I didn't think it was possible but, in 2011 Wildfire will be hosting more wine, beer and spirit events than in 2010!  Here is an overview of what is happening over the next few months.

Wildfire's 2011 wine dinner calendar will kick off with the delicious sparkling wines of Domaine Chandon in Glenview on Tuesday, January 18^th, Schaumburg on Wednesday, January 19^th and Lincolnshire on Friday, January 21^st.  A few sparkling wine and food pairings to make you salivate are the Crispy Smoked Gouda Ravioli with an apricot glaze paired with the Domaine Chandon Brut Classic and for dessert, a Mixed Berries Tart with tangerine custard, Grand Marnier glaze paired with the Domaine Chandon Sweet Cuvee. 

Also in January, Wildfire Tysons will be hosting a Simply Bubbly Dinner featuring different sparkling wines from around the world. The course that I am looking forward to the most at this dinner is the fish course:  Almond Crusted Dover Sole with Caramelized Cauliflower with Julia Childs' "French Butter" Sauce paired with the Valdo Prosecco Brut from Italy. To finish out of the month Wildfire will be hosting back to back Cline Cellars wine dinners on Monday, January 24^th in Oakbrook and on Tuesday, January 25^th in Chicago. The Pan-Seared Apricot Glazed Duck Breast with Wild Mushroom Risotto paired with the Cline Cellars Marsanne-Roussane sounds too good to pass up- anyone hungry yet?

In February, throughout the Wildfire locations we are hosting a wide variety of events. If you are a chocolate lover (and who isn't?), Wildfire will be hosting two Wine & Chocolate Receptions on Tuesday, February 8^th in Tysons Galleria, McLean, VA and on Thursday, February 10^th   in Lincolnshire. There will be passed appetizers and desserts all made with some form of chocolate influence. The Grilled Shrimp with a Semi-Sweet Chocolate Port Wine BBQ Glaze paired with the Terra d'Oro Zinfandel promises to be one of the highlights of the evening.

We are excited to be hosting two dinners with Boisset Family Estate's very own "DeLoach Winery & Vineyards" at Wildfire Oakbrook on Tuesday, February 22^nd and at Wildfire Chicago on Wednesday, February 23^rd.  A pairing not to be missed is the Old Fashioned Beef Bourguignon with Homemade Spaetzle, Braised Onion, Mushroom, Red Wine Sauce with the DeLoach O.F.S. Pinot Noir '08. Also, a classic wine and food pairing, chocolate and red wine, will top off both evenings with a Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake with Raspberry Whipped Cream paired with the DeLoach Russian River Valley Zinfandel '08. To cap off a very busy February, on Friday, February 25^th at Wildfire Schaumburg, we will be winding down the week with a Napa vs. Sonoma wine reception that will feature passed appetizers and white and red wines from Napa Valley and Sonoma- decide for yourself which appellation reigns supreme!

For more information or to make a reservation for any of these events, click here.

I hope to see some new and familiar faces throughout the year. Come experience for yourself the passion, pride and overall attention to detail that we put into all of our wine, beer and spirit events. Cheers to you! Brad Wermager