Cork dorks, get thee to Lilydale

Later this week, Lilydale will be the epicenter for wine action in the Twin Towns, if not the entire Upper Midwest.

Yes, the sliver of a suburb just across the river from St. Paul will be host to two (count 'em) world-class wine events over four days.

First up: Erin Chave, wife of legendary Rhone producer Jean-Louis Chave, will talk about her family's stunning Hermitages and other stellar offerings at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sunfish Cellars. And of course several Chave wines will be poured.

Need more convincing? Check out Eric Asimov's swell recent article on the winery. Tickets are $50 and available here.

A few blocks to the east, I Nonni will be putting on its first summer tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday. I like to say that I Nonni's Mark Mackondy knows more about Italian wine than God, and his annual fall tasting might be my favorite wine event of the year in these parts.

The array of Italian wines available in these parts is waaaaay better than ever, and this $40 event will feature at least 75 of them from some of the area's top importers and distributors. Tickets are $40; call 651-905-1081, ext. 7.

Oh, and if you are at either tasting, come chat with me. I wouldn't miss either of these happenings.