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.