Chile, like its neighbor over the Andes, Argentina, has long been a discount darling of the wine world, especially in the U.S. market. Funny thing though: The winemaking has generally improved to world-class quality over the past few decades, but the prices have stayed low. That means you can enjoy a top bottle from one [...]

If your experience with Riesling has mainly to do with a certain nun dressed in blau on the bottle’s label, then now is the perfect time to explore the variety and complexity of one of the world’s most underappreciated grapes—through August 1st, it’s “Riesling Week” co-sponsored by the European Union and Wines of Germany. However, [...]

Ginger, Mary Ann, the Professor, Gilligan—they could only dream of cruising Lake Michigan and the Chicago River with Don Sritong and the Just Grapes crew, supplied with a storehouse of handpicked summer wines to sip and explore. It’s a dream you can easily experience though! Join us tomorrow, Saturday, June 26, for the Just Grapes [...]

A few days ago, we highlighted some of our favorite reds to pair with heartier grilled meats, fish, and fruit. But if you’re flaming lighter fare, like shrimp, chicken, whitefish, or vegetables, they’ll scream for a chilled white to balance, not bulldoze the flavor. Here at Just Grapes, we think these pairings can help you [...]

The weather is scorching here in Chicago, which is a great primer for Memorial Day weekend, and the official return of outdoor grilling in the Windy City. Whether you’re the grillmaster executing the perfect menu for your friends and family, or you’re stuck at someone else’s party with a blowhard who confuses burning with barbecue, [...]

When KFC released its Double Down sandwich, I all but went into cardiac arrest thinking of the insane sodium/caloric nightmare (or Atkins dream) that is this “sandwich.” There’s meat, cheese and… gasp!… deep-fried chicken-buns! Cue Chef Jamie Oliver and an army of medics. Though I have no desire to ever let the sandwich cross my [...]

While very few welcome winter with open arms, there is something undeniably charming about softly falling snow, the tiny white lights glittering from trees lining the streets, and the general warm fuzziness of family and friends around the holidays. In Chicago especially, there are tons of wintry events going on to keep the holiday cheer [...]

by Brett Ashley McKenzie Wine truly is the ultimate gift–who doesn’t appreciate having an extra bottle or two on hand? Especially as we near the winter months, few people feel like trudging back out into the cold night because they arrived home from work to find nothing drinkable on their wine rack. But many Just [...]

By Raquel Scianna Good things come in small packages, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, don’t judge a book by its cover, blah blah blah. Looking beyond outward appearances is nice, but what if you want something that not only seduces the taste buds but dazzles the eye (and makes you look cool [...]

By Brett Ashley McKenzie There’s something spooky around the corner… Halloween! Whether you’re planning on spending October 31st answering the door for trick-or-treaters, dressing up for a costume party, or simply watching scary movies at home, you deserve a treat of your own, and Just Grapes has the perfect line-up of sinister spirits and sips [...]