy, the wonderful world of wine in a relaxed festival setting.

Set under one enormous tent, whether there be rain or shine, festival guests can spend their Memorial Day Weekend indulging their palates with an array of international and domestic fine wine varieties from 20 wine exhibitors. To complement the wine's finish, guests can enjoy food from acclaimed North suburban restaurants including Biaggi's Restaurante Italiano, Red Bar Winery and Bistro, Mandile's Restaurant, Casa Lara Restaurant, Buckingham's Grand Victoria Casino, Old Town Pizza Company and more.

The Elgin Wine Festival offers guests the opportunity to interact face-to-face with wine makers and brand experts, expanding their wine knowledge and discovering the blends that best suit their taste.

Beer lovers will enjoy the Belgian Cafe, a beer garden experience within the festival, which features ample sampling of Stella, Leffe and Hoegaarden beers.

Interactive cooking demonstrations and wine seminars will offer insights from Chicago area experts. Meijer's Healthy Living Advisor Maribel Cabrales brings her many years of experience, her master culinary skills and commitment to healthy eating to the festival. A Chicago native who cultivated her love for Mexican food while growing up in her parent's native town of Durango, Mexico, Cabrales will lead a demonstration of her favorite healthy Mexican recipes and cooking techniques, and the best wines to pair with them. For an updated schedule, visit www.elginwinefestival.com.

Festival guests will enjoy live performances by The Michael Heaton Band.

A list of all of the wines being sampled with prices will be provided. Meijer will offer a wine festival coupon good for 10-percent off wine purchased at any of their 11 area stores.

A portion of the proceeds from the 2009 Elgin Wine Festival will benefit the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association's Special Olympics training and cultural arts programs.

Adult wine tasting tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased through Friday, May 22. This ticket price includes a souvenir wine glass, 10 tastings, a festival program and food and wine demonstrations and musical entertainment. Festival ticket sales end at 6:30 p.m., alcohol sampling and sales end at 7:30 p.m.

Additional tasting coupons may be purchased at the festival. For $5, guests will receive 10 additional tastings. Designated driver tickets are $10 in advance or at the door. This tickets includes two non- alcoholic drinks, a festival program, food and wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, musical entertainment and a souvenir wine glass upon departure. Attendees under 21 are admitted for free when accompanied by a paid adult.

For groups of 15 or more, tickets are $17.50. To reserve group tickets, call Scott at (847) 382-1480 or GroupTix at (877) 4GRP-TIX or (877) 447-7849. For information, visit www.grouptix.net.

Tickets can be purchased online now at www.elginwinefestival.com or by phone at (847) 382-1480. Tickets will be available for purchase on-site at Festival Park on the day of the festival.