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The new face of wine drinkers No longer defining the stodgy set, wine attracts younger adults.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Deborah Pankey Daily Herald Food Editor

Eric Koch remembers the first time he had a glass of wine.

He had recently turned 21 and was with his parents at Wildfire in Schaumburg. One glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and he was hooked.

"I fell into a cycle. If that was good, there must be others that are good," said Koch, 26, of Arlington Heights. "I started reading about wine and trying more wine."

Now between careers, Koch is putting in time at Vintages, a fine wine shop in downtown Arlington Heights, where he's furthering his wine education and supporting his new habit.

For 22-year-old Jennifer Hammons of Palatine, her initiation to wine came at home.

"My parents are both big into wine. They go to vineyards every year," Hammons said. "If they had a bottle of wine open, I would drink it with dinner. At first I didn't like it, but then it grew on me."

"I'll order a glass when I'm out to dinner," said Hammons, an insurance broker in Chicago. "I've learned enough to know which types of wine I like."

Koch and Hammons aren't the only ones of their generation who opt for a Pinot Gris or Zinfandel over Coke, Budweiser or even a cosmopolitan.

Adults 21 to 34 years old make up 25 percent of the wine purchasers, according to...

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