On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Categories: Wineries, Beer, Wine & Spirits [Edit]
1826 N. Elston AveMon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Loading...
Today I sauntered into Wine Discount Center and bought seven bottles. I've decided to start drinking heavily to forget about how annoying job searching is. Kidding. Jeez. I needed it for an art opening. I'm sharing with my friends. I promise.
Anyway, desperate admissions of alcoholism aside, the prices were a little bit higher than I'd expected, but I think this was just b/c a sales rep was trying to exaggerate while luring my boss away from using the Two Buck Chuck, and she'd passed along this info to me. I did manage to buy all these goodies for less than $70 and I'm pretty willing to guess that they'll be better than the less than handsome offerings of good old Charles Shaw. The selection seemed pretty good, they have wine tastings, and they also have a selection of craft beers.
As I was buying in bulk for an opening I wanted to cheap out a little bit, but I can't wait to come back and peruse the selection for my own personal enjoyment. I promise I won't drink seven bottles all by myself.
WDC is the Target of wine stores, not because its huge, or mediocre quality or anything, but because no matter why or for what you go in, you're not walking out without spending at least $50. Going to a party and need a bottle to bring? Fine. You'll find a nice one for $10.99, and then go and buy 5 more bottles of other shit just because. Because they've got high-rated wines for under $10; because you'll sample something and think, sure I can buy one $19 bottle, since everything else I'm getting is $7; because almost every wine in the store has a write-up that hard sells the awesomeness of whatever's in the bottle.
None of which is a complaint. This place is good at what they do, and you're not really going to find better prices anywhere. Almost everything I've gotten from there has been very good, and at least enjoyable.
Oh, they also have a nice, small selection of good beers and nice liquors at more-than-fair prices.
these wines are CHEAP AS HELL and DELICIOUS!
now don't let my enthusiasm for cheap wine mislead you into believing that WDC doesn't carry fancy wines (they do), it's just that you don't need to buy them because you can get a great bottle of wine for under $15 (and a totally drinkable bottle for even less).
no, the selection isn't as large as a sam's or binny's, but what wines they do sell are chosen carefully. the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, no matter whether you are coming in to ask about buying a $100 bottle of vintage champagne or a $12 bottle of riesling. and, if you are a total wine snob and can't be bothered to talk to the employees, you can bug the manager who i understand is on his way to becoming a master sommelier (which i'm pretty sure means he is very very very fancy).
alternatively, if you don't have the time or just don't want to ask for help from a human, above each wine is a detailed description, a rating (either wine spectator's, some other industry standard's or WDC's own or a combination of the three), and a pictorial guide telling you whether the bottle you're contemplating is ready to drink now (what i look for), ready to drink, but could be aged in a cellar (what i look for when i forget that i do not have enough restraint to refrain from drinking $30 bottles of wine after the bars close), or for your cellar (well, maybe one day....).
i also HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking out their First Taste wine tasting events held at the beginning of each month. you get to sample all their new wines (usually about 30 of them) for $10. a total steal in my book. just don't come expecting cheese and grapes -- it's strictly a wine, water and bread thing.
WDC... what can I say about you aside from the fact that you totally look like a maximum security prison from the outside? What's with all the bars and chain link, yo? I know this stretch of Elston used to be a bit sketch, but seriously there is a Goddess and Grocer slated to open this month just a stones toss from you... we've gentrified! You can put the guns and mace away!
The Wine Discount Center - barbwire aside - is actually a great find if you're in the area looking to pick up a wine or champagne for a party or several selections to bulk up your own collection. They have a strictly low-rent/warehousy feel so don't have high expectations for a fuzzy, frilly wine shop or lazy Saturday Malbec tastings. Nuh Uh. This is get in, get your cart full, get out.
Staff at WDC is helpful and friendly as can be... what did you expect, prison guards? Yeah, me too... but in all honestly, the guys and gals that work here are quite knowledgeable about the hot wine steals of the week and can point you in the direction of many new treasures whether you're shopping by grape or by a grappled wallet.
Selection can be iffy... I can most easily assimilate WDC to Costco - not so much based on price, although there are some great deals to be had here - but on selection and stock. You know when you go to Costco and find that great 100 pack of green spanish olives you love so much only to go back the next week and they don't carry them anymore? Well, that's sorta like WDC... I think they purchase based on volume and what's available to them at the time. There is no guarantee that anything will be there upon a second or third visit (even when you're desperate to find that Rioja you bought last month and adored... damn you WDC!) so shop without abandon, but trust me and don't get too attached to any one find. Happy boozing!
OMG!. This wine shop is a hidden gem. They sell over 100 different regional wines around the world. Don't let the outside of the store scare you, once you walk in and see all the wines, you will think you are at home. Every wine has a description card, explaining what are the characteristic's of the wine. This makes it very easy for a buyer to know exactly what he/she likes or dislikes in a wine.
Wine Discount Center contains two of my most favorite words. Wine and Discount. Center? Well... you know, I can take it or leave it.
After telling Rob L. that I always love the wine and bubbly he brings to various events, he offered to act as my sommelier for the day and be my wingman on a wine shopping excursion. Being a wine lover, yet a wine neophyte, I was 100% on board for a wine shopping trip with Rob.
Enter WDC. It's on quite possibly the most destitute strip of Elston, but without a parking lot, that's a good thing; parking is SO easy. Sure, it looks like a dump on the outside, and kinda even on the inside with it's strictly warehouse feel and decor, but inside is a veritable wasteland of tasty libations!
A few of the great things about WDC are the employees and the wine descriptions. I arrived a few minutes before Rob, so I poked around a bit on my own. I was approached by several WDC employees that seemed genuinely interested in helping me find wines that would suit my needs. Also, WDC has very descriptive little cards that tell consumers about the wine, when you should drink it and if it is dry, sweet or somewhere in the middle. I find that Binnys and Sams only has descriptions on a selection of their bottles.
So I stocked up. I bought some cheaper bottles, a few pricier ones (you know, for dates and stuff) and felt good about getting a good deal on quality and quantity. The cashier commented that I (actually, make that Rob) made some great choices and one of the WDC guys even carried my wine out to my car for me!
At the end of the day: 8 bottles for just over $200. And lots of fun and learning about wine/bubbly. Not fun? Carrying said bottles of wine up 3 flights of stairs into my apartment in a blizzard!
So I found out about this place from Yelp..thanks yelpers for turning me on to a gem. I read some cool reviews and went to their website where I signed up for the newsletter.
Lo and behold, the next day I get a email saying they are having a tasting for overstocks/closeouts and that prices would be up to 80% off! Whoa, Nellie, I got in my car faster than you can say, "Do I have a drinking problem?"
The tasting was going on right in the front of the store and it was a circus..tons of people grabbing $2.99 bottles like there was no tomorrow. So I jumped right in and grabbed, too.
I couldnt belive my luck...woohoo. The staff was so nice considering the craziness going on around them. If it were me I would have been cracking some bottles over the heads of some of those nutty folks.
I will definitely be a regular here, seeing as I cant seem to keep my wine rack full.
Their selection is not as extensive as Binny's or Sam's but if they have one of your favorite wines then their prices are a steal. Every Saturday they have a free wine tasting. Parking is also free and easy to find. Definitely worth the drive to check out.
Looks like a meth lab from the outside, but inside, a wine & spirits store of uncommon selection and value. Seems like most weekends they have little tastings going on. This place is the tops!
If you're looking for bargains, check out the very front ($10 and less selection) and the very back (closeouts) rooms.
Also, if you're of a mind to, I highly recommend literally urinating on the "Range Rover Obstacle Course" next door. How ostentatious is that crap?
picking a wine here is like picking a kitten. you want to take them ALL home!
i love that they have descriptions telling you which wines to store (we have a gin cellar :), and which which to drink now (twist my arm, puleeze)
$75 for a REALLY good case of wine is a great deal, but in this economy, a few cases can leave you with a hearty case of buyer's remorse, which can only be soothed by drinking, which could possible be the start of a VERY TASTY vicious cycle.
I like stopping by WDC every once in a while to see what they have in stock. They certainly have a very limited space and seem to choose their wines carefully due to space constraints, but I will say that they have done a good job so far. I always seem to find a good value here and they have a very wide price range from less than $10 to a few $100 bottles. I like that they do a free wine tasting on Saturday, and the staff is always super friendly and helpful. In fact they have some very knowledgeable staff. I also subscribe to their newsletter, which is a great way to find out about upcoming events (like 30 wine tastings) and sales.
Dude, it's the TJ Maxx for wine-aholics.
Elston Avenue provides not only a spectactular back drop (joking, its an industrial wasteland over here)...but also ample parking! Better to cart out your 40 bottles 'o vino, and not have to walk 3 miles.
Prices are phenomnenal, staff is marvelous, space is unpretentious (read: don't let the bars on the windows scare ya, this is the real deal for wine drinkers on a budget, or not).
Woooohooo! My nearly always empty wine rack I bought to feel like an adult might actually be at full occupancy thanks to this place!
Drink up. They also have wine tastings/events several times a month, ask for the newsletter.
i have passed by hundreds of times on my bike. it's not that inviting from the outside. but a friend told me they were good. and he was right. today i bee lined into wdc to check out the prices on what i like-a nice sav. blanc from new zealand-preferably marlborough-something i learned about in australia. and i found it at a more reasonable price than anywhere else. the babich for $7.99 & the kim crawford at $12.99 !!! then i picked up 2 bottles of the matilda-a fantastic belgian style ale brewed by our own local goose island brewery. $6.50 !!! that's the best price anywhere i have seen. so i'm glad i stopped in and will continue to stop in. they have a super impressive selection of good wines in the $5-$10 range which is a super plus. not sure about hard stuff, i was there for only wine & beer.
My brother was invited to a woman's house for dinner. He, being a neophyte then, appealed to his big sister for help in impressing her. I took him here to select a bottle of wine to bring along.
He's been happy and married to her for ten years now, and counting . . . was it the wine? Could have been, I'm just sayin'!
Excellent selection of ALL price points, and always changing. Buy a bottle or a case!
A warehouse full of wine? Am I dreaming?? If I am, don't wake me up! And bring me a corkscrew!
I went into Wine Discount Center looking for liqueur. I know, silly silly me. I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge selection of wine. The staff was helpful and recommended that I go to Sam's to find what I was looking for. I didn't have time to browse through the wines, but I will be back!
I deducted a star because I didn't actually buy anything from Wine Discount Center and can't really speak about the quality of the products, but I have no doubt that once I return they will earn that final star.
It looks a little forlorn away from any other stores, but that's just a part of its charm. Once inside, it's a mecca for wine lovers. The staff are really helpful in giving advice as to what you are looking for -- even if it's just a "cheap" bottle of wine. A few bottles do seem to be overpriced, but it is a great place to find hidden gems.
I like wine, so do my cheap friends. Thats why I go to Wine Discount Center. This place has wine for the RIGHT price, meaning cheaper than everywhere else. I love hitting up their section of wines recommended under ten dollars. It is well worth it.
This place knows what it's doing- rounding up good price/quality ratio wines so it's hard to buy something that isn't reasonably good at a moderate to cheap price. Their mailing flyer is always loaded with thoughtful selections to pair with whatever upcoming holiday dinner you may need to stock up for too. Plus they don't just stock chardonnays and cabs- lots of varietals and regions are on hand to pick from! Their stock turns over pretty fast so you won't find a bunch of dusty bottles on the shelves either.
I don't really think of WDC as a discount place, other than the warehouse atmosphere. For one, they have a helpful staff! And while the wines are priced competitively, you're just not going to be able to save that much on a $10-$20 bottle of wine anywhere. I really appreciate that their niche is that they offer a big selection of better wines in the lower price range. So the "discount" is mainly in the specific value selections they offer, not the actual price they offer them at, if you get what I mean? If these wines were offered in more of a liquor/wine store setting I'd bump to 5 stars, but I feel like I'm at costco here.
4.5 stars
I am on a constant search for that one wine that 1) I like the taste 2) my husband likes the taste 3) is in the $10-$13 price range. Sounds easy, right? Well I've been on the search for this wine for the last couple years and have yet to find it. I shall find my holy grail wine one day.
My search continued during my first trip to WDC. I really dug the unpretentious crowd and the fact that they don't sell any wine under 85 points. I also really dig their newsletter, especially that they show pictures of the bottles so if I forget the name I still might be able to pick it out.
Wonderful place. Great wines in all price ranges, super-knowledgeable and friendly staff, fabulous e-newsletter too--they tell you about a great wine find and you reply to the email and say "i'll take two" and they hold them for you, paying for it with the credit card number on file.
The only bad thing I can say about WDC, and it's actually worth only a half a star (I took a whole one off just to bring the place's average down) is it's a pain to get to via public transit. If only it were closer to a train line or major bus route (sorry I don't consider the armitage bus that major) it would be perfect.
I like the WDC for
Location (staying away from the Clybourn corridor)
Selection (simple to get in there and get a combination case of moderate or cheap or splurge on an expensive bottle).
Knowledgeable and Friendly staff (get on the mailing list to get a sense of what you may want to buy, then go in and ask more questions. If you need get a bottle for a party, they will be happy to help with your selection.)
Wine Tasting (I have not been but I'm sure it has to be a good time).
I used to go to Binny's or Teddy's for my wine purchases, or sometimes I bought from "The Wine Club" newsletter from the chain of Wine Club stores in California. Like others, I drove by WDC numerous times without stopping in, because the store is just not that inviting to look at, either outside or in.
HOWEVER, comma, once I finally did stop, I realized that this was the wine store I'd been looking for all my life. Their selection is as good as it can be, considering the square footage they have, and you can get just about any style or price range of wine you'd want. Prices are the best around - period.
Staff is knowledgable, and obviously delights in helping you find a great bottle (or case, or two!) for any occasion. Knowing that most of the staff has tasted most of the wines they carry is a great comfort - I've never gotten a bad recommendation.
Bravo, WDC!
As if buying ads on Yelp wasn't enough, the Wine Discount Center must also be writing its own Yelp reviews. I have to weigh in and inveigh against all of these five star reviews.
First, the wine specials they have for $7-$12 are invariably shit. Second, you will often pay more for $18-$30 bottles of wine here than you would pay for the same bottle at a grocery store. Third, the staff are off putting.
There are better wine stores in Chicago.
I think "we" drove by this place 200 times before one day deciding to go in many years ago--long before Yelp. It's very uninviting from the outside, in both the appearance of the building and the name.
Once inside, it's still pretty warehousy looking. The warehousy-ness stops there, though.
The staff is extremely knowledgable and helpful, and generally very friendly (and a few have very good memories--I hadn't been in over 3 months but the staff member actually remembered me from the last time I was in!). A few of their newer employees aren't as friendly as I remember they used to be. And instead of remembering me, now they *always* card me.
It's not Sam's Wine as far as selection goes, but you can find what you want (and also stuff that Sam's doesn't carry...). They probably have the best prices in the city--I know for sure they have better prices than Sam's and Binny's on a some bottles they both have. If you're comparing prices to bottles of wine you see at Dominick's you deserve to be ripped off. Their selection in some things seems to be dwindling, and I'm not happy to see there are now 6 or so different Yellow Tail wines stocked up front..
Their French Provencal rose selection in particular has gone down the tubes, which is enough to make me go elsewhere in the summer, and during summer months I'll try to remember to come here to lower their star rating because of it. (We actually bought a few--two--of their seemingly ONLY Provencal rose and it was absolutely terrible. So terrible I pondered returning it, instead it got made into mixed cocktails which only vaguely resembled the terrible wine inside them).
They don't have "by the case" discounts or clubs, they price everything rock bottom to start with.
If you sign up for their e-mail list, they often have "e-mail only" deals on bottles that they don't have a huge quantity of so sell only through e-mail.
If you're wanting to sample some product, they have free weekly wine tastings--every Saturday from noon until 4. Don't be late, they close up the tasting room on the dot, and sometimes even early. They also have other paid tastings at other times.
It's convenient if you have a car. I can't think of any wine store anywhere in the city with parking as easy as this place.
You can get a good $80 bottle here, or a good $7 bottle here. They have something for everyone. As with any good small wine store, they taste and know about every bottle. Though lately I question if this is still true. I used to say it's hard to walk out with a bad bottle of wine but several recent trips here have proven otherwise. Unfortunately it seems the Yellow Tail Lincoln Park crew has discovered the joys of shopping here.
:(
there's nothing aesthetic about this place, but for great selections, a knowledgeable, helpful staff, and rock bottom prices, esp. for quantity, you can't beat it.
i always feel like i'm on a bare bones tour of wine countries, as i peruse bottles of everyday offerings and gem quality rarities, without the bells, whistles, and overhead of the fancier large wine stores. and at the holidays, when i'm in need of lots of bubbly to give as gifts, i'm almost always buying the bulk of it here.
If you've ever just wanted to be guaranteed a decent bottle of wine in a pinch, this place is for you. These folks supposedly review and choose each of the bottles they have in stock, so if you don't like your wine then they're not doing their job. Great place to try new bottles, especially in the bargain section... you can't go wrong.
I agree with other reviews here, its strength is that it is a polar-opposite of Sam's. Sam's selection can be intimidating for anyone.
I received a $5 off coupon in the mail, so I figured, perfect time to stock up on some bubbly before the holidays. I had never heard of the Wine Discount Center, and for some reason I thought it was new. So I was a little embarrassed when I asked how many months they had been open and the guy responded "22 years". Wow, how did I not find this place before? The staff was extremely helpful, not scoffing when I told them I wanted some inexpensive bottles, they listened to my tastes, and made some suggestions (some even cheaper than what I had picked out). Friendly people, good selection and reasonable prices, easy parking....I will definitely be back. p.s. sign up for the mailing list to get special offers.
If you go anywhere else for wine, you are a suckah! No, just kidding. But this place is great especially if you are getting a larger quantity or want to get a nice variety for a dinner party.
This is an awesome store for all your wine needs. We got some great deals on our native visit here over the weekend. The layout makes it easy to find what you're looking for, and the ratings and descriptions they provide are extremely helpful to a wine novice like me. The overstock and bargain areas are a great place to stock up. They also offer a number of craft beers for prices that are pretty good. The staff is friendly and helpful, ready to offer some good recommendations. I like Binny's, but skip the insanity that is their parking lot and the long lines and head here.
I recently attended a wine tasting here and it was great. They were so helpful and willing to work with my tastes...even though my price point was the cheapest one possible!
In my opinion the best & cheapest spot in the city to get a bottle of wine! Forget about Sam's or Binny's or etc. you can get an absolutly delicious bottle of wine here and learn all about it! They have to be one of the most knowledgeable and friendly staff's ever! You need not be intimidated by the vast types of reds, roses, whites, from various regions around the globe because if the description writen above it doesn't explain it enough the staff will be more then happy to break it down for you! Also when you go it has a feel that your going to a place that isn't that widely known (even if it is) it has a true warehouse feel!!!
This is the antithesis of Sam's. If you want a huge selection and easy to find location, then yes, Sam's is great. Wine Discount is the small, oddly-located place with way less inventory than a Sam's - but if you want great bargain wines, or someone you can ask questions, this is the place! They put their biggest bargains - wines way under $10 - right up front! You don't need to hunt for them. They are friendly and helpful & you'll probably leave with some new wines to try.
Silly wabbit, Sam's is for yuppies, buppies, and guppies who don't know any better. If you'd like to be able to have nice wine and afford the Riedel crystal to serve it in, and need to concern yourself with mortal matters like your pocket book, then there really is no better spot to stock the wine rack chez nous. Their mailing list yields an informative monthly mailing, their tastings are reliably fun little events, and their prices are consistently outstanding. So stop being so twenty years ago, change gears, and head to WDC for a better bargain on quality vino.
I heart wine discount center. Best prices in town, and you don't have to deal with the hugeness of Sam's or Binny's. They have all the wine you want, without all the wine you don't want to bother with. The wine experts at the store are very knowledgeable, and they list the wine ratings from the wine mags as well as their own. Love it!
I really like this wine store. They have many of our favorites, and always introduce us to new wines that become our favorites. The staff is very helpful and friendly. They know their stuff, and I find many of their tastes compatible with what I like (earthy, mineraly, dry). Great wines in every price range. Their "value" every-day wines are all really delicious. There is something for everyone here, and you can easily learn about new wines, trying things that you would never know about.
My new favorite wine store in the city. Learned about this place from the sommelier at avenues, told us there were some great deals. Not pretentious at all, good selection, all the wine has descriptions I can actually understand with my limited wine knowledge, and so far the prices on everything seem to be lower than I've seen elsewhere.
I love Binny's, but what this place has is a great selection at really good prices. So many of my coworkers and I talked about going in, it looks,... well a little sketchy. However walking in to it you will find a friendly and knowledgeable staff that is passionate about teaching you about wine. A great selection of imported and domestic wines, proseccos and champagnes. Not the selection of Binny's, but still a great selection. I hear the wine tasting on Saturdays is inexpensive but has a massive amount of wines to try.... for those who like to get their hangover on early.
I have trouble finding "great deals" here, Like the selection, And the location (Kind of) But I leave wanting to like it more, Just don't, I'll continue to come here but only because I drive right by when there's parking.
This place has a lot of great finds, but it also has an insane amount of plonk. Also, on a whole lot of things they are significantly overpriced. On the plus side they are a ton more helpful than Sam's.
I really enjoy this place! I used to go to Binny's and Sam's...but after experiencing WDC, this is the place. The wine is cheap and the staff is great. Try the tastings on Saturday's.
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Wineries
Neighborhood: South Loop
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: DePaul
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Neighborhood: North Center
Category: Beer, Wine & Spirits
Anyone who knows me knows that I love Elston. To…
wine, wine, the wonder drink, the more you sip,…
Why do you think there's toddling in this town…
My mama always said, "You never stop looking til…
where i can find good beer, decent cheap wine, &…
I'm an enophile. I admit it. These places have…
