36th Annual Pro/Am Contest-Longest Running Wine Tasting Contest in the U.S. November 1, 2009

It’s the Olympics of wine tasting –an intense battle of the palets—and the oldest event of its kind in the country. It’s Geja’s Café’s 36th Annual Professional/Amateur Wine tasting Contest. On Sunday, November 1 at 1 p.m., wine quaffers from around the Chicago area will gather at Geja’s Café, 340 West Armitage Avenue, to test their taste buds against experts and amateurs alike. (Amateurs are defined as not having worked in the wine industry for the previous three years).

The event begins with all participants rolling up their sleeves and preparing their noses and tongues. Eight unmarked carafes of wine are placed before the competitors and tasting starts. Participants are challenged to identify the grape, place of origin and vintage of each wine

The Grand Award for the highest scorer in each category will be an engraved wine decanter. To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $20 and must be 21 years of age or older. To RSVP, call Geja’s Cafe at 773-281-9101.

Hours for Geja’s Café are Monday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 11:00; Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Valet parking is available. For reservations for the tasting/auction or further information, call 773-281-9101.