Reader’s Choice

Wine Discount Center

A lonely retail outpost on an industrial strip of Elston, the no-frills Wine Discount Center doesn’t look like much from the outside. But inside, on any given Saturday between noon and 4 PM, you’ll find at least a dozen-odd bottles uncorked and ready for the spittin’. WDC stocks a sometimes stupefying range of bottles from small-batch producers and big-name vintners alike, but the knowledgeable, accessible staffers not only know their stuff but have the skills to explain it to experts and newbies alike. The store also offers a monthly “First Look” tasting of 30-odd new bottles for $10, and one-off events like a holiday champagne tasting—sign up for Wine Discount Center’s newsletter for details and tips on the month’s hot picks. The next First Look tasting is Wed 7/9, 6:30-8 PM; reservations are required—call the store and ask for Mike or Amy.  1826 N. Elston, 773-489-3454, winediscountcenter.com; there are also locations (with a similar roster of events) in Highland Park, Barrington, and Forest Park. —Martha Bayne

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