Close to 1,000 avid wine lovers swirled, sniffed and tasted wines from among the 234 wineries pouring at Wine Spectator’s first stop of the 2025 Grand Tour, held in Chicago at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk on April 26. The Windy City was the first of three stops this year—the tour heads to Washington D.C. on May 2 and Las Vegas on May 10, with each evening offering the chance to taste wines rated 90 points or higher from dozens of regions and grape varieties.
Several wineries were attending their first Grand Tour, including Aperture Cellars from Sonoma, Champagne Gosset, Château Lascombes, Oregon’s Stoller Family Estate, Camigliano from Tuscany’s Montalcino region, Poderi Luigi Einaudi from Piedmont and Villa Bucci from Marche.
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-overview-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Guests filled the ballroom at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, exploring some of the world’s greatest wines.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Guests filled the ballroom at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-fontodi-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Margherita Manetti of Chianti Classico powerhouse Fontodi was teaching guests about its Super Tuscan Flaccianello.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Margherita Manetti of Chianti Classico powerhouse Fontodi was teaching guests about their Super Tuscan Flaccianello at the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
Einaudi’s estate manager, Vittoria Abbona, presented the winery’s Barolo Cannubi 2021, a 95-point wine from the stellar current vintage. “The [guests] are so enthusiastic, they know all the regions of Italy. They come to the table absolutely prepared but also curious,” said Abbona. “They are finding different vintages from many countries and are impressed with the drinkability of the Barolo Cannubi 2021.”
Château d’Estoublon, an up-and-coming estate in Provence co-owned by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, also made its first Grand Tour appearance. Their flagship Roseblood Rosê 2024 was a delicious palate cleanser for guests tasting heavyweight Brunellos and Napa Cabernets.
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-vik-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Cristian Vallejo, chief winemaker of Chilean winery VIK, was pouring his powerful Cabernet blend.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Cristian Vallejo, chief winemaker of Chilean winery VIK, was pouring his powerful Cabernet blend at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-brewer-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson, left, and Diatom winemaker Greg Brewer catch up.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson, left, and Diatom winemaker Greg Brewer at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
The annual event provides not only a chance to taste outstanding wines, but also a chance to meet the people behind them. Melissa Burr, founding winemaker at Stoller Family Estate in Oregon was pouring the Reserve Pinot Noir (93 points), even as she and the winery team mourned the recent passing of founder Bill Stoller. “I was very close with him and he would have been disappointed if I wasn’t here,” said Burr. “I selected this wine because it’s our calling card from the estate. I really appreciate the seriousness and the engaging conversations tonight.”
Also holding court at his table for the night was dynamic California winemaker Greg Brewer, pouring his Diatom Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023 (93 points). “Once the tasting starts, I never leave my post. It’s respect for your guests,” said Brewer. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. Everyone is very kind, very engaged.”
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-katz-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Aperture Cellars owner Jesse Katz showed off his fashion sense.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Aperture Cellars owner Jesse Katz showed off his fashion sense at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-friends-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Kayme Caraway, Jordan Boyd, Cheryl Kuhn and Owen Newman, left to right, were among the nearly 1,000 guests who showed up to taste.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Kayme Caraway, Jordan Boyd, Cheryl Kuhn and Owen Newman at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
A few wineries returned to the Grand Tour for the first time in years, including Paul Jaboulet Aîné of Hermitage in France's northern Rhône. “It’s great to be back, and great to see people so excited to taste this wine,” said Nicolas Mielly, commercial director for the brand. He was pouring the domaine’s La Maison Bleue 2021 (93), a special cuvée made from 40- to 60-year old Syrah vines and named for the tiny blue stone house on Hermitage hill.
Chicago native Tom McCall was attending his first Grand Tour. “I’m learning a lot and enjoying the wines. Loving it. Everyone has been fun and giving us a lot of good information.”
Many guests arrived with a gameplan. Chicago residents Melea Lusk and Carl Castrogiovanni attended with their friends Andrea Alexander and Peter Roehrich and had mapped out the floor plan in advance, color-coding different wines they wanted to taste. “There are so many amazing wines,” said Lusk. “Our biggest surprise wine so far was the Luigi Bosca Malbec 2021 [from Argentina]. We normally drink Italian and French wines, so this was really wonderful to discover,” said Castrogiovanni. For Roehrich, the Croft Vintage Port 2000 was a highlight.
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-borsao-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Spanish wineries like Bodegas Borsao were well-represented.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Bodegas Borsao’s Juan Palomar pours at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-map-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Guests had both maps and a guidebook to help them strategize which of the 234 wines to try.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Guests look at the winery table map at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
While all the wines have earned at least 90 points, many earned classic scores of 95 to 100 points. Barone Ricasoli’s Chianti Classico Gaiole Colledilà Gran Selezione 2021, Castellare di Castellina’s Toscana I Sodi di San Niccolò 2020, the Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino Poggio al Vento Riserva 2016 and Antinori’s Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso 2021 all weigh in at 97 points. An additional four wines at the event deliver 96-point scores, while 15 more clock in at 95 points.
The Grand Tour is also an opportunity to sample some older vintages. Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte was pouring its Brut Champagne Palmes d’Or 2008 (93), while Alsace’s Trimbach offered a glimpse into the flavors of mature Riesling with its Frédéric Émile 2017 (94) and Valdicava revealed the complexity of 15-year-old Sangiovese with its Brunello di Montalcino 2010 (96).
The Grand Tour stops next on Friday, May 2, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington D.C. and Saturday, May 10, at the Wynn Las Vegas.
—With reporting by Kristen Bieler and Jeffery Lindenmuth.
[article-img-container][src=2025-04/ns_grand-tour-2025-toast-042825_1600.jpg] [caption= Vanessa Buie, Kasey Steward and Devin Carter, left to right, raised a glass to a fun night together.] [credit= (Jimmy A. Vitullo) ] [alt= Vanessa Buie, Kasey Steward and Devin Carter at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk for the first night of the 2025 Wine Spectator Grand Tour.][end: article-img-container]
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