LINCOLN PARK — The country's longest running pro/am wine tasting competition is hosted at Geja's Cafe, which is already preparing for the 41st annual competition.
At stake is the coveted crystal wine decanter, and the winner's name engraved onto a plaque that hangs on the restaurant's wall.
The rules are strict: There is no talking, no cell phones and a strict one-hour time limit to taste eight wines.
"It's a very serious process," said Jeff Lawler, managing partner at Geja's. "It is the oldest wine-tasting contest in the country and we want to keep its integrity intact."
Paul Biasco says it's serious business, but everyone is welcome:
This year's contest will be held Nov. 2 at Geja's, 340 W. Armitage Ave.
Eight unmarked carafes of wine, four white and four red, are placed in front of the competitors, and each has one hour from the time they walk in the restaurant to identify the grape, place of origin and vintage of each wine.
Lawler said they typically pick wines that are close to their character and popular in the market to make it easier for amateurs.
"Tasting wine is hard enough," he said. "We aren't going to find these obscure wines."
Professionals and amateurs are judged separately. To qualify as an amateur, one must not have worked in the wine industry for the previous three years.
"We have wine lovers come in. We have people in the wine industry come in. We have sommeliers come in. We had Alpana Singh come in," Lawler said.
Binny's wine buyer Barbara Herman has won the contest eight times.
Many participants have been coming for years.
The regulars bring their own glasses. Some bring glass, others crystal.
"Different strokes for different folks," Lawler said. "Some who have been coming for many years have their routine."
Some contestants walk around, others sit tight.
"Some sip, some spit, some swallow. It's fascinating to watch the process," Lawler said.
The majority of the wines typically come from the restaurant's 300-bottle wine list, and most years they bring in a few that aren't on the list.
John Davis originally opened Geja's as a small wine and cheese shop of Wells Street in 1965 and moved to the Armitage location in 1971. The wine bar eventually evolved into a fondue restaurant, but the focus on wine has not been forgotten.
The fee to participate is $20. To RSVP call Geja's Cafe at 773-281-9101.
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