With the gloriousness of today’s Internet, hungry folks can seek both great food and great deals and come out winners; the most popular and effective tool – Groupon. I purchased and used my first Groupon for Rittergut Wine Bar & Social Club and thus discovered a specialty restaurant that speaks to my guilty pleasures.

The deal was unavoidable – $28 for a wine-flight experience for two (a $54 value), including a cheese and charcuterie board. My friend Jess and I make a date to indulge (with full intent of digging into some a la carte menu items as well).

Rittergut’s location could be better but is appropriate for the neighborhood full of businessmen and travelers. Placed within a commercial building off S. Wacker, the dimly-lit, stylish wine bar holds a quiet crowd until guests dissipate by 9:00 p.m. This kind of restaurant specializes in intimate tastings, ideal for romantic dates or a girls’ evening out.

Calm lighting nestles wooden tables and cushioned benches, and dances off gold patterns in the wallpaper. A curved tasting bar seats up to 12 guests and provides a customized and unique sampling experience to the lucky party. The host seats us at a snug two-top near a sliding glass door that opens to a terrace with a great view.

The wine flight at Rittergut leaves much freedom to the samplers. The flight menu features several flight genres; unsurprisingly, Jess and I choose the sparkling flight. Guests experiencing the tasting can also choose three meats and cheeses from a plethora of options to suit the pairings.

Our server brings out a strip of paper with circles for each glass that describes the pairings: Sorelle Bronca extra dry prosecco from Veneto, Italy (fruity and crisp); La Maison du Cremant from Burgundy, France (rich, toasty and creamy); and Vrichon & Clerc ros?