Drinking Edited by E iz Edited b Ellizabeth Atkinson timeout.com/chicagtimeout.com/chicago/b


by Elizabeth Atkinson ch cago/bago/bars


hica o/ a/bars @elizabethrose14 Drinking The Lunatic, The Lunatic, the Lover & the P er & the Poet


IF YOU DON’T know the difference between sangiovese and syrah, you’re in good company. A handful of new Chicago wine bars take the snobbery and exclusivity out of the classic vino-tasting experience. Thoughtful menus, laid-back sommeliers and a dash of patience create fun, educational outings for newbies and enthusiasts alike. Leading the charge is the Lunatic, the Lover & the Poet (736 W Randolph St; 312-775-0069,


Tapster


thelunaticloverpoet.com), a new three-story wine and fine-dining refuge in West Loop. The folks behind the concept know there’s nothing revolutionary about a new wine bar in Chicago, but their approach is what’s special. “Wine has always been very celebrated in Chicago, but I’ve often wondered to what degree in the last 15 years the wine community did a good job of embracing the public,” says Tom Powers, managing partner. Powers describes the Lunatic’s


Income Tax


incometaxbar.com) is the kind of place where you can’t help but think the staff is constantly geeking out over wine—and you wouldn’t be wrong. Behind the scenes, the bar crew might be ogling a 16-year-old riesling brandy, but with customers, they play a friendly game of 20 questions to find the right glass. Employees are trained to converse with guests in a way that’s casual and humble. For first-timers, Tapster (2027


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wine list as “a handshake,” or a mix of familiar and unfamiliar options. Guests can approach the menu in two different ways: Consult the bar staff or grab an iPad and start browsing. The tablets are loaded with Chicago app Uncorkd, which outlines the menu and provides digestible notes on each offering. In Edgewater, another


culinary-focused wine bar is establishing roots with a similar mentality. Income Tax (5959 N Broadway; 773-897-9165,


DISCOVER! Time Out Chicago June 7–September 5, 2017


W North Ave; 773-661-2182, tapsterchicago.com) offers a choose-your-own-adventure approach. The pour-your-own- drink bar in Wicker Park has a selection of eight wines on tap that guests are encouraged to dabble in and explore. Bartenders roam the space and give feedback, but it’s a safe zone for beginners. More important than high- tech gadgets and wine samples is the noticeable shift in attitude. Chicago’s new hot spots aren’t dumbing anything down; they’re simply letting newcomers in on the conversation.


Find new ways to sip the day away at timeout.com/chicago/bars. 42


Good wine needs no pretense


Chicago is no stranger to wine bars, but a new wave of openings aims to transform the way you learn about vino—one sample at a time. By Morgan Olsen


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PHOTOGRAPHS: TOP


, CENTER: JACLYN RIVAS; BOTTOM LEFT: THE BMP FILM CO.


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