Good Grapes lets The Record in on the fun of annual wine tasting

It was a fine night to try something new on Chestnut Court in Winnetka.

Good Grapes Winnetka provided that opportunity to local wine lovers on Saturday, July 19, with the shop’s annual Taste of Good Grapes.

More than 40 wines were available to sip prior to potential purchase, and dozens took advantage while taking over the quiet downtown Winnetka street.

“It’s an opportunity to try new small-batch wines without having to buy the bottle first, and it’s a highly social event,” said Theresa Lucas, the owner of Good Grapes. “… It’s an event that can bring the community together.”

The ticketed event also served as a fundraiser for The Record North Shore, a nonprofit community newsroom that received a portion of the evening’s ticket sales.

The event also featured a charcuterie table and a jazz trio.

Wilmette residents Marnie and Jim Bach were on hand to support both local businesses. Marnie said the couple found Good Grapes a couple of years ago and called the shop “a total gem.”

“She has fantastic wines here,” Marnie Bach said. “This is just the second time (I’ve) been to this particular tasting and it’s great in terms of the quality of what they are showing here and it’s just fun.”

Marnie and Jim agreed they’d definitely be buying some wines and created a scoring system to help them choose, jotting down notes on their order form to inform their eventual decision.

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