Thank you very much for your interest in the Northern
Illinois Branch of the International Wine and Food Society (IWFS)
The IWFS is a worldwide organization founded in London in 1933. It now consists
of over 8,000 members in more than
40 countries. Each member belongs to a local branch, which gives the society
more of a small, neighborhood feel.
The Northern Illinois Branch consists of singles and
couples who enjoy each other’s company while partaking
in new dining experiences. Membership is open to all. The group is not
overly technical on wine creation and nuances, but
instead concentrates on the “art of good living”, where wine and food and
friendship come together to make for an enjoyable gathering.
One of the primary benefits of membership in Northern
Illinois Branch is our wine cellar. The branch keeps a cellar of approximately
530 bottles with a value of over $19,000. The wines from the cellar are used in
each event, allowing members to enjoy uncommon and
properly aged wines to which they might not otherwise have access. Examples of
infrequently-seen wines in the cellar that are aging
nicely are 1985 Chateay D'Issan Bordeaux, 1989 Chateau Ponialowski "Les Clos Baudoin" Loire Vouvray, 1993 Robert Weil
Spatlese,
and 1990 Chateau Domaine de Eglise
Bordeaux. With each event, the event planner works with the restaurant chef to
build a menu that
will not only showcase the chef’s
capabilities but also demonstrate great wine and food pairings.
Our season always begins in September with a casual season
opening dinner held on a Sunday afternoon. The year then consists of
2 black tie dinners, 2 business attire dinners, a recipe sharing party where the
members prepare the dishes, and a wine tasting. We
sometimes also hold a picnic during the summer months. You are welcome to join
us at a couple of events as a guest while you
consider joining the branch. I think this is the best way for you to determine
if our Society is right for you.
Let me give you some information on the cost of the various
events. The recipe party and picnic is typically $20-$25 for wine, with
attendees each bringing a dish to share. The casual events like the season
opener and the wine tasting are approximately $65.
The business attire dinners cost approximately $125. Lastly, the black tie formal events
cost approximately $150. Please see the
“Calendar of Events”
page for dates and times of upcoming events.
We would love to have you join us. Please follow this link to our membership form. We hope to see you soon!
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