Many people will use the upcoming Labor Day weekend to reflect on their own employment—bosses, co-workers, long-hours, deadlines, salaries, stress, and more. Others will simply be thankful to have a job. Others will only remember that they have three days off, and shouldn’t wear white anymore. Whatever the situation, here at Just Grapes we’re working [...]

Part of what makes Just Grapes more than “the place with the Enomatic” (that’s the tasting machine on the left in the photo) is our friendly, wine-obsessed staff. We’re not clock punchers half asleep thinking about being somewhere else—we’re right where we want to be. Surrounded by beautiful bottles and varietals from dozens of countries, [...]

The Chicago Air & Water Show returns to Lake Michigan this weekend, with more than two-million people expected to pack the lakefront on Saturday and Sunday. Even though the City of Chicago prohibits alcohol at the event, that doesn’t mean you can’t find a rooftop downtown, or simply stay home and throw your own Air & [...]

Sparkling wine (and Champagne in particular) is known to many as the “special occasion” beverage—light, effervescent, crisp on the palate, with an option to pop the cork in a dramatic, frenzied spectacle. Just be careful where you point those 90+ pounds of pressure beneath the cork! In a more practical sense though, sparkling wines are [...]

There is no doubt that the 2004 film Sideways has been a boon to Pinot Noir, educating masses of casual wine drinkers about the delicate grape through its equally delicate protagonist, Miles. What that audience might not know though, is that Pinot Noir is truly global—grown all over the world in microclimates perfect for the [...]

Phileas Fogg may have traveled around the world in 80 days, and Prince may have written a song about going around the world in a single day, but we’ve got them both beat by taking your palate around the planet in just two hours, during our next First Wednesday Tasting here at Just Grapes. Join [...]

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, [...]

As far as summer heat goes, July 2010 in Chicago is nothing like 1995—a string of miserable 100+ degree days. However, our current 90-degree days are still scorching, and we often beat the heat by finding whatever air-conditioned bliss is available. In Northern Italy however, when the temperatures soar, many people head to the towering [...]

Here in Chicago, we’re entering the second weekend of filming for Transformers 3 in and around the Loop. It’s an aptly named movie, because it’s transforming the way people go about their day—shutting down some of the busiest streets and intersections of the city, testing the patience of locals, and mesmerizing summer tourists. Transformers are, [...]

It took approximately one month, but the Spanish fútbol… er… football… er… soccer team is now the envy of the sporting world. And unlike, say, the Super Bowl, the Spanish can gloat about their victory for four years instead of one. When it comes to wine though, the Spanish have always had a reason to [...]