Wine of the Times
With Bill Terlato at the helm, Terlato Wines and
Chicago Gourmet make for a perfect pairing.

POWER VINTNER
Bill Terlato is on a mission to take America's wine culture to another level, so it's only fitting that his Illinois-based family company, Terlato Wines, is sponsoring the annual food festival, Chicago Gourmet, this month. Terlato will feature more than 80 wines at the festival, some of them worth as much as $600 a bottle, and all available for tasting with a single admission ticket.

Clearly, Terlato is at ease with wine aficionados ("I always like surprising someone with a high level of expertise"), but also appreciates the opportunity to recruit newbies to his joyous movement. A true enthusiast well as an expert, Terlato is a natural educator and sees Chicago Gourmet as an opportunity for people to expand their knowledge and palates and to develop a personal repertoire of beloved wines. "You don't have to be a textile expert to tell the difference between wool and cashmere," he says.

Bill is the third generation of Terlatos to lead the company and is keeping an eye on which of his children, aged 16, 20 and 23, will have a passion to continue the family legacy. "I've never really pushed it," he says, "but they've been around wine all of their lives, and probably don't even realize how much they know."

Terlato, who is celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary this year, is an admitted workaholic. In addition to being the largest marketer of luxury wines in the US (one out of every eight bottles sold at more than $14 bears the family brand), the company, under his direction, has expanded over the past 12 years into wine production and vineyard management.

Curious to try a sample? Terlato recommends their homage to Bordeaux with Pomerol-inspired Angels' Peak, Saint-Emilion-inspired Devils' Peak and Margaux-inspired Cardinals' Peak, three blends from their vineyard in Napa, which will all be offered at Chicago Gourmet.

- By Lizzie Simon
©2009 Michigan Avenue Magazine