Wine events -- Wine Wednesday Edition

October seems like it must be Wine and Food Month! Check out some of these fine wine events to meet and mingle with your fellow geeks of the grape.

Sunday, October 14
New Member Induction for La Chaine des Rotisseurs

Yes, Virginia, Indianapolis does have its own chapters of many well known international fine dining and wine societies, including the Conferie La Chaine des Rotisseurs. (Recently made more visible with their dinner on Top Chef Miami.) Contrary to what many believe, they're not all full of food snobs and snooty wine professionals -- it's actually a very fun group of people who are just plain passionate about all things good -- edible and quaffable things, specifically. Plus, this local chapter (called a "bailliage") of food and wine lovers, chefs, and professionals thinks it's fun to get all dressed up to eat and drink a few times a year! I think it will be fun, too! For more information, check out the website or contact Jim Arnold, the local chapter president.

Thursday, October 18
Kahn's Diamond in the Rough Sale

It's almost time for one of my favorite sales of the year -- the Diamond in the Rough Sale. This one features tastings of usually 50-100 wines that distributors are pushing out at heavy discounts. They may include tag ends of small vintages, label changes, discontinued wines --all sold by the case -- which makes for great fun sussing out some real hidden treasures. Go with a friend to split cases. It's also perfect for picking up some great wine bargains for holiday parties. This year, it will be in the new event room at the Kahn's on Keystone. And there's usually a spread of good food, too!

6:30-9:00 p.m.
Kahn's on Keystone
$20 in advance; $25 at the door

Monday, October 22
2008 Elegant Vintages Wine Auction Preview Party

If you've been around the Indianapolis wine scene for a while, then you're probably familiar with the bi-annual Jacoby Agency/Prudential Elegant Vintages Wine Auction to Benefit the Indianapolis Zoo. The auction isn't until next year, but the chairs and committee are previewing the wines donated so far at a special preview party at Trader's Point Hunt Club. (And in past years, there are usually some *amazing* wines on display at this event. ) Also in attendance will be San Francisco-based wine expert David Reynolds who will serve as auctioneer for the 2008 sale. For more information on the auction or to donate in time for display at the party, post a comment and I'll put you in touch with the event chairs.

Monday, October 29
iMOCA Wine Dinner @ L'Explorateur

Neal and I contacted each other about the same time when the piece ran in Food and Wine over the summer. A Chicago chef had recreated dishes for a wine dinner based on art from the Art Institute. What a brilliant idea! Not short on creativity, Neal is creating a menu with dishes based on iconic works of contemporary art in Indianapolis including some fun cutting edge pieces and more iconic works everyone will probably recognize. It's a nice twist on the wine dinner emphasizing what we all know -- that design and art are all around us even in food. Don't miss this creative and inspiring event at L'Explorateur. And it benefits the Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art.

6:30 p.m.
Make reservations via opentable.com or by calling 726-6906
$100 per person