The city’s first and oldest wine bar, Geja’s Café, to Crown Tasting Champions at 43rd Annual Pro/Am Contest on Sunday, November 6
Chicago—It’s the Olympics of wine tasting –an intense battle of the palates—and the oldest event of its kind in the country. It’s Geja’s Café’s 43rd Annual Professional/Amateur Wine Tasting Contest. On Sunday, November 6 at 1 p.m., wine quaffers from around the city will gather at Geja’s Café, 340 West Armitage Avenue, to test their taste buds against experts and amateurs alike. Amateurs are defined as not having worked in the wine industry for the previous three years.
The event begins with participants rolling up their sleeves and preparing their noses and taste buds. Eight unmarked carafes of wine are placed before the competitors and tasting begins. Participants are challenged to identify the grape, place of origin and vintage of each wine.
The Grand Award for the highest scorer in each category will be an engraved crystal wine decanter. To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $30 and must be 21 years of age or older. To RSVP, call Geja’s Café at 773-281-9101. While this is a fun event to test your palate there is a level of seriousness as well. In order to maintain the integrity of contest there is no talking or phone usage during the tasting contest.
Named one of the best restaurants in the country for exceptional fondue by the Wall Street Journal, and an ideal destination to celebrate an anniversary by The New York Times, Geja’s Café was recently voted as the nation’s Best Romantic Restaurant by USA TODAY readers. Known for romantic fondue dining – food one prepares and shares – and an extensive list of fine, moderately priced wines, Geja’s Café features over 20 different types of fondue entrees including cheese fondue and chocolate dessert fondue. An enchanting wine cellar atmosphere, private booths, and subdued lighting contribute to its intimate surroundings. Geja’s Café was recently voted the #1 audience winner for Best Romantic Dining in Chicago on www.CitySearch.com. The Chicago institution has been the site of 135,356 first dates and 16,266 engagements and diners have enjoyed over 321 tons of cheese fondue and over 1,072,046 bottles of wine.
Hours for Geja’s Café are Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Sunday, 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Valet parking is available. For information, please call 773.281.9101, or visit Geja’s Café online at www.gejascafe.com.
