Chicagoans have a fancy new winery in River North, with a restaurant to boot! Chicago Winery is a closet thing to Nappa Valley right in the heart of Chicago.

Complete with a restaurant, bar, tasting room, and private event space (with a killer rooftop to come later this year all in one place. it will serve as a space to gather and share in food, wine, cocktails and life’s special moments, Chicago Winery is proud to differentiate itself by focusing on chef-driven cuisine, the onsite winemaking process and a mission to serve neighbors with genuine Midwest hospitality.

For Chef Andrew Graves, Liva’s “Modern Chicago” menu is deeply personal. Graves’ menu reflects his Midwest bona fides alongside his passion for the region’s products, purveyors and farms, including Slagel, Kilgus, Nichols and Werp Farms and Wisconsin’s Superior Fresh Aquaculture. In addition to his personal influences and evolution as a chef, the menu reflects the guests’ journey. Deriving its name from the Scandinavian word “liv” meaning “life,” the restaurant is inspired by the joy of the journey–a place to gather with family and friends to celebrate the ordinary and the extraordinary in life.

Graves craves cuisine that pairs with all of life’s moments.

The chef, however, looks to broaden the definition of pairing to more than the typical wine, cheese and charcuterie. While the selection of cheese and meat is indeed impressive, Graves matches great wines and creative cocktails with many different culinary categories including the garden and the sea.

In the spirit of Liva’s role as a place to gather with friends, the menu also showcases a few showstopping large format shareable entrées – think Whole Branzino with celery root slaw, mussels, clams and saffron broth; a 52oz Steak Florentine with Calabrian chili, and charred peppers; and other impressive butcher cuts.

Yes, really.

Impress your date this weekend, go to wine country in River North. Visit www.livachicago.com or follow along on Instagram @livachicago

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