Are we crazy or what?
 The question most asked around the store last week: "Is this stuff any good?" It's great! And it's proof that if you trust your local independent wine merchant you'll find some of the season's best values right here.
We do the hard work for you. And of course, if there's ever a problem, you know you can bring it back. But you won't with this one. Guaranteed. We've carried this entry-level Shiraz from Penfolds for years and have watched the price creep up year after year.
When we were given the chance to buy a truckload at a ridiculously low price we jumped at it. Soft, full-fruited, spicy. Order this by the case. Click the easy link below. (sterling)
PENFOLDS KOONUNGA HILL SHIRAZ 2005, South Eastern Australia $4.97 (regular $10.95)
French-Chile winery scores with big values at low prices!
More of our real wines for real people - wines that won't break the bank and are guaranteed to please: we're thrilled to offer you these Casa Lapostolle winners. These are wines to buy in case-loads, good values and great tastes for each variety, full of bright fruit and Chilean sunshine.
Founded in 1994 by the Marnier-Lapostolle family (owners of France's Grand Marnier and Chateau de Sancerre), Casa Lapostolle is a showcase of what can be achieved through the marriage of French knowhow and Chile's perfect growing conditions.
Their vineyards are located in the Rapel Valley, smack in the middle of this long, skinny country.
We just received the 2007 Chardonnay - really food-friendly and full of tropical fruit. There's a nice balancing acidity and a touch of sweet spice from the oak ageing to play off the citrus notes, too. Serve as an aperitif or with fish, white meats and vegetarian dishes. Also very good with hot curries and Thai.
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CHARDONNAY 2007, Casablanca Valley Chile $11.97 (regular $14.95)
The 2007 Sauvignon Blanc is light-weight, with open-knit lemon zest and straw notes and a super citrusy finish - we refer to it as bottled sunshine! It, too, works with seafood or spicy dishes and it makes a great refreshing sipper.
CASA LAPOSTOLLE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2007, Rapel Valley Chile $9.97 (regular $11.95)
Their 2006 Merlot is a wonderful soft red, full of sharp red fruit aromas with a sophisticated touch of sweet spices from the light touch of oak and juicy soft tannins. The smoky finish is long with more fruit highlighted by
mocha and vanilla nuances. It will pair beautifully with pasta dishes, vegetables and white meat.
CASA LAPOSTOLLE MERLOT 2006, Rapel Valley Chile $11.97 (regular $14.95)
Their 2006 Cabernet - perfect for any grilled meat, is full of spice and red and black fruit flavors with a touch of smoke at the finish. There's lots of tannin, too, so lots of body - this one will stand up to anything! It has a bit of Carmenère, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc blended in, to add to the complexity.(anje schaefer cluxton)
CASA LAPOSTOLLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2006, Rapel Valley Chile $11.97 (regular $14.95)
Huge savings from Napa for you!
 Each of these Calistoga Cellars wines is a terrific example of Napa Valley at its best.
Their 2005 Zinfandel is graceful, full of fruit and bursting with flavor. Unlike many super-charged Zins, this won't overpower your palate or your meal. With hints of vanilla, the finish is lingering with acidity and supple oak notes. There's enough in this hearty Zinfandel to stand up to charcoal-grilled or spicy foods such as pork, lamb, your favorite grilled steak, or even penne with a spicy tomato sauce.
CALISTOGA CELLARS ZINFANDEL 2004, Napa $24.97 (regular $29.95)
Their 2004 Merlot is actually 75%, aged 18 months in French oak, with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon added before bottling to deepen the flavors. This is not a wimpy Merlot! This is a wine with great structure and a strong finish, a great match for grilled lamb, braised beef, rich stews and
pastas.
CALISTOGA CELLARS MERLOT 2004, Napa $26.97 (regular $34.95)
My personal favorite - their 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is full of complex flavors of plum and cherry with touches of chocolate, herb and oak. Fullbodied and smooth with rich tannins and a lingering finish. This rich, complex wine has tons of depth and purity of flavor. Enjoyable now, this
wine will continue to improve with age (as will all their reds).(anje schaefer cluxton)
CALISTOGA CELLARS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2005, Napa $29.97 (regular $34.95)
Best dry rose on the planet?
 In a country dominated by male winemakers, Susana Balbo stands out not only for her gender, but for her incredible skill and experience. She's been making wine since she earned her enology degree in 1981, and she has probably produced a wider variety of wines than any other winemaker in Argentina.
Susana was the first Argentine winemaker to be hired as a consultant to make wine outside of Argentina. She has made wine in Australia, California, Chile, France, Italy, South Africa, and Spain. Susana's pet project is her Crios label, and we were really excited to get our hands on her Rose of Malbec. If anybody can handle this grape, she can!
This rose has plenty of fruit and complexity; close your eyes and you'll swear it's a really light red. Dry and supple at the same time. Call the butcher! Order the ribs. Now you've got the wine. (sterling)
CRIOS ROSE OF MALBEC 2007, Mendoza Argentina $13.95
Our three favorites for summer parties
 Helios is the Greek sun god. As you know, it takes a lot of love, care and sun to make great wines.
Santa Barbara is located in California's Central Coast, just hours north of LA. The Helios Chardonnay comes from here. The long cool growing season and proximity to the Pacific offer perfect conditions to ripen the fruit for this light and fresh white. Crisp flavors of pear, honeysuckle and apple and just a hint of oak, give this a terrific balance of fruit and acidity, with a very clean finish.
Helios Chardonnay 2006, Santa Barbara $14.97/750 ml (regular $19.95), $179.64/case
The 2005 Cabernet is from Paso Robles, on the northern edge of San Luis Obispo County. Another cool growing area, the vineyards for this wine have chalky limestone soil, producing a soft and silky Cabernet with warm black cherry and cassis fruit flavors. There's also a touch of spice and tobacco, making it a great easy-drinking dinner wine. Not a tannic Cabernet, this one's ready to enjoy tonight.
Helios Cabernet 2005, Paso Robles $14.97/750 ml (regular $19.95), $179.64/case
The 2005 Merlot comes from the Alexander Valley, in northern Sonoma County. Warmer than the other two areas Helios sources from, this area does well with just about all red grapes, especially Merlot, Cabernet and Zinfandel. Several very classy reds are made in this part of Sonoma, and this is clearly a contender. This wine is round and lovely, full of cherry, plum and cassis. It is full-bodied and well rounded. (anje schaefer cluxton)
Helios Merlot 2005, Alexander Valley $14.97/750 ml (regular $19.95), $179.64/case
Insider's discovery: Pinot lover's dream
 We've uncovered one of the Pinot world's real secrets. But be warned,there isn't much to go around, so if you're a real fan of the greats of this grape, jump now. Don't hesitate.
Similar to one of Oregon's best or a great Volnay, this limited edition comes from a winery known for its every-day whites. Fritz Allendorf makes some of the best value whites anywhere in Germany. And that may be why this one superstar, a real passion of his, doesn't show up in any of the national reviews of Europinot. Check Parker or the Spectator, and this is nowhere to be found. Yet we've been stunned at how good this is. (Quercus is Latin for oak.)
With a medium-deep color and a great nose, Allendorf has packed in a whopping 14% alcohol. We had to offer this second vintage after last year's rave success. Fritz Allendorf is one of the largest estates in the Rheingau with over 140 acres of vineyard. They deliver good quality wines, mainly Riesling and Spatburgunder (Pinot Noir), for a good price. But why would you buy a Pinot from Germany? What about Oregon, Sonoma or even Burgundy? Two answers: quality and value. Trust us, you won't be disappointed. (sterling)
ALLENDORF QUERCUS PINOT NOIR 2005, Rheingau, Germany $39.97 (regular $47.95)
Our newest fixture
 While it's warm enough, we'll have this out front every day, ready for your bike. We know about exercise and we sure know about the price of gas, so come on over any day. Now there's a place to lock your $500 Trek.
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Saturday, July 26th, 11-5
Picking up where we left off with our last wine class, today's lineup of wines will feature Italian whites including the best in Pinot Grigios and a healthy look at whites-other-than-PG. Our gourmet food department promises matching Italian treats, too! 11-5, FREE.
Saturday, August 2nd: Fifth generation legend makes rare appearance here!
 Join us Saturday, August 2, 11-5, when Karl Wente will be here to pour a range of his wines.
Fifth generation winegrower Karl D. Wente represents a new breed of winemaker.
Karl grew up working at Wente Vineyards and he gained experience at other wineries, starting with The Peter Michael Winery in Sonoma. That was followed by a stint at Brown Brothers winery in northern Victoria, Australia, where Karl gained southern hemisphere experience .
 Meet the man, sign up for a special in-store raffle that day, and have your purchases autographed..
August 2, 11-5 / FREE
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 Sweet and spicy
We have found over the years that food trends come and go, but our most popular products are the simplest. The best are inspired by the terrific garden-fresh produce found at local farmer's markets: food that is full of country goodness and outstanding flavor.
This salsa may dampen your forehead, but how sweet it is. Hot and sweet! Native South Fiery Sweet Peach Salsa is full of chunky, ripe tomatoes and homegrown Georgia peaches to cool a touch of smoldering fire from jalapeno peppers added to make things interesting. No fat. No cholesterol. No preservatives and no artificial anything.
We love this salsa with blue corn tortilla chips, as a marinade for chicken, pork or shrimp or grilled veggies. Warm your spirits with a salsa that tastes like a hot southern night.
NATIVE SOUTH FIERY SWEET PEACH SALSA $4.97/12 oz jar (regular $5.99)
 Our favorite traditional corn relish has a kick so zesty we use it just like a traditional salsa. Stonewall Kitchen's Spicy Corn Relish is the perfect complement to grilled burgers, hot dogs, meaty fish or chicken. It's wonderful served with crispy tortilla or corn chips.
Garnish your corn chowder or fresh tomato soup with a spoonful. It is a great alternative to slaw and some of us are known to eat this stuff straight out of the jar with a spoon! (mary liliedahl)
STONEWALL KITCHEN SPICY CORN RELISH $5.97/16 oz jar (regular $6.99)
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Can the French make beer?
 Let's agree that France is famous for its cheese and
wine. Those are copied the world over and almost never
surpassed. But ask any beer lover and they'll wince
remembering their last French beer.
They'll go on and on about Germany, or the U.K. or Belgium. But hold on, let's get it straight. The northern parts of France share more with their neighbors than they do with Bordeaux or Paris.
The town of Jenlain is in the northwest, right on the border with Belgium, and the brewery here makes a perfectly quaffable summer-weight brew, their "blonde." I'd put this up against any of the macrobrews from the
States on an 80-degree afternoon. Sante!
Due to shipping limitations, we are unable to sell this item online, but you can order it via email and we will hold it for you to pick up in our store.(sterling)
JENLAIN BLONDE FRENCH FARM-COUNTRY ALE, France $14.99 / four-pack
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Buy the gin that beat the Brits
 The British will never learn. After all these centuries of American triumphs, we've won yet another battle - the gin battle.
Once considered the consummate English spirit, North Shore Distillery has laid all competition to rest by creating a truly perfect super-premium gin. Forget the days of Beefeater and Sapphire. The gin drinker's train has just pulled in!
Their flagship, Distiller's Gin No. 6, is made in the style of a London dry gin, but with a much-welcomed complex and intriguing flavor. North Shore's careful selection of unique ingredients creates a harmonious balance of juniper, citrus, spice and floral notes - the likes of which you will not find in any of its British counterparts.
Recently rated "Best Gin" by Chicago Magazine, North Shore also took home a Gold Medal from the Beverage Tasting Institute. This is the perfect gin for a laid-back summer evening, sipping gimlets on your screened porch as you watch the fireflies flutter in your yard. Chalk another one up for the U.S.! (don wils)
We don't sell this on-line yet, but you can drop us an email and we'll be glad to set some aside in our store.
NORTH SHORE DISTILLER'S GIN NO. 6, Illinois $29.95
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Best darn charcoal anywhere!
 Grilling season is definitely here. Maybe it starts on Mother's day at your house, some say the Fourth of July, plenty of us grill year-round. Whatever your calendar says, the search for the best gear and materials is a year-long one. Gas or charcoal? You decide. I confess I don't always take the time to fire up the coals, but when I do, I do not want the food I cook to have the taste of the chemicals the big charcoal brands use for quick lighting. There's only one coal: Chef's Select. We guarantee you won't find any better anywhere. (sterling)
CHEF'S SELECT 100% HARDWOOD CHARCOAL, USA 20 pound bag $10.99
To order, click here to send us an email. |
 
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Schaefer's is for sale
Dear Friends and Customers:
First it was Marshall Field's, then Wrigley, and now Schaefer's. After 72 years, our venerable post-Prohibition fine wine shop is for sale. The decision was extremely difficult, but we're not getting any younger and we'd like to go out on top. It's been a great run. Our family and our lives have all revolved around the wonderful people who work and shop in our family enterprise.
Our father started this neighborhood business as a tavern in 1936, a place for friends to meet, where they could wind down after a long day. In 1959 he added a room to sell wine, unheard of at the time. Many of this area’s firsts in fine wine experiences happened inside these walls. Unfortunately, Dad died shortly thereafter. Our mother, Eileen Schaefer Haas, jumped in and operated the store for more than a decade while we (the next generation) were honing our skills.
Since then we have become known internationally for the high standards we set in our selection and in our services. Few fine wine and gourmet stores in the country have taken such good care of their neighbors and friends.
It is for that reason that we are writing to let you all know of our decision. We wish it didn’t have to happen, but we’ll toast your friendship and loyalty every day.
It's much too early to discuss any other details including a time frame, but we’ll keep you posted here.
George Schaefer & Gene Schaefer Flynn
P.S. - Click here to learn more of our history and see some fun pictures.
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Schaefer's Wines, Foods & Spirits 
