Saturday, September 13

The Wine Crush in Old Town is an urban wine festival featuring an enticing opportunity to sample over 100 wines from around the world. The event transforms Wells Street into a European-style open market featuring wine and food pavilions serving the cuisine of popular neighborhood eateries.

Aficionados and novices will have the opportunity to taste wines from domestic vineyards as well as from France, Italy, Australia, Spain, and Chile, among others. The Wine Crush also features live-stage performances throughout the festival. In addition to music, visitors will be treated to the second annual "Couture Crush Fashion Show." This is a fully-produced runway show featuring clothing, jewelry, hair, and makeup all from Old Town boutiques and salons. The show will occur at 2:00pm and 4:00pm. Don't miss it!

COME EARLY -- STAY ALL DAY!
The Wine Crush is being kicked off with a historic Old Town Fun Run. Please join us for a special Old Town / Lincoln Park historic run and clinic on the benefits of wine for the athlete on Saturday, September 13, 2008. This is a great way to get in your run and learn about Chicago History! The distance will be about 4 miles, always at a leisure pace. Probably the easiest fun run you'll ever do. Longtime resident, runner and history buff will lead the group with frequent stops along the way to note points of interest.

When the fashion show is on break, there are numerous food and wine presentations scheduled. Art Vendors will line the street showing their goods - and of course all of Old Town's favorite specialty shops and restaurants will be open all day long.

THIS YEAR AT THE DEMONSTRATION STAGE:
1:00pm Thomas Rice, Chef des Cuisines, Haussmann Brasserie, Northfield, Ill.
--Haussmann Brasserie's Grilled Shrimp Salad paired with a Jaboulet "Parallele 45" Blanc wine.

2:00pm Chefs Jose Aguilar and Christopher "Big Frankie" Favero, Frankie's Scaloppine and Frankie's Fifth Floor Pizzeria, Chicago
--Entertaining with fresh mozzarella and Italian wine.

3:00pm & Christine Blumer, president, Winediva Enterprises, Chicago
4:00pm --Wine classes.

5:00pm Woody Mosgers, wine & food consultant, What Goes With What, Chicago
--The fun of matching food & wine.

Why is it called the Wine Crush in Old Town, you may ask? Because there is a good old fashioned grape stomping contest! Teams of two will be competing to be named the number one grape stompers of the festival. The Grape Stomping Competition will begin at 2:00pm on the entertainment stage, with registration and check-in beginning at 1:30pm If you and a partner would like to register to compete on Saturday the 13th, contact jhollarbush@chicagoevents.com

ENTERTAINMENT STAGE SCHEDULE
12:00 The Hat Guys
2:00 Grape Stomping Competition
4:15 Douglas Roegiers
5:15 Ingram Hill
7:30 Carbon Leaf

The gates will open at 11am on Saturday, September 13th. Wine tasting will begin at 2pm and continue until 7pm. There will be tents for standard wines and also a premium wine tent featuring more expensive bottles. Wine tasting details are as follows:
standard tasting: $25.00 (ten tastings)
premium tasting: $45.00 (unlimited tasting)
extra standard wines: $25.00 (ten extra tastings)

A general schedule for the day:
11AM Open
12PM Music begins on entertainment stage
1PM Food demonstration begins on Demonstration Stage
2PM Couture Crush Fashion Show on the Fashion Show Stage
2PM Wine Tasting Starts
2PM Grape Stomping Competition begins on the Entertainment Stage
4PM Couture Crush Fashion Show on the Fashion Show Stage
7PM Wine Tasting Stops
7:30PM Headlining music act on the entertainment stage