Northern Illinois Retailers and Restaurants Carrying Illinois Wine
This story and the list of Restaurants and Retailers offering Illinois wine was updated during May of 2014.
Illinois wine is being sold at over 40 restaurants and 177 retailers in Northern Illinois, according to a recent survey by Midwest Wine Press for the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.
Over three-quarters of the population of Illinois lives in an area north of a line extending from Kankakee west to the Mississippi River. Northern Illinois constitutes an enormous wine market, but Illinois wine has historically been sold primarily in winery tasting rooms. Based on conversations with various sources, there now appears to be more Illinois wine on wine lists and store shelves than in the past, particularly in the Chicago area.
‘The increase in Illinois wine on menus and on shelves in the Chicago-land area is a true testament to the hard work of a dozen select wineries. These folks have been beating the streets, developing relationships, and figuring out how to best serve that market whether it means repackaging their product or redesigning a marketing campaign,” said Megan Pressnall, director of external relations with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.
The majority of Illinois wine being sold by retailers and restaurants in Northern Illinois is produced by a handful of wineries. Illinois Sparking Company is the best represented wine at Chicago restaurants. The Utica based producer of traditional method sparkling wines made from cold hardy grapes is served at some of Chicago’s premier dining spots including Trencherman and Hearty Boys.
At large retailers, the Illinois wines distributed by Midwest Wine Selections are widely available. Clients of this Chicago based wine distributor include Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Prairie State Winery in Genoa and Illinois River Winery in Utica.
According to Donna Goodwin of Midwest Wine Selections, “Illinois winemakers are embracing all kinds of ways to satisfy the variety of palates of our Illinois wine consumers, retailers and restaurateurs. I encourage all Illinois purveyors of wines to find room on their wines list or shelves for at least one Illinois wine. Supporting our local wine industry on all three tier levels just makes good sense in today’s economy.”
Chicago based wine distributor Fresh Coast has also been successfully placing the wines made by Fox Valley Winery on store shelves in the Chicago area. Fox Valley Winery is located in Oswego.
(Note: Northern Illinois is defined as an area north of a line extending from Kankakee across the entire state.)
Illinois Wineries Selling Wine at Restaurants and Retailers in Northern Illinois (13):
Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass
Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery, Galena
Blue Sky, Makanda
Hailey’s Winery, Byron
Waterman Winery, Waterman
August Hill, Utica
Illinois Sparkling, Utica
Massbach Ridge, Elizabeth
Fox Valley Winery, Oswego
Lynfred Winery, Roselle
Prairie State Winery, Genoa
Illinois River Winery, Utica
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery, Chicago
Healy’s Winery, Round Lake
Northern Illinois Retailers and Wine Bars Carrying Illinois Wine
Joliet/Kankakee (12)
The Shrimp Barn, Minooka
Off the Vine, Momence
Liquor World, Kankakee
Key City Liquors, Kankakee
Wine & Cheese by TCC, Plainfield
Wine Styles, Bolingbrook
Berkots Super Foods (3)
CD Liquors, Manhattan
Four Seasons Liquors, Morris
Village Liquors, New Lenox
Galena (6)
Galena Brewing Company, Galena
Hartig Drug, Galena
Tammy’s Piggly Wiggley, Galena
R&L Gas Mart, Galena
Chef Ivo’s Place, Galena
Chestnut Mountain Resort, Galena
LaSalle/Peru Region (7)
Waterfalls, Mendota
Pine Hills Golf Course, Ottawa
Ron’s Cajun Connection, Utica
Hermann’s Package Liquor, Ottawa
Village Green House, Utica
Brandy’s, Peru
Duffy’s, Utica
Rockford (11)
Checo’s Restaurant, Stockton
SuperValu, Oregon
Rockford City Market (seasonal)
Valli Produce, Rockford
Logli Supermarkets (3)
Mimi’s Wine, Arts and Gifts, Rockford
Royal Liquors Mark, Rockford
Woodman’s, Rockford
Felker Foods and Snyder Pharmacy, Byron
Greater DeKalb (6)
Schnuck’s, DeKalb
Inboden’s Meat Market, DeKalb
Heritage Prairie Market, Elburn
Lundeen’s Discount Liquors, De Kalb, Sycamore
Hy-Vee Grocers, various locations
Casey’s General Stores, Waterman and Shabbona
Quad Cities (2)
Family Beer and Liquor, East Dubuque
Van’s Liquor Store, East Dubuque
Chicago Retailers (33)
Binny’s, Chicago (5)
Southport Grocery and Café, Chicago
River City Market, Chicago
The Market Place, Chicago
The Noble Grape, Chicago
Marshall Field’s, Chicago
Lincoln Park Supermarket, Chicago
Potash Brothers Market, Chicago (2)
Macy’s on State, Chicago
Lush, Chicago (3)
Fox & Obel, Chicago
Caputo’s Fresh Markets (6)
Mariano’s Fresh Markets, Chicago (5)
Wicker Park Food and Liquor, Chicago
South Suburbs (6)
Santori’s Lansing Liquor, Lansing
Berkots of Lockport, Lockport
Madori’s Liquors, Midlothian
Kenwood Liquors, Oak Lawn
Orland Park Wine & Sprits, Orland Park
Walt’s Food Centers, Tinley Park
Chicago North Suburbs Retailers (36)
Binny’s (5)
Caputo’s Fresh Markets (3)
R&J Liquors, Algonquin
Antioch Fine Wines, Antioch
Tuscan Market, Arlington Heights
Armanetti’s Beverage Markets (2)
Cardinal Wine & Spirits, Crystal Lake
Le Petite Marche, Crystal Lake
Wine Styles, Glenview
UVA Spa and Wine Boutique, Harwood Heights
The Fresh Market, Kildeer
Sunset Foods, (2)
Gold Eagle, Libertyville
Parkview Gourmet, Libertyville
Lincolnwood Wines & Spirits, Lincolnwood
Flatlanders Market, Marengo
Cardinal Liquors, Niles
Doby’s World Wide Liquor, Palatine
Mr. A’s Wine & Spirits, Palatine
Wine Styles, Park Ridge
Great Escape Restaurant, Schiller Park
Shaw’s Crab House, Schaumburg
Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, Rosemont
Macy’s at Old Orchard, Skokie
Whole Foods (5)
Bliss Wine & Gifts, Wauconda
Liquor Barn, Wheeling
Chicago West Suburbs (55)
Sugar Toad Restaurant, Naperville
Adelle’s Fine American Fare, Wheaton
Bricks Wook Fired Pizza, Wheaton
The Little Traveler, Geneva
111 Main, Galena
Chef Ivo’s Place BBQ and Smoke Haus, Galena
The Bank Restaurant, Wheaton
French Quarter, Lombard
Galena Brewing Company, Galena
Bricks Wood Fired Pizza, Wheaton
The Bank Restaurant, Wheaton
Adelle’s, Wheaton
All Wined Up, Clarendon Hills
Binny’s (4)
Caputo’s Fresh Markets (4)
Mariano’s Fresh Market (3)
Town Liquor, Bartlett
Prestige Liquors, Countryside
Sal’s Beverage World, (2)
The Little Traveler, Geneva
Sav-way Liquors, Geneva
Liquor and Wine, Geneva
Hinsdale Wine Shop, Hinsdale
The Village Cellar, Hinsdale
Armanetti’s Beverage Markets (2)
Wine With Me, Itasca
20 W. Wines, Lombard
Famous Wine and Liquors, Lombard
The Vino Cellar, Lombard
Westmore Liquors, Lombard
Malloy’s Wine and Spirits, Naperville
Tasting Divine Cellars, Naperville
Wine Styles, Naperville
Sav-Way Liquors, Oak Brook
Marion Street Cheese Market, Oak Park
Lake Street Kitchen and Bar, Oak Park
Whole Foods, (4)
Liquor and Wine, St. Charles
Sav-Way Liquors, St. Charles
Mr. A’s Wine Emporium, West Chicago
Caliendos Restaurant, Winfield
Wine Styles, Woodridge
Northern Illinois and Northern Suburban Restaurants Serving Illinois Wine (17)
Lovely Thai Restaurant, Grayslake
Found, Evanston
Quick Fire Cafe, Bloomingdale
Wild Fish Restaurant, Arlington Heights
Lovely Thai Restaurant, Grayslake
Wine Splash, Long Grove
Gaynor’s Restaurant and Pub, Medinah
Corkscrew Point, McHenry
Melting Pot, Schaumburg
Vilaggio Restaurant, Roselle
Harry Carry’s of Rosemont, Rosemont
Shaw’s Crab House, Schaumburg
Checko’s Restaurant, Stockton
Great Escape Restaurant, Schiller Park
The Forge Club, Vernon Hills
Aroma Fine Indian Cuisine, Vernon Hills
U Gazdy Restaurant, Wood Dale
The Noodle, Wilmette
Chicago Restaurants Serving Illinois Wine (20)
Publican Quality Meats, Chicago
Alhambra Palace Restaurant, Chicago
Jaipur, Chicago
Everest, Chicago
Fountainhead, Chicago
Lula Café, Chicago
The Monkey’s Paw, Chicago
Geja’s, Chicago
ENO, ChicagoHearty Boys, Chicago
Trenchermen, Chicago
The Terrace @ Trump International Hotel & Tower, Chicago
Rebar @ Trump International Hotel & Tower, Chicago
Pops for Champagne, Chicago
Walnut Room, Macy’s, Chicago
Water Shed, Chicago
Whiskey Sky @ W Lakeshore, Chicago
Hearty Restaurant, Chicago
Longman & Eagle, Chicago
Farmhouse, Chicago
Haymarket Pub and Brewery, Chicago
Northern Illinois Inns and B&B’s Serving Illinois Wine
Patchwork Quilt Inn, Oregon, IL
White Pines Inn, Oregon, IL
Sponsored by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association. Created by Mark Ganchiff, Midwest Wine Press, September 2013
Kristine Hansen contributed to list May 2014.
The Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council publishes a list of Restaurants Serving Michigan Wine at Michigan Wines.
Just thought you might be interested to know that Geja’s Café in Chicago is featuring what they call their Midwest Wine Fest. Check out their wine selections from IL, MI, WI and OH – https://www.gejascafe.com/pdf/GejasCafe-WineList.pdf. They will be offering these wines by the glass and bottle through August. Geja’s always tries to keep a few Midwest surprises on their list! They may be a Chicago icon, but are also Midwest wine trendsetters.