Peter's career in the manufacturing and technology sector took an unexpected turn in 2001 when he joined his father in the family business. He spends most of his time behind the scenes negotiating wine deals and working on our newsletters, email offerings and all of those details that it takes to keep a growing business afloat. If you want to know why our prices are so much lower than most of the other guys, he is the one to ask. In his spare time you'llfind him running on the lakefront or sailing on Lake Michigan.

In 1958, fresh out of the University of Illinois and a stint in the Navy, Bud took a "temporary" position managing his father's store. Over 50 years later he is still at it and still as passionate about wine as ever. He is as comfortable talking about current trends in the wine industry as he is telling stories about the early days when Chateau Lafite
sold for $5 per bottle. If he is not at the stores, he is probably on the golf course, spending time with the grandkids
or fulfilling his duties as Chairman of BUILD, a Chicago-based charity that supports at-risk kids.

Nathan joined Vin Chicago in 2021 after graduating from the University of Michigan. He is currently three-plus years into what was originally slated to be a 12 month trial in the family business, handling the website, event planning, social media and helping out on the floor in his spare time! When he isn't at one of our shops, you can find him playing pickleball, catching a movie at The Music Box, or cooking up a mean dinner!

Judy came to us back in 2019 as our Inventory Accountant. This was her first exposure to the Wine Retail industry and is loving it. You won't get to see her often in the stores because she is busy behind the scenes keeping everything up to date in the POS and Inventory systems. When she's not busy crunching numbers at the computer you will find her hanging out with her hubby and Shelties at local AKC Agility Shows and maybe sharing a bottle of wine with friends.

Mike started with Vin Chicago (formerly Wine Discount Center) in 1999 and as our Director of Wine, still gets excited when he tastes something delicious. As a firm believer that wine is all about pleasure, he knows that great wine is made all over the world, though France and Italy are favorites. Mike loves talking to customers about Champagne, the Loire, Bordeaux, Burgundy and all things Italy, but will happily bend your ear about Spain, Germany and his guilty pleasure wine - old school California Chardonnay and Zinfandel! When he's not tasting or writing about our newest email offer, Mike can be found in our stores, hanging out with his family or working out at the gym.

Jen’s path to and through wine is pretty unique! A former juvenile detention and probation officer in Illinois, she relaxed at night over great aged cheese and wine. Jen spent some time in the restaurant scene, while growing her wine knowledge and receiving certifications through the International Sommelier Guild and through the Court of Master Sommeliers. While attending a Champagne tasting at Vin Chicago (which is now her favorite event of the year!), her enthusiasm caught the attention of the manager and she was offered a job on the spot and never left! When not working, you can catch Jen enjoying pilates and spending time with her family!

Lyle came to Vin Chicago as an enthusiastic customer, hungry to get access to a new perspective on wine by joining the business part-time. Never expecting to change careers, nonetheless the bug hit him and he's been with us full-time for over a decade. A self-described "generalist", Lyle tells us he loves the multi-modal challenges that wine retail delivers. He enjoys keeping his team happy and healthy, keep the buys scintillating for the customer, and putting his all into writing - to get the right people to the right bottle. Always happy to pivot, doing whatever it takes to keep Vin Chicago as the smartest place to buy wine in the Midwest!

Matt previously worked for Vin Chicago back in the Wine Discount Center days before moving back to the UK for 10 years. In London he was a manager and buyer for an independent wine shop and also completed the WSET Level 4 diploma while attending the London Wine School. Matt was welcomed back by Vin Chicago in 2023 after making the move back across the Atlantic! Outside of work Matt spends a lot of time watching Aston Villa in the English Premier League, attending concerts at the various venues across the city and hanging out with his dog Squire!

Dawn is an Italian through and through! Growing up experiencing homemade wine from grapes growing around her Grandma Lucy’s house in Dundee, IL, wine is literally a part of her upbringing. After a trip to Naples, her love and passion for wine was solidified. A 7 year veteran of Vin Chicago, when Dawn’s not working you’ll find her hanging out with friends, traveling, and spending time with family back in Dundee.

After an over 20-year career in education, Tim decided to switch gears and focus on one of his other passions: wine. Tim found his passion for wine while traveling throughout Europe. Tim is also excited about the emerging winemakers in Oregon and California and in natural wine.

Like many, Claire’s career in wine started in the restaurant scene. She jumped at the chance to become a student of wine when the opportunity presented itself in 2021. Since then, she has passed several levels of wine certifications and continues to pursue more wine education today. When she isn't scribbling out tasting notes or snapping pics for the Vin Instagram, you can find Claire enjoying the local live music scene, exploring the outdoors, and getting crafty with whatever materials she can find from fabric and paints to wine crates and wood burners.

After spending 25 years in Information Technology sales, Kurt decided to pursue his passion and enthusiasm for wine, and as a long time Vin Chicago customer, decided to join the team!

When not immersed in the world of food and wine, you can find Kurt enjoying live music, curating his latest Spotify playlists , and relaxing with his beloved English Bulldog, Archie.

Michael has always had a love of wine, and his passion led him to complete his WSET Level 3 advanced certification and become a French wine scholar (FWS) from the Wine Scholar Guild. Looking for a place to utilize what he learned he applied at his favorite wine shop, Vin Chicago, and the rest as they say is history. Michael enjoys continually learning about wine not only from his colleagues but his customers as well and sharing that passion. Cheers!

Shannon Lorenz Desmond is a WSET 2 wine specialist who learned to love wine from her parents and their friends. She calls the Rhone valley her first wine love but now goes to the central coast of California at least once a year (though she'll reccomend you a wine from anywhere!) You can find her at Vin on Sundays and the occasional weekday tasting when her day job as a project manager allows.

After working as a Somm in fine dining for over ten years, Gabe and his wife moved to Chicago in 2018 and he decided it was time to switch to the retail side of the business. When it comes to wine (and food), he is a total Francophile and can't get enough Burgundy, Champagne, or Northern Rhone Syrah. When not at Vin, you'll likely find Gabe cooking, DJing, or hanging with his friends and family.

Greg Spalding caught the wine bug when his then girlfriend (now wife) suggested he drink a glass of wine instead of having a beer. From that moment on, his world was never the same. Since that first glass, he has devoted the last 15 years of his life trying to recreate that "first sip" feeling for others through education and hospitality.

Greg is an Advanced Sommelier through The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas and is currently seeking the MS certification.

He is a highly active member of the sommelier community in Chicago and is also a member of Second City Sommeliers, a group dedicated to mentorship of wine professionals in tasting, service, and beverage knowledge.

With a strong passion rooted in Italian wine, Greg longs for the day when he and his wife can relocate to Tuscany and be immersed in Chianti Classico. Until then, he enjoys spending his time with his dog Winnie, his cat Zelda, and playing drums in a rock band.

Ellen has worked for her family's business for quite a few years in a variety of different roles. Currently our Lead Ecommerce Specialist, she is likely to answer the phone when you call our customer service number. When not working, she enjoys spending her time creating art and making jewelry.