Chicago Sips: ENO Wine Bar

Located directly on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, at 505 North Michigan Avenue, ENO Wine Bar is a jewel in the crown of the InterContinental Hotel.  Cheese, truffles, and a lovely glass of wine await you in this intimate, relaxed, and unpretentious bar while you observe the hustle and bustle of the city. I love their sommelier led ENOversity, a monthly series exploring various wine regions, where wine lovers are able to explore and taste a variety of wines paired with regional cheeses and small bites.  Not too long ago, I enjoyed their fun and informative session focusing on Spanish varietals.  Emphasizing fine wines and beer (sorry, no spirits), the wine list is pages long and has a terrific representation of wines from around the world.

 

Just recently, I had the opportunity to check out another reason to drink and learn about wine: ENO’s Blind Tasting. Offered on Sunday through Thursday from 4pm-midnight, your server will offer this as a fun option to a flight, glass, or bottle of wine.

You may choose to taste either red or white wines, typical for their region and varietals. Three wines, carefully selected by the ENO staff, are served, along with a tasting card for you to complete. The closer you are to guessing the correct wine, the cheaper the flight!

Points are given for knowing (or taking a stab at, so to speak) the varietal of wine, whether it’s from the Old World or New World, its age, and the country and region of origin.  More points are awarded if you guess something more specific, such as the producer or vineyard. Once you finish tasting and guessing, simply give the card to the sommelier. He or she will return with your points tallied and a tasting card revealing what you was in each glass. Surprise!

If you receive a total of 13 points, your flight is $5.05. If you receive 8 points on the card, your flight is $10. Totally stumped and receive less than 8 points? Your flight costs the full price: $18. (Honestly, that’s ok, because the wines are that delicious.)

If you are a true wine geek and predict everything correctly, you’ll be rewarded with a complimentary ENO Experience Platter with a selection of cheeses and charcuterie, accompanied by a glass of wine. Congratulations to you!

In full disclosure, I tasted both red and white flights. I received 11 points for the whites, but only 8 on the reds. (Apparently I was talking too much and not concentrating as well as I should have been…go figure!) I correctly guessed information about the Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay, but not the South African Chenin Blanc. When tasting the red wines, I should have trusted my instincts. Some of the information about the Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon was incorrect (although initially I was right), but nailed the Sangiovese from Tuscany. There’s always a next time!

This entertaining way to swirl, sip, savor (and speculate) is perfect for date night, girls’ night out, after work sipping, or anyone looking to be a bit more daring with their wine choices. I’ll return to ENO Wine Bar with friends and give the Blind Tasting another go. Why not? No matter how much wine lovers think they know about wine, there is always much more to learn.  ENO Wine Bar is just the place to do it.

Cheers! ~ Cindy