About us

Chicago's oldest wine and spirits merchant, in business since 1888.

The story starts with Louis Glunz Sr., who left Westphalia, Germany and set up shop in the neighborhood now known as Old Town. Five generations later, his family still runs the business from the same corner of North Wells Street. We are the oldest wine shop in Chicago, and in the country, to remain under continuous family ownership.

Those early relationships with growers, importers and distillers were built on handshakes, and many of them are still in place. They are the reason we can put bottles on our shelves that are difficult to find anywhere else in the city, and price them fairly.

Our cellar leans toward small growers, single-vineyard bottlings, and organic and biodynamic winemaking, with real depth in Burgundy, the Loire and Champagne alongside Bordeaux, the Rhone, Alsace, Piedmont and Rioja. On the spirits side you will find single malt scotch, brandy, hard-to-find bourbon, and rare bottlings, plus a carefully kept selection of craft and imported beer.