The Glunz family’s impact on Chicago’s wine culture began in 1888, when Louis Glunz opened a small neighborhood wine and spirits shop in Old Town. The family weathered Prohibition, world wars, shifting demographics, and a and a wine industry seemingly focused on hitting quarterly numbers rather than carrying on a legacy of quality.

Over the decades, the House of Glunz became importers and distributors, eventually buying property in Paso Robles and planting vineyards and building a winery. Fifth-generation family member Matt Glunz is the winemaker and oversees operations. Most of the grapes grown for their releases are estate-grown in Paso but some fruit is also sourced from the cooler-climate SLO Coast AVA.

The Glunz name still stands for integrity, taste, and longevity. Their Paso Robles selections carry forward that same legacy, wines produced with the experience and confidence that only 130 years in the wine trade can bring.

Insider’s tip: Rumor has it that while visiting the Glunz tasting room in Paso Robles, if you whisper the code word “Ernie Banks,” they’ll pour you a shot of Malort to bring back you memories of long-ago Chicago (although we’ve heard that shouting the first line of “25 or 6 to 4” at the top of your lungs works too).