Wine tasting festival set for Saturday in Elgin

Red Bar Winery of Elgin, which celebrates its grand opening today, will participate in Saturday's first Elgin Wine Fest, set for 1 to 8 p.m. in Festival Park.

Looking to break the monotony of your merlot?

Want a way to get past that predictable pinot grigio?

The first Elgin Wine Fest may be the tonic for your taste buds this weekend.

More than 100 wines from at least 15 wineries may be sampled under a large tent at the city's downtown Festival Park, 132 S. Grove Ave.

The city hired a private firm, the Barrington-based InPlay Events, to organize Saturday's event, which runs from 1 to 8 p.m.

"It's a beautiful setting," said Randy Reopelle, the city's parks and recreation department director.

"People like to try different wines. I don't know of anybody who is a wine drinker who doesn't want to taste new wines. You also can learn about them."

Organizers will erect a large tent over Festival Park to ensure rain is not a concern.

The festival also offers more than wine. There will be cooking demonstrations, live music and seven local restaurants will have food booths.

One of them is the Red Bar Winery and Bistro, 74 S. Grove Ave., which is celebrating its grand opening today.

"Obviously, it's perfect for us. Being a wine bar, the more people are exposed to wine, the might want come in and try some more new wines," said co-owner Doris Canfield. "We've got a pretty good cross section price-wise and taste-wise."

Organizers hope the budding festival will prove successful.

"We're looking at this as a potential model for how festivals will be run down there (Festival Park)," Reopelle said.

Part of the proceeds will benefit the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association, which works with park districts to provide activities for the disabled.

NISRA also will send over some 50 volunteers to help with the event.

Tickets are $30 on Saturday, but $20 if purchased in advance. Admission price includes 10 wine tastings.