For wine lovers it was nirvana. For those just learning it was a crash course in Wine 101.
The Naperville Wine Festival, held at on Friday and Saturday, attracted thousands and benefitted the .
Joe Pellman, with Easley Winery of Indianapolis, was one of the many wineries at the festival. He was showcasing his winery's Reggae Wines, a line of three semi-sweet wines.
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"We came to the festival because we wanted to showcase our sweet, fun and fruity wines," Pellman said. "If you are just starting out as a wine drinker, chances are you are not going to start with a dry heavy wine. Something from our Reggae series is very approachable and will almost taste like juice, and when mixed with flavored rums, make greta summer drinks."
Diane and Paul Erickson of Downers Grove headed to the Wine Festival to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary.
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"This is our first year attending and we decided to come here to sample and get to know the different wines," said Diane Erickson. "I like red wines and I tend to always drink the same thing. I am not a wine connoisseur, but when I order a wine I want to enjoy it. I want to broaden my horizons and get to know some different grapes so when I go out I know what I am ordering."
In addition to the nearly 300 different wine samples, guest enjoyed gourmet specialities from area restaurants including , , Buckingham’s Steakhouse & Lounge, Caoba Mexican Grill and Bar and PRIME BurgerHouse. Wine demonstrations and live music also highlighted the weekend's events.
Kate Mann, of Hook & Ladder Winery in Santa Rosa, Calif., was on hand offering six different samples, including the winery's two most popular wines, The Tillerman and Station 10.
"When it comes to wine, I tell people who are just starting out to have no fear," she said. "You're never going to find out what you like until you try it. As you try more you'll start figuring out the right wine for you, red or white, certain varietals, dry or sweet. At samplings like this we can guide people in the right direction and help them be successful wine tasters and enjoy what they taste."
