So the hubs and I got wine fest tickets from my bro in law for the birthday. We are new to chicago so this was exciting and a new venue we have never been to before. We have passed by Moe's Cantina tons of times going to the blue line and so forth downtown but we've never been. We get there and are greeted by tons of security and a table full of freshly poured mimosas! We get our wrist bands and walk into a huge venue with bars along the wall and tables and booths. Every 10 feet are another 4-6 bottles of wine to try from various vineyards. Also champagne and Prosecco and bourbon/whiskey ready made cocktails. We get to the back of Moes and claim our free cheese and fruit plates, there are also sparkling water. There are also different yummy foods for purchase $3. Then we realize after already being impressed that there's an upstairs different bar set up also for different wines and foods, and then walk next door to two more down stairs and upstairs bars/lounges w more and more wine and food. It was an enormous venue and beautiful, with different types of music from hip hop to top 40 to country in each place. We are super excited to have discovered true venue and definitely plan to visit again each bar on usual night opens! Definitely recommend this wine fest. Best part it happened on one of the snow days in Chicago so we got to beat the weather in the best way!!! read more

This event took place at Moes Cantina and The old crow. This was a very large space and it was packed. Upon entering you were given two cups and a paper cupon booklet. There were several differen tables set up for companies to give out their samples. You could get unlimited samples.They even had a few extra booths with other items like water, cake, bai drinks, etc. There were several different stations some stations had longer lines then others it wasn't about taste, but how much the event person was talking to patrons. You were not able to purchase the wine but most places told you where you can get it at. They had a cheese tray provided with a volcher on your cupon book. The only thing I did not like was the cheese try it was sitting out and apparently not cold. I hope noone got sick from the apparent room and warm cheeses. Overall I recommend this event and probally will do it again next year. read more

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At wine fests I have been to in the past, actual representatives from the companies and vineyards were there telling you about the wines as you tasted. I should have known from the moment we walked in, that this was not an upscale or industry type wine festival when they gave us plastic cups instead of a wine glass to keep. Half the people pouring the wine didn't know anything about what they were pouring. Even if you wanted to ask questions about the wine, you wouldn't have been able to, as they were just pumping out loud music. Some of the white wines weren't even served chilled. I guess on the plus side, if you are looking to just drink a lot and not learn anything about what you're drinking or purchase any bottles, there are a lot of stations and they do fill up the little cup each time. But that's not really what a wine tasting festival is supposed to be about. There was a cheese plate included with the ticket that was pretty laughable, as it was just a few cubes of cheese, three crackers (the kind you get on the side with soup at a diner), and two grapes. We left before even doing all of the stations, as it was a pretty low end and boring experience. This event is just about drinking a lot in a crowded environment and not about experiencing and learning about new wines. read more