Hello! Welcome to another episode of the Chicago Wine Report. Please excuse our dust as we transition from a podcast to a radio show: We debut at 10 am (central) on WCGO Radio (1590 AM, 95.9 FM), which serves the Chicago metropolitan area. For our loyal listeners and subscribers, here are the details:* The show will continue to be a podcast and available here on Substack. Nothing will change with how you continue to access the show.* WCGO is a broadcast station and the AM signal has a massive reach throughout the Chicago area, including Naperville and other western suburbs, as well as parts of Indiana and Wisconsin. The FM signal is confined to the North Shore and north side neighborhoods. * If you are outside the WCGO listening area or don’t have easy access to a radio, you can stream our show via the WCGO website or by using the TuneIn app.We are incredibly excited to bring a Chicago-wine-focused show to the airwaves. As always, we thank you for your support!Chicago Wine Report is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.FIELD TRIPSLe MidiLe Midi is open for business! Formerly Joe’s Wine Cellar, Le Midi has undergone a massive renovation by Seth Wilson and Craig Perman. While the excellent selection of bottles for retail purchase remains shelved against the east wall, the rest of the space has been transformed by cool blue hues and a decidedly subdued vibe. Plenty of seating is available, including within the front patio area and a huge communal table at the center. The menu features a rotating cast of wines by the glass along with a simple (but wonderful) menu of small bites, including a rather remarkable entry entitled “Crostini w/ Tuna Belly,” pictured below: The cheese and charcuterie are also not to be trifled with:Service is knowledgeable and relaxed: I never felt rushed or hurried, even though the place was buzzing. Feel free to ask your server for recommendations and their preferences. . .they know what they are talking about. The wine lists here (both glass and bottle) are excellent and innovative. If you are looking to try something out of the ordinary, you’ve come to the right place. The glass list, in particular, offers pours from some pretty high-end bottles: You’ll pay for the privilege (some of the glass pours are in the $30ish range) but it’s cheaper than springing for a bottle. Le Midi2108 West Division StreetMon — ClosedTues-Thurs — 12-10 pmFri–Sat — 12-11 pmSun — 12-6 pm(773) 303-4884Uvae Fromagerie & Tasting RoomI made a second visit to this lovely shop, this time for their free Tuesday wine tasting and was in no way disappointed:The wines were delicious, even the Sauvignon Blanc, which surprised me by smelling and tasting of gooseberries without a hint of cat pee (“Eau de chat” has become a standard feature in many Sauv Blancs lately, much to my disgust). I enjoyed talking with the wine rep and the bartender. . .so much so that I found my way over to the bar for another glass (or two) and some cheese.Speaking of cheese: The tasting room at Uvae has a fine selection of cheeses and they are happy to put together a flight for you. For $10, a selection of three kinds of cheese, plus spreads and crackers, is a serious bargain. Let your server select your cheeses for you if you want maximum enjoyment. They know what they are doing here.Two special treats also lurked on the menu: The first was an Italian Viognier. I’m typically not fond of the grape, but the 2018 Tenimenti d'Alessandro Toscana Bianco made me reconsider my position. Crisp, beautiful acid, and a great accompaniment to food, this is one bottle I’d advise picking up at Uvae. The second was a plate of deviled eggs:The eggs and filling are pristine, but check out those toppings! Little cheese crisps plus...