A Sommelier with Chicago Roots

Michael didn’t just land in Chicago—he built his entire wine career here. For years, he was known throughout the city as the Windy City Wine Guy, running hundreds of in-home tastings, corporate events, and private parties across Chicagoland. He trained in some of Chicago’s most respected hospitality environments and earned his WSET Advanced certification right here in the city.

That local expertise matters. Michael knows Chicago’s food culture, its neighborhoods, its vibe. When you book a Bottles Nation tasting in Chicago, you’re not getting a generic experience shipped in from somewhere else. You’re getting a sommelier who’s been part of this city’s culinary fabric for years—and who still serves Chicago clients regularly.

What an In-Home Tasting Looks Like

Your space becomes a private tasting room. Michael brings the expertise, the bottles and the education. Over roughly 90 minutes, your group explores a curated flight of wines—tasting, learning, laughing, and discovering new favorites together. Bottles Nation can also provide the wine glasses, charcuterie boards and even dessert.

Every tasting is fully customized. Want to explore natural wines? Compare Napa Cab against Bordeaux? Do a blind tasting competition? Build a tasting around your dinner menu? Michael designs the experience around your group’s interests, expertise level, and goals.

And because Bottles Nation is completely independent—we don’t sell wine and don’t represent any winery or distributor—every recommendation is honest, unbiased, and tailored to your taste.

Chicago Tasting Packages

The In-Home Party Tasting

Groups of 8–20 in your home, condo, or apartment. Perfect for birthdays, dinner parties, girls’ nights, couples’ outings, or “just because.” Michael and his team make it approachable and fun for every experience level.

The Chicago Bachelorette Tasting

Skip the crowded winery bus tour. Book a private sommelier for the bride squad—at your Airbnb, hotel suite, or someone’s home. Themes from rosé flights to Champagne deep dives. One of our most popular Chicago bookings.

Corporate & Client Events

Chicago’s business culture runs on relationship building. A sommelier-led tasting is a high-impact way to entertain clients, reward teams, or elevate an executive dinner. Michael has delivered tastings for Fortune 500 companies and knows how to read a corporate room.

Restaurant & Venue Events

Partner with your favorite Chicago restaurant or private dining room. Michael collaborates with chefs and event coordinators to create food-and-wine pairing experiences that elevate any venue event.

Beyond Wine: We also offer guided beer, whiskey, and cocktail tasting experiences for your Chicago event. Same sommelier-led format, different bottles.

Serving All of Chicagoland

We bring in-home tastings throughout the city and suburbs. Current service areas include: Downtown Chicago, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, River North, Gold Coast, Hyde Park, Evanston, Oak Park, Naperville, Hinsdale, Lake Forest, Winnetka, Highland Park, Wilmette, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and the greater NW Indiana region.

Planning an event outside these areas? Get in touch—we travel.

Chicago Wine Tasting FAQ

Does Michael still do events in Chicago even though he’s based in Michigan?

Yes! Michael travels to Chicago regularly for events. He built his career in Chicagoland and maintains a robust schedule of Chicago-area tastings. For larger events or peak season, book 3–4 weeks in advance. Michael also partners with longtime Botltes Nation partner sommeliers, mixologists and cicerones to assist with events.

How is this different from booking a sommelier through The Sommelier Company or a similar agency?

When you book Bottles Nation, you either Michael personally or one of the vetted and longtime Bottles Nation partner experts. You also get full independence: we don’t sell wine, so there’s never a sales pitch embedded in your event. The experience is 100% education and entertainment.

What if I want cocktails or whiskey instead of wine?

Bottles Nation isn’t just wine. We also lead whiskey, beer, and cocktail tastings. If your group wants a spirits-focused experience, we can build that too.