Experience our Wine Education, Shop our Food-Friendly Wines
Learn
 Whether you are new to the wine world or a seasoned sipper, The Chopping Block offers wine classes for every level of expertise. Our instructors are skilled at providing a wide range of expert vino knowledge on a layman's level. From Wine Tasting 101 to our Master Sommelier Series, our classes bring you delicious wine with tasting notes and interesting facts, as well as fun-filled evenings. You will taste your way through vinous enlightenment!
Wine Academy
The success of our Wine Academy program confirms Chicago is thirsting for wine knowledge, so The Chopping Block offers two levels of in-depth education. Whether you work in the food and wine industry or just want to delve deeper into your favorite beverage, we offer an experience that will increase your grape knowledge and perhaps change your status to "wine geek".
 Level One graduates walk away from this six-week class with a solid foundation in wine tasting and sensory evaluation, how wine is made, the major grape varieties and vinification styles and food and wine pairing.
Week One: The Sensory Evaluation of Wine
Week Two: From Vine to Wine: How Wine is Made
Week Three: The Major White Grapes: Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Chenin Blanc.
Week Four: The Major Red Grapes:Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo.
Week Five: Sparkling Wine, Dessert Wine and Aperitifs Week Six: Food and Wine Pairing & Final Exam
Level Two: The Regions focuses on the world's most renowned wine regions of reckoning in eight-weeks.
Week One: France
Week Two: Italy
Week Three: Spain/Portugal
Week Four: Germany/Austria
Week Five: USA
Week Six: Chile/Argentina
Week Seven: Australia/New Zealand/South Africa Week Eight: Final Exam/Bring Your Favorite Bottle Party!
Both Academies are held several times each year at our Merchandise Mart location, so please peruse our class calendar for future dates.
 The Chicago Tribune featured our new wine program, now known as Wine Academy. Read the article and get the scoop on this pumped up wine education.
Want to hear from our students themselves about their experience? Read their testimonials
 Shop
The Chopping Block offers a global selection of hand-picked fine wines at both locations. Our list is all about thinking out of the box, so you won't see these wines on just any store shelves. Since we focus on cooking, our wines have been selected for their food-friendliness. You'll find the perfect pairing for any meal in our Sub-Zero temperature-controlled coolers.
View our current retail wine list.
 Private Events
Perfect for both social and corporate occasions, our wine tastings can be custom designed to take you on a tour of France, Napa or beyond. Kick off your cooking event with a wine tasting exploring the region of your event's featured cuisine, or host a party that fully focuses on wine and all of its glorious attributes.
 What We’re Drinking Now
Bieler Pere et Fils Rosé 2012
This Syrah-driven beauty is a must for lazy summer weekends on the patio or any other time for that matter. Blended from five hillside vineyards in Coteaux d'Aix en Provence, southern France again reminds us why they set the standard for Rosé. Notes of cherries, strawberries and a little spice on the nose lead into a crisp and refreshing palate. The stirring of the lees after fermentation adds to the body of this wine, while the lack of oak lets the flavors of red berries and cherries shine through. Definitely try with Tuna Nicoise or mild cheeses.
$11.99/bottle
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