Festival of The Vine, Taste of Geneva 2017 Is This Weekend!
Without a doubt, Geneva has some awesome restaurants.
So if you’ve ever wanted to sample the city’s spectacular food, chocolate, wine tastings, arts and crafts fairs, center-stage entertainment, free trolley rides, downtown carriage rides — in short, the good life — this is the weekend to take a trip to downtown Geneva, IL.
More than 75,000 people typically attend the Festival of the Vine, which is now celebrating its 36th year and has been named one of the nation’s top 100 events by the American Bus Association.
The Festival of the Vine gives attendees a “taste of Geneva,” including the Flavor Fare, which features specialties from some of Geneva’s best restaurants, wine tasting events, a flower and farmer’s market, an Arts & Craft Show, children’s activities and more.
As is tradition, the Flavor Fare and Wine Tent are located on the corner of Fourth Street and State Street in downtown Geneva.
Free entertainment is offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday, both on the courthouse lawn on Third Street and on the main stage at South Fourth and State. Favorites return and new acts are debuting at Festival of the Vine. Click here for the Entertainment/Music Line-up.
All around the area of the historic courthouse will be a flower market, arts and craft show, the weekend kids’ activities and complimentary carriage and trolley ride stops.
Special Festival of the Vine events will take place in the downtown area with All Chocolate Kitchen, Chez Moi Café & Catering, Fiora’s, Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery,Geneva Wine Cellars,Graham’s Fine Chocolates & Ice Cream,SavWay Fine Wines & Spirits, The Little Traveler and Wildwood. Click here to see a list of special Wine Tasting & Culinary Events.
For complete details on everything festival related, please visit genevachamber.com or call 630-232-6060.
Read More
- Festival Wine List
- Flavor Fare Menu
- Entertainment/Music Line-up
- Special Wine Tasting & Culinary Events
- Festival of the Vine Brochure
Festival of the Vine 2017
When: Sept. 8 – 10, 2017
- Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attendance: 75,000
Events/Attractions:
- Flavor Fare Event: Sample specialties of Geneva’s fine restaurants
- Central Entertainment Stage Featuring Live Music
- Dining Tent
- Tasting events and seminars
- Floral and Farmers Market
- Arts & Craft Show
- Complimentary scenic trolley rides
- Complimentary horse-drawn antique carriage rides
- Strolling entertainment
- Sponsor booths
- Tasting & sampling opportunities
Special Wine Tasting & Culinary Events
28th Annual Bacchus Meets Quetzalcoatl Wine & Chocolate Tasting Event
- Where: Courtyard at 215 Fulton Street (enter off of Fulton) — outside
- When: 6:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
An annual favorite among many Festival of the Vine attendees, the event pairs exceptional wines from Geneva Wine Cellars & Tasting Room with hand-dipped fine chocolates from Graham’s. Enjoy live music while strolling through the transformed space. Tickets $35/person; min. age 21. Tickets sell out fast, so please reserve early. Limited/prepaid reservations. Call Graham’s at 630-232-6655.
All Chocolate Kitchen – Chocolate 101 Paired With Wine
- Where: 33 S. Third St. — Inside the sophisticated private room
- When: 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday
An evening of Chocolate & Wine with Award winner, Food Network Personality and Hall of Fame Inductee Chef Roby – Executive Chef and owner of All Chocolate Kitchen. In this class guests travel along the tasting path of chocolate from different countries, exploring the history and travels of the cacao bean. Each truffle from our Exotic Aroma Line will be paired with sublime, sensual wine. $50 per person. Limited/prepaid reservations, 630-232-2395.
Chez Moi Event
- Where: 415 W. State St.
- When: seating begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday
Enjoy our Annual “Polenta Pour.” We pour the polenta right on your table with sides of sauces, vegetables, sausages and cheeses. A great night to enjoy family and friends. $30/person.
Fiora’s Festival Wine Tasting
- Where: 317 S. Third St.
- When: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday
Voted Best Restaurant three years-in-a-row and in 2017, Fiora’s is a local favorite known for its fine wine selection, fantastic food, live music and unbeatable outdoor dining. Join us for our popular wine tasting event ($1 a taste) featuring exceptional wines individually selected by our Sommelier. All wines will also be available for retail sale. Visit www.fioras.com.
Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery
- Where: 477 S. Third Street, Suite 100
- When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
Wine tasting daily. Serving Sangria and 40 different wines by the glass on our patio. Live entertainment Sunday (2:30 – 5:30) on the patio. Call 630-232-9463 for information.
Geneva Wine Cellars and Tasting Room
- Where: 227 S. Third St. (The Berry House; NE corner of Third & Franklin)
- When: Friday through Sunday
Fine wines from around the world by the glass, bottle or case. Enjoy our sunny patio or cool down in our historic underground cellar. Taste 5 fine wines for $5 “under the tent” on our Third Street patio Friday, Saturday and Sunday during Festival of the Vine. Special presentations of luxury wines in VIP Room – limited seating/ prepayment required. Call (630) 232-8888 for details.
The Little Traveler
- Where: 404 S. Third St. – front lawn
- When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
We will sample over 75 wines from throughout Illinois ,the US, Europe and South Africa, under our front lawn tents, along with a curated selection of lager beers and hard ciders. Seasonal fruit wines include pumpkin, cranberry, grapefruit.. Wineries include Lynfred, Prairie State, & Door Peninsula. The first three samples are free for those over 21; additional samples may be purchased for a nominal price. All proceeds benefit Geneva Community Chest, serving over 20 local charities.
SavWay Fine Wines & Spirits
- Where: 515 W. State St.
- When: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday; 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sturay and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Join us for a wine and cheese presentation of undeniable value buys for fall. Find your new favorites, reacquaint with old. We promise hot-prices on everything from cellar gems to everyday wines. $10 Presentation fee. Robert Mondavi put it best: A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine!
Wildwood Restaurant & Lounge
- Where: 477 S. Third Street, Ste. 190
- When: Enjoy Wine Flights and complimentary Cheese Tasting in our lounge from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Celebrating the seventh consecutive year of Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence! Our festivities include $10 Wine Grab Bag and Wine Flights all weekend.
SOURCE: Geneva Chamber of Commerce