Event Recap: An Evening in the Veneto, CIAP's Wine Tasting at the Zen Conference Room

Members put their glasses together over the table for a group toast at CIAP's Veneto wine tasting, November 6, 2026.

Last Friday evening, CIAP gathered at the Zen Conference Room in Chicago for an evening in the Veneto. From 6 to 9 PM on November 6, members and guests came together for a guided tasting, Italian charcuterie, and an opportunity to share in a tradition that has long brought people to the table.

For anyone who has joined CIAP through a professional introduction, a shared interest, or a connection to Italian heritage, the format felt familiar: learn something new, make room for conversation, and enjoy the company along the way.

A guided tasting, shared together

Wine educator Alicia Barrett, DipWSET, of Wine Connection, led the group through a guided tasting of five wines from Italy's Veneto region. The evening was designed as an interactive experience for a group of up to 20 guests, giving participants the opportunity to follow along with the presentation and consider the wines together.

The tasting focused on reds from the Valpolicella family in the Veneto. Among the wines presented were a Valpolicella Superiore 2022 — a blend of Corvina, Rondinella, and Corvinone grapes — and an Amarone della Valpolicella 2020, made through the appassimento process in which grapes are dried before fermentation to concentrate their flavor.

A guided tasting offers a way to slow down and pay attention. You can take in what is in the glass, hear context from an educator, and learn how a region's character can shape the wines it produces. And when you share the experience with others, the conversation becomes part of the evening too.

Gourmet Italian charcuterie was served alongside the tasting — prosciutto-wrapped melon, focaccia squares, a cheese board, and fresh grapes and blueberries among the offerings. It was a welcoming complement to an evening centered on food, wine, and shared heritage. An opportunity to enjoy the moment while learning about the Veneto.

Alicia Barrett of Wine Connection walks the group through the Amarone della Valpolicella 2020.

The Italian spread: prosciutto-wrapped melon, focaccia squares, cheese board, and fresh fruit.

Alicia Barrett opens the evening with the tasting's title slide.

Members gathered for a toast at CIAP's Veneto wine tasting on November 6, 2026.

A glimpse of the Veneto

The Veneto is in northeastern Italy, with landscapes that range from the foothills and hills to broad plains and areas influenced by the region’s lakes and coast. That variety is one reason the region is known for a wide range of wine styles. In broad terms, Veneto wines can include crisp whites as well as rich reds, alongside other expressions shaped by local places and traditions.

The Veneto is also one of Italy’s most productive and diverse wine regions. Its geography, climate, and varied growing areas provide a rich backdrop for understanding why wines from the same region can offer very different styles. For a tasting, this makes the regional perspective especially valuable: rather than focusing on a single flavor profile, you can explore how variety and place contribute to a broader picture.

That was the regional thread running through CIAP’s evening: five wines from the Veneto region, considered together through Alicia Barrett’s guided presentation. The wines came from the Valpolicella family — the region’s storied reds built around the Corvina grape — including both a fresh, everyday expression (Valpolicella Superiore) and its celebrated dried-grape counterpart (Amarone), showing the range a single family of wines can cover. The experience offered a starting point for appreciating a place with a broad wine culture, while leaving room for guests to learn at their own pace.

For more background on Valpolicella and the appassimento process, you can explore information from the Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella — the wines were presented as part of Wine Connection's guided tasting.

A group photo at the close of the evening.

More than a tasting

An evening like this is about more than what is in the glass. It gives you time to connect with fellow professionals in a relaxed setting, learn alongside people with different experiences, and share in a piece of Italian heritage. The conversations can begin with the tasting, then naturally lead to the many interests, stories, and professional paths around the table.

That kind of connection is at the heart of CIAP. We bring Italian-American professionals, entrepreneurs, organizations, and businesses together across Chicagoland, not only to grow networks, but to build relationships and take part in a welcoming community. Whether you are a longtime member or just beginning to explore the community, there is value in showing up, listening, and introducing yourself.

For those searching for an Italian American community in Chicago with opportunities to connect around professional interests and shared heritage, CIAP is glad to welcome you. We're proud to be a Chicago Italian American club where learning and community can go hand in hand.

Stay connected with CIAP

Thank you to Alicia Barrett for leading the guided tasting, and to everyone who joined us at the Zen Conference Room. We're grateful for the chance to bring people together around an engaging regional experience.

CIAP's monthly breakfast meetings resume in January 2027, and our weekly Italian wine features continue. In the meantime, you can get to know member businesses through the CIAP Business Directory, learn about the options on our membership page, and visit the events page to see what's coming next.

We'd be happy to hear from you. For questions or to learn more about CIAP, contact Salvatore at salvatore@chicagolanditalians.com.