Lincoln Square Ravenswood Spring Wine Stroll Preview – A Perfect Pairing Of Friends, Wine And Food

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Calling all wine and foodie fans-tickets are now on sale for the popular Spring Wine Stroll in Lincoln Square and Ravenswood! Rain or shine, more than 45 businesses in this charming neighborhood will welcome visitors and offer samples of red, rose, white and sparkling wines, specially paired with hors d’oeuvres from local restaurants. This event is the neighborhood’s traditional introduction to spring, bringing neighbors outdoors to visit local merchants, greet friends, and sample delicious food and wine pairings.

Wine Stroll, 2017

The semi-annual Wine Stroll will consist of six different routes in the neighborhood. Businesses participating will offer 2-oz. wine pours; 25 wines will be available for tasting on each route.

Wine Stroll, 2017

WHERE:  More than 45 Lincoln Square Ravenswood businesses along six routes – four in Lincoln Square and two in Ravenswood. Ticket-holders should check in between 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the following locations:

  • Lincoln Square – Route A:
    Dank Haus, 4740 N. Western Avenue (6th Floor)
  • Lincoln Square – Route B
    Dank Haus, 4740 N. Western Avenue (6th Floor)
  • Lincoln Square – Route C
    Old Town School of Folk Music Store, 4544 N Lincoln Avenue (west building)
  • Lincoln Square – Route D:
    Bridgeview Bank, 4605 N. Lincoln Avenue
  • Ravenswood – Damen Route
    Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits, 4947 N. Damen Avenue
  • Ravenswood – Montrose Route
    Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue

WHEN: Thursday April 25, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Wine Stroll, 2017

SPONSORS: Q’s and A’s

  1. Bottles and Cans
  • What are you most excited about as a sponsor for the Wine Stroll this year?

“We are very excited to be a sponsor for the Spring Wine Stroll this year! We also also love when people who attend the Wine Stroll are there for the first time. Everyone is blown away by the entire event. You’re finding this cute little pocket of Chicago for the first time, and getting to drink great wine on top of it.”

  • How did you first become affiliated with the Spring Wine Stroll in Ravenswood and Lincoln Square?

“I was lucky enough to meet the executive director of the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood Chamber, Rudy Flores. I asked him how we met, but neither of us can remember the exact details, but assume it was in the stars. We started with a few events; wine stroll being the first and it snow-balled from there. Since then, we have worked on multiple wine strolls, Winter Brew, Damen at Night and Square Roots: Brew Lounge. In the world of event planning, Bottles and Cans and Lincoln Square/Ravenswood is a great team!”

  • What do you think makes your shop stand out in comparison to other Chicago beer, wine, and spirits establishments? 

“That’s a loaded question…I, of course, think we are the best!  I like to boast that we’ve had, and have, the best employees out there.  Smart, friendly, funny. We have an amazing wine portfolio that proves you don’t need to break the bank to have a great bottle of wine. Bottles and Cans has one of the largest Rosé selection in the city. We are very proud of that. We are the only “mix anything” mix your own 6 pack.  You are able to pull from anything in the store and add it to your 6 pack. As for whiskey? We a very well curated whiskey selection, which includes domestic and imports, including some of the harder to find bottles.”

Augusta Food and Wine, one of the Wine Stroll sponsors
  • Augusta Food and Wine
  • Augusta Food and Wine sells sustainably produced wines, craft beer and small-production foods. How did the independent shop start, and what do you think makes it stand out from other Chicago wine and food shops?

“I feel that our customers appreciate the personal approach. I select all of the wines and am quite familiar with them, as well as the tastes of my regulars which puts me in the position to not just recommend something that I’m personally excited about, but to tailor that suggestion to the individual customer, based on what they have responded positively to in the past. I also think that part of the appeal of our shop is that you can stop for wine, cheese, charcuterie, preserves and even some Jeni’s Ice Cream to create an entire experience in one stop.”

  • What part of the Spring Wine Stroll do you look forward to most?

“I spent many years in the restaurant industry and we tend to get very busy on the night of the stroll, especially later as we tend to stay open beyond the scheduled stroll times. It is fun to have the shop packed with people having a good time. It takes me back to my days behind the bar a couple days a year, which is plenty.”

  • How do you think the Spring Wine Stroll will best showcase the Ravenswood and Lincoln Square community?

“The strolls are a great showcase for the neighborhood as there are so many great little shops that people may have not noticed before. As much as I love when one of the “wine strollers” discovers us for the first time, I am also very excited when I hear them talking up another local shop that they have discovered that evening as a result of the stroll. Good business for everybody is good business for everybody.”

Wine Stroll, 2017

Photos: Leigh Loftus

The Wine Stroll is presented by Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Bottles & Cans, Augusta Food & Wine, and Fountainhead Market.

Money raised from the event supports beautification projects in Lincoln Square Ravenswood and also contributes financially to several community non-profits each year.

TICKETS:  Advance registration is required. Prices range from $35-45, based on the route. For detailed descriptions of the routes, lists of participating business, and to purchase tickets, visit the website.

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