Thank you very much for your interest in the Northern Illinois Branch of the International Wine and Food Society (IWFS). The Northern Illinois Branch was founded in 1955 and has been active hosting dining events since that time. The branch consists of single and married men and women who enjoy each other’s company while partaking in new dining experiences, and membership is open to all. The group is not overly technical on wine creation and nuances, but instead concentrates on “The Art of Good Living”, where wine, food, and friendship come together to make for an enjoyable gathering.

One of the primary benefits of membership in Northern Illinois Branch is our wine cellar. The wines from our cellar are used in each event, allowing members to enjoy uncommon and properly aged wines to which they might not otherwise have access. Included within the cellar are several cases of Bordeaux wines from the heralded 2000 and 2005 vintages, ports from the 1994, 1997, and 2000 vintages, several Napa Valley reserve wines from the mid-1990s, and Champagnes from the 1999 and 2000 vintages With each event, the event planner works with the restaurant chef to build a menu that will not only showcase the chef’s capabilities but also demonstrate great wine and food pairings.

Our season always begins in September and runs through May. The year then consists of 2 black tie dinners, 3 business attire dinners, a casual attire dinner, and a recipe sharing party at one of the member’s home where the members prepare the dishes. We sometimes also hold a picnic during the summer months. You are welcome to join us at a couple of events as a guest while you consider joining the branch. We think this is the best way for you to determine if our Society is right for you.

You’ll find information about our future events in the Events calendar of this website. You can also find information about events from years past and links to photos from our previous events by looking at our Events Photos page here. We hope to see you at a future event.

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