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Drink Thu Apr 21 2011
A Winery in Washington Park
Today's Trib article about renovator Bill Lavicka's dream to convert several vacant blocks in Washington Park into a winery got me on an internet search for pictures of the John Raber House, a decrepit mansion at the center of the property Rabicka seeks to buy. The building survived the Great Fire of 1871 and is a rare example of a time when Chicago had country estates; in fact, the House's first technical address was on State Street, a block away, because it encompassed so much land (a now-unthinkable six acres). I hope Lavicka's proposal goes through; the house, which was made a Chicago Landmark in 1996, is a beautiful building that deserves to be revived. I also imagine the Riesling they plan to make will be delicious as well. (Photo by David Schalliol.)
David Hammond / April 21, 2011 9:42 AM
What a magnificent plan! Must say, most Midwestern wines I've had are more novelties than good, but I applaud the effort to produce a good wine from this region and to make something that could be wonderful from what is now under-utilized urban land.