Store review- Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe- Chicago area

WINE TALK
1

I spent the last weekend in Chicago for a quick trip with the family for a small get away. While in Chicago I stopped in to Vin Chicago and Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe. I also drove by Binny’s but had already spent a decent chunk of change on wine so the angel on my shoulder won out on that one and I kept driving.

Vin Chicago had a great selection and great people. It is a bit more of a “chain” so it was a bit more “normal” for a lack of a better term, but was still awesome and better than most shops in Indiana (Khans is the only one that competes).

I also went to a smaller store called Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe. I was so surprised how awesome this store was. They had an EXCELLENT selection and very good prices. I could have stayed their all day. It’s a bit off the beaten path in Northbrook I believe, but only about 25 minutes from the city and definitely worth the trip. The staff was knowledgeable and super nice. They even had a great selection of Riesling for the Riesling fans out there. Matt in particular was super attentive and emailed me back immediately. In particular they knew the provenance of the bottles I was interested in and the bottles had the original purchase labels on them ($29 for Prum Auslese 2001…sheesh). I opened one bottle and i was in excellent shape.

I really loved their amazing selection of half bottles- Sassicia, Cain, Chateau Latour, Chateau Montrose, Prieure Lichine, Domaine Romenet, Domaine Jacques Federic Mugnier, Dominus, Gaja, Kracher Trokenbeeranauslese, Robert Weil Beerenauslese 2001, Keller, Krug, Ridge Monte Bello, Diamon Creek, and the list goes on. Those are the ones I remember. They also had large format bottles.

If you are ever in the Chicago area I suggest checking it out. I promise I am not connected to this store in any way. I just like to spread positivity when I can. I don’t know if wine talk is the correct place to post this so if not, please let me know Mods and I can move it.

5 Likes
2

I used to be on their mailing list…they always had a great selection including older vintages, some very good prices. I traveled to in Northbridge for board meetings for over 10 years; the store was a block away from the hotel but I was never able to manage a visit. I just checked and still have a few bottles I bought from them over 10 years ago, glad they’re still doing well.

1 Like
3

As a Chicago resident, you hit my two favorite shops in the Chicagoland area.

Vin has three locations with two out in the suburbs. They’re very much a local shop, and the staff are great. I find Vin to be excellent for bottles in the $30-75 range, and they stock great producers from all around the world. They do get some highly allocated wines throughout the year as well, and they sell those via their email list and you have to act fast. For example, They just released their Lopez De Heredia Vina Tondonia Blancos this morning for $59, and they sold out in seconds. Vin’s pricing is outstanding and they don’t try to take advantage of the secondary market. Very honest folks.

Knightsbridge is such a wonderful shop. Not a bad bottle to be found anywhere in that store, expertly curated. I particularly love Knightsbridge for the $100+ categories. They specialize in Burgundy and they have some serious allocations, including Coche, Dujac, Roulot, Lafon, and you can regularly find those bottles out on the shop floor. They also have back vintages on some stuff which is nice. Pricing is good, but not as good as Vin, but the two don’t overlap a ton for me, personally. I shop both regularly.

Other great shops in the Chicagoland area…

Flickinger. No store to see, just pickup here but they carry extensive inventory of back vintage burgundy, Bordeaux, champagne, and more from top of the top producers. Prices are right at WS averages typically.

The Chicago Wine Company. Like Flick, there’s no store to see, but you can pick up stuff. It’s all secondary market so lots of back vintage stuff, and much of it sold via auction. Some great wines here, but don’t expect a bargain, usually anyway.

Binny’s. The Lincoln Park and South Loop locations are the most exciting typically. As one of the biggest importers and retailers in the state, they carry a bit of everything including a lot of plonk, but they also have excellent selections of grower champagne, German wines, Italian, and more. Prices can be great to slightly above average, depending on the category. Staff often know more than you’d think, and much better than, say, Total Wine even though the store has a similar feel at times.

Perman Wine Selections. Much smaller, more curated selection of “somm favorites.” Craig used to work for Alinea, so it all makes sense. The shop is fun to browse, wines are generally under $100 a bottle, and they carry some board favorites here, like Goodfellow and Walter Scott. They also do great tasting events.

Red and White. Specializes in natural wine, so, I feel like you’re playing roulette sometimes here, but they also carry some excellent grower champagnes (Bereche, etc.) and Rieslings (falkenstein).

Chicago Wine Consulting aka Chicago.wine. Up in the burbs, but a nice curated assortment of wines, particularly champagne and burgundy. They run specials that can be unbelievably good, and regular pricing is more than reasonable too. Smaller operation, but well worth visiting.

House of Glunz. Historic shop. Some hidden gems in the bunch, but generally not my favorite to visit. Prices are just okay. Cramped and not the most friendly.

Verve. Some interesting somm picks here, and a sister branch to the NYC and SF shops. Prices are higher than I’d like, but worth a visit from time to time.

There are also a slew of wine bars in the city and many also sell wine as a retailer (many in west town and Logan square… Le Midi, All Together Now, Webster’s, Soif). Some nice selections and worth a visit for sure.

6 Likes
4

I can’t wait to get back to the Chicagoland area and spend a bit more time in each of the stores. It was a lot of fun, but I was with my family so I couldn’t really linger and spend as much time as I would have liked. Is really cool that you have so many great options within an hours drive. I was only able to visit one of the Vin Chicago locations, but as a Riesling fan they had some really great stuff (Prum, Falkenstien, Keller, Weil, etc). I picked up three bottles of 2017 Prum gold cap at that location which I couldn’t really find anywhere. Also at a ridiculous price in my opinion. I think they were $39 each which is great for WS gold cap.

I’m a bit upset that I didn’t get to go into Binny’s, but that will leave me something to look forward to next time.

I also failed to mention that I purchased wines online at both locations and they allowed me to have them held there for several weeks before picking them up which was very kind. I called and asked beforehand, but still a very nice option to have for someone from out of town.

Next time I am in the area I will shoot you a PM for some recommendations where to visit and dine if that would be ok with you. Cheers!

1 Like
5

Vin Chicago is by far the biggest of the three locations (not binny’s sized, of course, but reasonably large), and you’ll generally find that the other two shops carry only a subset of what Vin Chicago has. So you made it to the “right” one.

Send a PM next time you’re here. There’s a Domaine Chicago (offsite storage) location very close to Vin Chicago where a lot of Chicago wine nerds meet up to taste.

3 Likes
6

+1 for Knightsbridge. Have been going here for years. The Matts are great. While their prices on higher-end bottles can sometimes be higher than those of their peers (Flick, CWC, WineBid, Benchmark), you will be hard-pressed to find a retail store in Chicago with a better selection of Bordeaux and Burgundy. It is a store for serious wine drinkers.

2 Likes
7

As an Indiana resident where low allocated wines are unicorns, most especially Rieslings, it was a ton of fun just looking around. I think I would be in trouble if this place as around the corner from me. I’m glad others have enjoyed their visits as well. I will definitely be back.

8

Also on their list and Knightsbridge often has interesting tastings. If I am not mistaken, their owner–or director?-- @Charles_Hetzel often posts here…or used to.

2 Likes
9

Charles has nothing to do with Knightbridge

10

Their directors are Matt Fearnbaugh and Matt Gundlach. Both are absolute gems and filled with all sorts of knowledge

2 Likes
11

@jordan_whitehead my crefit card is offended by that comment. It has quite the relationship with KB :joy:

2 Likes
12

my apologies :rofl:

1 Like