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Just Grapes
Category: Food Beer, Wine & Spirits Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
560 W Washington Blvd(between Clinton St & Jefferson St)
Chicago, IL 60661
Neighborhood: Near West Side
(312) 627-9463
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clinton-Green (Green Line, Pink Line)
Washington/wells (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 7 pm
Fri 11 am - 8 pm
Sat 12 pm - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
63 reviews for Just Grapes
Review Highlights
"And I love the try before you buy concept."
(in 3 reviews)
"Great knowledgeable staff that are more then willing to..."
(in 5 reviews)
"This is my favorite wine store in the world, by far."
(in 5 reviews)
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63 reviews in English
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Review from Valentina V.
Near North Side, Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
My FAVORITE wine store in the city. Friendly staff, cute atmosphere and you'll always leave with a great bottle of wine ...or 2 :)
They have an amazing selection of seasonal affordable wines, plus a very friendly and helpful staff. They are not wine snobs and genuinely want you to find something you'll enjoy.
You have to try the 1st Wednesday of the month wine tasting event. It never disappoints and I always end up leaving with a few new bottles to try! They have 6 tables set up with different vendors and each vendor has 5 bottles of wine to try. You can walk around at your own pace, mingle and enjoy the wine and food. I'm always nervous to try other tasting events b/c they are never as good as this one. Seriously, if you like wine you need to check this out. -
Review from Ela G.
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
When I think of my last experience at Just Grapes I just think, what a missed opportunity Just Grapes has to make this a great experience! I purchased a Groupon for $25 for a $50 wine tasting card. When you hear the word wine tasting, you usually think of affairs such as those at The Tasting Room or Webster Wine Bar, where there's great service, hors oeuvres, and candles. Well, get ready for a culture shock. Just Grapes makes wine tasting a classy affair like how I feel digging through bins of underwear during the semi-annual sale at Victoria's Secret...it just feels like you're digging through someone's underwear drawer. I digress.
The wine tasting is through a machine that allows you to stick in a card and push a button to be dispensed a little wine. I have to say I didn't really like any of the wines offered...the presentation of my wine being squirted into my glass abruptly didn't help either. Whatever, I'm with my co-workers, we're going to have a great time anyways!
We arrived after a long work day, at 5pm to begin our wine tasting adventure. For $50 I think, OK this is going to be somewhat nice right!? No...it just means you get a lot a lot of wine that doesn't taste very good, and a water cracker every once in a while to clear your palette. A.W.E.S.O.M.E....$10 down on my card and I was starting to get really hungry...man some CHEESE would go great with this wine and really help bring out the flavors...I kept looking around for some cheese, a refrigerator housing cured meats from which I could purchase....something to cut through all the wine, but there was nothing (hello, missed opportunity to sell additional items Just Grapes!, 6 letters, starts with C)...things were getting hazy...wait, I'm drunk.
But wait! More co-workers, receiving our S.O.S. came to our aid, bearing a cheese and salami platter from our leftover holiday party! We're SAVED I yelled! Alas, Just Grapes grumpy grump sales people wouldn't allow us to eat our snacks, citing that they were not appropriately within Code or permit to allow food. Glancing at the events board, I noticed that first Wednesday's of every month included a guided wine tasting and nibbles. NIBBLES?! Doesn't that constitute food of some sort? Surely it would include more than just water crackers no? And even if not, aren't water crackers FOOD? Well, debatable.
I'll be coming back, cause well I still have $35 left on my wine card, but I will be eating before hand, and regardless of frigid temperatures, will have to excuse myself every so often to the alley for a quick snack. -
Review from Callie J.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
A few co-workers and myself purchased the recent Living Social deal for Just Grapes. It was $25 for $50 worth of wine tasting--a good deal. Very exciting, right? Yes, it was.
We arrived and the staff was helpful and pretty much let us do our own thing. We started using our $50-charged cards, purchasing $0.80 tastes here and $1.60 tastes there. The whole experience was going swimmingly, but somewhere around $40 and $36 remaining on our cards, the stomachs started rumbling, and everything was a little more funny.
Just Grapes doesn't offer food, so we had our trusty co-workers bring the sausage and cheese platter that was left over in the fridge from our last company party, only to realize...Just Grapes doesn't allow you to bring food either. "We'll have to kick you out if you eat that," to be exact.
This didn't totally hinder our experience because who wouldn't enjoy drinking a bunch of wine, but I don't think it would be fair to blame us if we got too drunk. All in all, it was a good time, just beware you won't be getting any food with your wine. I'd probably be giving them 4 or 5 stars if they'd allowed us to eat. -
Review from Christina G.
Oak Park, IL
12/13/2011
I bought tickets for a wine tasting event here for last night. Yesterday afternoon I received an email that the event was cancelled due to a "conflict," just a few hours prior. So today, I'm irritated. Why? Because I parked my car on my street instead of my spot, thinking I was going out. Of course I didn't because of said cancellation, and as a result found a nice bright orange ticket on my car this morning. Not Just Grapes' fault (completely), so maybe it's Just Gripes on my part.
In either case I was looking forward to the event and found this to be really unprofessional and unfortunate marketing. -
Review from Jacob K.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2011
Just Grapes is one of my favorite places to go wine tasting. They have free Saturday afternoon tastings and paid tastings throughout the week, There is even a classroom in the back for corporate tasting events. The range of wines and prices is extraordinary- prices range from $10-$200, but for $15-$20 you can usually get a great bottle of wine. The atmosphere is classy, but still casual. People from Presidential Towers come in sweatshirts and jeans while others may have a tie depending on the day and time.
The workers can also tell you what to serve with a particular bottle and that makes a huge difference. Normally I go to a tasting and leave without a purchase, but here I almost always wind up with a bottle or two; last time I came during a sale and brought back five which is quite a bit for someone not accustomed to buying cases or in a wine club. I would hesitate to sign up for any emails though as a while back I was bombarded with adds from them several times a week as to why this place misses the 5 star rating. -
Review from Brett C.
11/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Fabulous wine store in the city. Located right near the OTC.
Excellent wine selection and fairly priced. Staff is friendly and very helpful. Staff is well versed and can offer recommendations based on your taste.
They offer wine tastings and classes which are well done and very informative.
I really like the wine kiosks. Charge up your card and sample a few of the 20+ offerings available. Both white and red. They rotate the wines on the kiosk and put descriptions on each one. Gives you an idea of the wine prior to you getting a sample.
We did the Groupon for 6 bottles. All but one was a really decent wine. We were pleased and will be back again.
Cheers! -
Review from Tara A.
Addison, IL
11/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
I don't get the hype.
My fiance and I bought the Groupon for their wine tasting kiosks. We went there on a Friday afternoon to do some wine tasting. They charged us tax for their card. Really? We have to pay for tax too? I feel like this was the first place where we had to pay for tax in order to redeem the Groupon. I don't even remember the fine print saying that there was an extra charge. Lame!
Anyway, we were directed to the kiosks. They have about 15 red wines and 8 white wines available to try. They were easy enough to use. The only problem was there wasn't enough of a variety to try. Most places that offer wine tasting include a sweet wine or a fruit wine. There is also a nice variety of light to medium to full bodied red wines. It's fine to read the descriptions about each wine, but I didn't know how the wines were organized, and nobody really helped us choose wines to try based on our palates.
I'm assuming they rotate their wines regularly, so I would be happy to try them again. Also, there is still $ on our tasting card. It might just be this visit that was poor. I hope the next time we go there, we'll have a better experience. -
Review from Taufiq H.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Awesome place .. friendly staff, 1/2 price tuesdays and complimentary wine tastings occasionally
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Review from Jessica C.
Chicago, IL
1/14/2011
Every know and then, I like to venture out into the unknown. That typically encompasses the area surrounding my office building. One day on my journey to charter the unknown, I was on the hunt for a wine retail shop in the Loop. I struggled to come across a place, let alone a space that really caught my eye. That is, of course, until I found Just Grapes!
I love wine, but more often than not, I need some assistance in finding the right type, taste, and blends of wine. Just Grapes is located by Ogilvie Transportation Center, a convenient location for all businessmen/women! Right before you board your train or bus, you can stop by and select a perfect bottle of wine for your evening, dinner, weekend, or whatever upcoming event you may have. Just Grapes organizes their space very nicely with all of their wine divided into sections by type. In addition to being a splendid wine retail venue, Just Grapes also hosts wine tastings and private/group/corporate events. The prices are reasonable, and the staff is very friendly, knowledgeable on wines, and happy to help you pick out the perfect wine.
I still haven't figured out if this was a good or bad discovery for me. I'm psyched I found this place, but I could easily make a daily trip to Just Grapes. Yikes! I may have to exercise some sort of will power and frequent this place only 4 of my 5 working days. Ha! Either way, Just Grapes is a diamond in the Loop! -
Review from Carri A.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
Just Grapes has a great selection of domestic and imported wines and very decent prices. There are the rare, fancy bottles but most of the wines there are very affordable. Amazing customer service too! They're willing to help pick out a perfect wine for you based on taste and budget and are extremely knowledgeable about the products.
I dont drink wine often but will gladly swing by this store whenever the occasion arises. Free wine tastings as well (2-4 pm)! Hard to beat. -
Review from Winston G.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2010
A pretty nice and spacious wine shop - they seemed to have a very diverse selection of wines, and the people working there were all friendly and nice.
Came here about 7pm on a Friday night to try out some of their wines from the tasting carousel they have - basically you load a card with money and get to try a number of different wines, with each pour varying in price based on how much the bottle is. The place closes at 8pm on Fridays, so a bit early. -
Review from Hannah B.
Chicago, IL
7/19/2010
I've been coming to Just Grapes since it opened several years ago and I lived very close. Even though we've now moved up north, we continue to shop here and attend events for a few reasons:
(1) The Events - the tasting and such are usually right after work - what is easier than taking a cab over from the Loop?? - and are well-thought out. Big props to the wine tasting cruises that Don has put on the past two years. (Three hours out on a boat on Lake Michigan. Sun, wine, and food - what could be better??)
(2) The Selection - The owner and staff are great for picking out interesting and slightly unusual stuff that you don't find everywhere. There isn't a huge selection, like you'd find at Binny's, but you also don't have to comb through racks and racks of oaky Chardonnay to find an interesting white wine for hot summer weather.
(3) Price - Sure, there is a good selection of pricier stuff, but there are also a lot of good value wines (read: under $20) that are both interesting and tasty. My current favorite easy-drinking, food-friendly and economical white is La Yunta, Torrontes, La Rioja, Argentina - normally around $10 or $11/bottle. Can't beat that? On sale, its even cheaper! Did I mention that they have good sales? If you are a Savvy Sipper, sometimes you get the sale prices early! -
Review from Sarah H.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2010
Okay...I've read some of the reviews for JG, and I've decided to chime in. Just because it's a wine shop DOES NOT mean its a high end establishment. Yes, some bottles can be on the higher end, but JG actually deals more with some of the ordinary, run-of-the-mill types of wine more than anything. So, expecting to be treated like a VIP millionaire should be sort of above and beyond...
It's a cozy space, with nice enough, informative staff who will answer all your questions, and you get good portions of the tastings. That reminds me...I have to refill my JG card for the hundredth time! -_- I feel like I could have bought a wine shop with the money I've spent tasting the bimonthly picks!
I never go for the free tastings anymore....because I really feel like I'm being cramped with winos sometimes. Yes, there are people there who actually know about wine, or want to know about the wine. But these just-out-of-college, can't afford the good bottles, so-have-decided-to-come-for-free-booze kinds of dudes sometimes show up and ruin the whole experience for everyone else! (Happened twice for me in last few years...haven't been back since. We might go back for some of the more special events, not the weekly ones...)
The parking is not too bad on Washington...and if you ever shop at the market at PT, you can walk over to JG! It's only couple of blocks :D
Oh! and don't forget to check out the sales, specials, or last calls. Sometimes, you really get a great deal on awesome bottles!!! -
Review from Sarah B.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2010
Sarah B. loves the booze. Especially if it is the grapey kind in a pretty bottle. A good red makes my heart pump and my cheeks flush. Yum.
Monday can be a fun day when spent with my girls from SQJ. We seem to get into a bit of trouble but its always worth it. This particular Monday we decided to check out Just Grapes. The Australian wine sale was the lure.
The shop is cute and bright with a nice selection of wines that are well labeled and organized. Little placards describe the notes and flavors of each wine along with the price. I like earthy, mineral filled, peppery wines and those little cards laid it right out for me so I could find a few bottles with just the right combination of flavors.
We also tried out the cool tasting machines. It was a bit weird to have your taste sprayed out of a metal tube and I think I prefer a more traditional pour from an actual person. The experience seemed a bit impersonal. It was nice to be able to try some of the wines before purchasing, anyway.
Just Grapes is a cool little spot with nice selection and a great variety of price points. I tried to keep my wallet in check there but it is hard to do in a place with so much temptation. -
Review from Suzanne O.
Chicago, IL
2/24/2006 1 photo
This place is too good to be true. It's a combination wine store and tasting room and lucky me, it's just around the corner from my place. By putting money on your "Savvy Sipper Card", you can sample reds, whites and everything in between for between $1.00-$5.00 per tasting. The owner Don and his employee Kim really know their wine and their customers taste as well. Their packaging is cool - with clever little shopping cartons in 2 packs and 4 packs. The Savvy Sipper card also tracks your purchases and allows Kim and Don to give suggestions based on what you like and dislike.
Just Grapes has monthly events, such as wine pairings, classes and holiday events. This isn't a place where you will find Kendall Jackson or Robert Mondavi. The wines are from smaller, more unique vineyards and vary in price. If you are a wino like me and tired of the grocery store brands, I strongly suggest stopping by to check it out. You can also purchase off their website, have it delivered or pick it up. -
Review from Nick M.
4/11/2008
***FYI I changed the info on this because the zip code is 60660 ***
Great wine shop with a great selection of wines. I am a big fan of Riesling's, some shops my have 3 or 4 Riesling's but Just Grapes has double that. Prices range from $9 to $200 for all. Great knowledgeable staff that are more then willing to help in anyway.
What's really nice is that you can sample 8 different white varietals and 16 different red varietals from around the world, rotated on a monthly basis. Prices range from .50cents to $5.00 per taste. And they usually have some great cheese out to have with your samples!! Plus a little seating for you to relax and enjoy.
They offer wine tasting events, classes, private parties, and membership benefits. I highly recommend checking out their website
http://wineshop.justgr...
I will say that you will never leave dissatisfied or without a bottle of something!! -
Review from Greg D.
Selah, WA
10/3/2006
Try before your buy...
If you're looking for a laid back, yet sophisticado place where you can sip on about 24 different wines before you buy, then Just Grapes is the place for you.
The wine sampler (one of three in the U.S.) changes varietals every two to three weeks and offers everything from the $179 1999 Bricco Rocche, Nebbiolo, Barolo, Piedomont, Italy to the $8.99 2004 Twin Fin, Pinot Grigio, California, USA.
Tastes range between $.80 and $4.80ea. Just buy a refillable cash card ($10-$100) at the cashier, insert it into the wine sampler, select your wine and voila... a wine tasting party at your leisure.
My favorite was the $13.49 2005 Long Beak, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand. It was very fruity and fresh. -
Review from Justin M.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2008
When it comes to wine, I don't know SHIT!
When I stopped by Just Grapes, the helpful and friendly staff knew this as well. They are very cool, especially when it comes to the wine-testing stations. They pretty much "dummied" up the wine menu for me, and it worked.
"This tastes like grape soda."
"This tastes like beef jerky, mixed with cranberries and leather."
Now you are talking my terms, thank you!
The wine samples vary in cost, ranging from $1.00 to $3.00 in price. I tried a few that were around $2.00, then realized I was wasting my time. My taste buds enjoyed the expensive wine much more than I did, so I quickly changed over to the $1.00 wine. I spent about $22.00 and had a good time. I went with co-workers, and we more than enjoyed ourselves.
On my way out, I mentioned to my group and the Just Grapes staff that Robert Mondavi was appearing at an autograph session sometime in the near future. The whole room busted out laughing....apparently Mondavi passed away a few years back. I swear I saw an article in the Red Eye that said that!!
Looks like my wine knowledge lacks severely!! -
Review from Dane K.
10/3/2006
I used to live a block away from Just Grapes, and still found myself getting in to a car to go buy wine... The selection is decent. The pricing is decent. I was annoyed at the staff working there (and at the owner).
They tout their pay per sample automated bar, but I don't see what's so great about getting a "taste" of some random bottle of wine poured by a machine and paying several $ for it. I am all about tasting, and I don't mind paying. But a machine? And how long has the wine in it been opened? At least when you pay for a tasting anywhere else, the person pouring it can offer some insight into what you're drinking.
Upon purchasing, they attempted to persuade me to join some wine club as if I was buying lotion at the Body shop. I don't need to be persuaded to join a club, I wanted to buy a bottle of wine.
It seems like a lot of thought went in to making this some entrepreneurs dream store, but not much thought went in to making it a personal experience. And wine should be personal.
There are just too many other great wine shops in Chicago for me to like this one. -
Review from Bora U.
Chicago, IL
8/26/2009
I could spend HOURS in this store. Actually, my friends and I HAVE spent practically whole Saturdays at this wonderful wine shop/bar. Why would I consider it a bar? Because of the Enomatic - I'm pretty sure it's the only one in Chicago. With $20 on a Savvy sipper card you can get 6-8 tastings with each pour costing $2 - 5. On Tuesdays they have half off on all the tastes in the Enomatic and on Saturdays from 2-4 they have free wine tastings with about 4-6 featured wines from a certain winery or region. On the days of the tasting they also offer the featured bottles for 10 - 15% off.
I think the thing I like most about Just Grapes is how friendly and knowledgable the staff are. They're easy to approach and offer great advice when you tell them what kinds of food you're planning on having with the wine. Their bottles range from $8 - 400 with a good half bottles always marked down 15 - 30%. Get on their mailing list and become a Savvy Sipper and you'll get weekly mailings about buy 1 get one free deals off of their monthly tastings and special value wines. I always keep my eyes peeled for their bi-annual sales where they have to clear the racks for new bottles. Great deals and always a good time!Listed in: The West Loop is Where it's…
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Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
5/20/2010
This is my favorite wine store in the world, by far. I mean, where else can you get booze out of a fountain like it's Coke? Reminds me of when I was in Italy and Prosecco was on tap.
The staff is so so so nice and completely unpretentious. My friends and I love to come here to sample the tasting bar and the staff is always there to give us a suggestion but never speaks to us in a condescening tone when we don't know about everything about each sulfate and oak barrel and vintage...
My dad and I attended their wine class before Thanksgiving on picking out a wine to match our Turkey Day meal and it was absolutely fascinating and enlightening. They had the event catered with plates of T-Giving food (turkey, potatoes, veggies, etc.) so we could taste the eight pairings with the food. Turns out, a sparkling Shiraz is the PERFECT complement to your holiday meal!
The owner and class facilitator's philosophy is that the best wine pairing is your favorite food and your favorite wine put together - I love that. Tonight I'm attending their Italian wines class and I couldn't be more excited. -
Review from mike t.
Chicago, IL
6/9/2011
Hey, I've been here a few times and these guys know their stuff. They are very knowledgeable about wine, and the employees know most of the wines they stock. They'll work with you to find a bottle you will like in your price range.
Cons: Seems pricier than the average wine place.
Be sure to check out their wine tastings. -
Review from Lori Taylor R.
Chicago, IL
2/13/2010
Velvety, Smooth, Lush, Intense, Dry, Opulent, Complex ... no matter what your taste buds desire you'll be able to find something to suit your fancy at Just Grapes. What a wonderful concept! Sampling various wines from all over the world, before you purchase. Sweet!
Make sure it's a Saturday because, they offer other wine tastings for free. Load up your cards and let the good wine roll! -
Review from Jennie T.
1/30/2010
Free wine tasting from 2-4pm!! I had bought two groupons ($25 for $50 worth of wine tasting) which meant that I had $100 to spend on wine tasting. The groupon was set to expire on the 6th so I organized a little group to do the wine tasting with me today. I didn't know there was a free tasting as well! All the more wine for us!
The staff was really friendly and the store had a great selection of wine. It was very clean-looking. I liked it a lot. They had the cool wine-tasting machines that you can find in Whole Foods. Very cool.
The other cool thing about the $50 cards I got (for each groupon) is that they don't have an expiration date, which meant that I didn't have to drink all $100 worth of wine today with my friends if it meant that I won't be able to come back any time before the 6th when the groupon expires. Yay for more visits to Just Grapes! Next time I go, I think I'll buy that South African white wine that I love. :) -
Review from Kengo H.
Norwalk, CT
9/27/2007
I really want to give them 5 stars. They're good, really good. They not only took me in when I hopped in 5 mins before closing, but they took good care of me, explaining reds I'm unfamiliar with very well. I ended up walking out with two bottles of reds. The store is very airy, very open... a little too open. I'm looking for slightly more variety in wines, and I didn't see a large selection of champaign and dessert wines, which would've been nice.
I wish I can drink more, though. Perhaps with more visits, they would be upgraded to five stars -- they're that close. -
Review from Ben B.
4/8/2010
Somewhat high prices, but given the location and presentation it makes sense. The bottles are hung on the walls sideways, which takes a bit more space, and square footage doesn't come free so close to the Loop.
The tasting machine is a great prop, but as another reviewer mentioned, I would prefer the human touch that a live server brings to a tasting. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Dallas, TX
2/12/2008
Believe it or not, I can walk to this place, and my husband and I went for the first time over the weekend.
What a fun place. We're huge fans of Healdsburg, Sonoma Valley, what have you and for a moment I was able to imagine myself back in one of my favorite places. Oh, except, they can't be bothered to pour the wine for you to try in Just Grapes...you have to buy a card and get cozy with the wine machines. Which, at first, I was a bit put off by, but then, I realized how frickin' cool it was. We got to try what we wanted and were able to discover that we could do without $200.00 bottles of wine, that our 'buds prefer the likes of a good $30.00 bottle, what have you.
We also happened to stumble in while they had a free tasting station set up, which was nice, and we tasted a great red, but unfortunately that was the last of the bottle and there was none to be sold, which was a bit irritating. We went there right after a stop at the Wine Discount joint on Elston and noticed that we purchased a bottle of some Ridge Vineyards...the exact bottle escapes me... for $8.00 less...
But you know, we had a blast hanging out there for an hour on a Saturday and would absolutely go back. The staff was very helpful, a bit too helpful really, because we waited forEVER to check out while the girl over helped the customers in front of us... -
Review from Alex F.
7/27/2008
As a wine store, Just Grapes has a large selection and a knowledgeable staff. If that's all it was though, I probably wouldn't have ended up there.
The coolest part is the samples. They have what I would desribe as "wine fountains" - like soda fountains except instead of pop, it's wine. You put some scrilla on a prepaid card at the register, pop it into the slot at the fountain, and sample wines that cost anywhere from about $12 to $150 a bottle. This allows you to quench your curiosity without splurging on a whole bottle (What does a $150 bottle of wine REALLY taste like; is it REALLY worth it? The answer is no, by the way.)
They have a room in back for private tastings and such, which would be a good place to take your pending in-laws if they're from old money. And on the other side of the spectrum, they have free tastings every Saturday afternoon, I think 2-4pm. -
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 11/24/2010
Just got my tasting card! They had a promotional deal, that if you spend $20 on the card for tasting, they will credit you $30 instead! Why not? Now when I'm waiting for my hubby to come down from work, I can enjoy a taste or two :)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2010
Nice staff here - always welcoming and smiling. The place is also always clean. Not only do they… Read more »
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Review from brian c.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/25/2011
Way overdue to update this review. After my initial visit, the manager at the time, Pete, invited me down to try some wines. Luckily for me, they were sampling Brunellos. That was a real treat for me. We had a lot of discussion about various wines, what I look for, and what they offer. I learned how they arrange wines in the store, first by grape instead of by region. That definitely helped me figure the store out. I have to give this place major props for going out of the way to try to win me over. Just Grapes is definitely one of the stores I buy from now, as I understand it a lot better, and they developed a relationship with me.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2010
I stop in here sometimes before I take the train home. This just isn't my kind of shop. The setup… Read more »
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Review from Rachel M.
Chicago, IL
11/14/2009
We spent a fabulous 2 hours or more here on a Saturday afternoon - had a groupon and needed to see what this self-dispensing wine machine was all about.
The staff was friendly but left us alone to try all the red wine we wanted. Which was quite a bit, actually!
I love that you can "try out" a more expensive bottle of wine to see if it is something you would want to purchase.
I will be back! -
Review from amanda g.
Chicago, IL
7/10/2009
Great wine shop with a great selection of wines. I am a big fan of Riesling's, some shops my have 3 or 4 Riesling's but Just Grapes has double that. Prices range from $9 to $200 for all. Great knowledgeable staff that are more then willing to help in anyway.
What's really nice is that you can sample 8 different white varietals and 16 different red varietals from around the world, rotated on a monthly basis. Prices range from .50cents to $5.00 per taste. And they usually have some great cheese out to have with your samples!! Plus a little seating for you to relax and enjoy. -
Review from Nancy G.
Chicago, IL
9/26/2010
Had a Totally Frustrating Customer Experience at Just Grapes!!!
I had a great wine in a restaurant and searched on line to see where I could find it in Chicago. I was excited to see that it was sold at Just Grapes, which is a few blocks from my home. I went to the store and saw that the wine was over $3.00 more than the on line advertised price. When I asked why, I was told that I could only get that price if I ordered on line and that it was lower to "offset shipping charges". When I explained that I live close by and there wouldn't be any shipping charges, they still would not give me the lower price. In fact, they suggested that I go home order it on line to take advantage of the lower price and then come back to the store to pick up the wine.
I bought one bottle because I really liked the wine but I would have bought a half case if they had given me the on line price. I was really aggravated and I will definitely not shop there again. It's back to Binny's for me. -
Review from Laura K.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2010
I've consistently had a wonderful experience at Just Grapes, and will continue to pop in on my way home from work, on my way out to a BYOB dinner, or really whenever opportunity presents itself.
Their prices aren't the cheapest, but the draw here is that you're able to taste a good portion of the wines that they stock. By loading up a tasting card (works just like a debit card), you can taste until your heart's content. Nifty little tasting machines too...similar to those in Whole Foods - same concept.
There was ONE downfall last time I went in...the tasting machines were looking a bit shoddy and run-down. The signs labeling the wines were crooked and stained - everything could use a little more TLC from the folks behind the counter. I blame the Groupon! I love 'em too, but I think Just Grapes got overwhelmed by the amount of people rushing in to use them before they expired.
Now it's time to clean-up from the wreckage and get your classy wine shop back on track. There's some keen competition right down the street at uber-cool Perman Wines! -
Review from Kelly A.
Los Angeles, CA
4/20/2007
Hands down, my favorite wine store. They have a huge variety here with prices ranging from the $9-10 range to very expensive. And I love the try before you buy concept. They always have a handful of wines available for free samples, but then they also have the samples you can purchase which is really cool, because although I may never actually BUY a $200 bottle of wine, at least I can pay a few bucks to find out what it tastes like! This is also a very fun place to check out with a group... they have a seating area to relax in while you taste.
Listed in: Within Stumbling Distance
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Review from nicole s.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2006 ROTD 6/15/2006
Just Grapes, a unique winery, definitely saved me the other day when I was desperate to find a last minute gift (hard to find in the middle of the West Loop). The staff was extremely attentive and knowledgeable about the various types of wine (I felt like I was right in the middle of the movie Sideways) and I would definitely be interested in polishing my skills by attending one of their classes (I need to stray away from my usual Trader Joes)! I was equally impressed with the clean layout and organization of the store. They have weekly wine tasting events and rent out their cellar for private parties. I'm definitely suggesting this tasting bar for my next work happy hour.
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Review from Cindy H.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2010
In and out with what I came for quickly. They have a good variety to choose from & the space itself is very clean and pleasant. Also a very friendly staff, pretty reasonable prices and a perfect location just a block away from my apartment. Next time will try their tasting bar.
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Review from Jessica S.
Chicago, IL
11/19/2006
I went here for a wine tasting on a Saturday and it was absolutely fabulous. The owner is a very interesting guy to listen to and he talks about wines in a way that at any level you can really understand. He also has self serve tasting so that you can go in at any time and taste wines. He explained they are changed every three weeks. If your looking for a nice wine shop in town I would highly recommend it.
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Review from Stacey M.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2010
Whoooo Hooooo is right! Just Grapes might actually be the most brilliant place on earth!
I purchased a Groupon ($25 for $50 worth of wine tasting)....actually, I purchased two knowing my friends and I would probably go through the one pretty quickly :)
They had a free tasting from 2-4...we arrived bout 3:30...and tasted 5 whites, and 4 reds in about 35 minutes (we rock!). The staff is SUPER knowledgeable and you feel like they aren't just rattling off some crazy facts that you don't quite care about - but rather they actually care and want you to know this stuff! They are super accomodating..and will even go a bit past 4 if they have wine left :)
After the free tasting my friends (4 of us total) started with the white wine. They have a self-dispensing wine machine which ranges from 50cents ON UP for a tasting portion! there were 5 -6 whites, then about 25-ish reds we tried - and i'm convince we tried them all! They have water, and crackers to cleanse your pallette too! They do not pressure you to buy anything - though everyone in my group did! I got this amazing white, and then one sparkling wine called "Bitch Bubbly". I couldn't help myself there. :)
Then, we went to eat (as drinking wine for 3 1/2 hours made us hungry!)....and also drank two more bottles! oops! :)
PS Just Grapes offers classes of all types! CHeck out their website http://www.justgrapes.net
WOOT. -
Review from Becca S.
1/25/2010
What a genius idea for wine tasting! The shop is great, the staff knowledgeable, and they have a great variety of wines...but the tasting is awesome! So clever and I don't know why more places don't have that. You put money on a rechargable card and use the card to self purchase tastes of wine from $1.20 to about $5.00. I'd love to go back and take one of the classes sometime, but sometimes you just want to test a bunch of different wines, not have to stick to a particular region, and not be bothered with silly things like "the correct way to do it". FUN!
Listed in: The Places I Go Out
