372216 Sat Feb 17 16:08:25 -0800 2007 10 7 Chicago Area 0 2303132 I am visiting Chicago in March and would like to buy a few bottles of vin santo to take home. Is there a wine merchant that supplies vin santo in Chicago? And, do you have a favorite brand of vin santo? Sat Feb 17 16:08:25 -0800 2007 12349 christina_hunnicutt 1 2303607 Try Sam's and Binny's. Sat Feb 17 20:39:39 -0800 2007 2303132 42549 Chicago Mike 1 2303617 I did a search on Sam's website and found two selections: Cantine Baroncini "Il Santo" Vin Santo, Toscana NV $7.99 375ml San Felice Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2000 $25.99 375ml Sam's Wine CHICAGO DOWNERS GROVE HIGHLAND PARK 800-777-9137 www.samswine.com I did a search on Binny's website and found five selections: Villa Puccini Vin Santo 500ML $11.99/btl 1994 - Avignonesi Vin Santo 375ML $145.00/btl 1999 - Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo 375ML $34.99/btl 1999 - Poggio Bonelli Vin Santo 500ML $44.99/btl 2000 - Geografico Vin Santo 500ML $28.99/btl Binny's Beverage Depot Buffalo Grove Des Plaines Downtown Chicago Elmwood Park Glen Ellyn Glencoe Highland Park Hyde Park Lakeview McHenry Naperville Niles Orland Park River Grove Schaumburg Skokie St. Charles Willowbrook (888) 942-9463 www.binnys.com FWIW, I had never heard of vin santo. According to Wikipedia, "Vin Santo (holy wine) is an Italian dessert wine. This traditional Tuscan wine is made from Trebbiano and Malvasia grapes, and is typically very sweet." More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vin_santo Sat Feb 17 20:45:26 -0800 2007 2303132 55363 nsxtasy 1 2305151 Thanks! When I was in Florence last May I would end my meal with vin santo and biscottini. But, living in Indiana there are no liquor shops that sell it, and getting wine sent to IN is illegal. Hopefully I can stock up at Sam's or Binny's. Sun Feb 18 15:24:22 -0800 2007 2303132 12349 christina_hunnicutt 1 2305161 Vin Santo and biscotti is a wonderful dessert, and I guess lots of us have acquired the taste in Tuscany. I have no idea about the rules governing wine sales where you are, and of course here in California wine is available everywhere all the time, but I've gotten Vin Santo at Whole Foods. Sun Feb 18 15:29:45 -0800 2007 2303132 16828 Judith 2 2305210 Wine/Liquor can be purchased M-Sa, but no Sunday sales. We also cannot buy alcohol over the internet/telephone, etc. unless you're a wholesaler. Finally, no Whole Foods here in NE Indiana- we have big-box grocers like Meijer, WalMart and Kroger and a few local health food shops. Sun Feb 18 15:55:26 -0800 2007 2305161 12349 christina_hunnicutt 3 2305850 I guess we're really spoiled here. But if you find it anywhere, look for Ricasoli. It's the one I like the best. Sun Feb 18 21:02:05 -0800 2007 2305210 16828 Judith 1 2305196 My favorite Vin Santo is: 1998 Felsina - Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Italy - Tuscany - Chianti Regional Blend - goes for about $30 a bottle - give or take a buck or two. I've had several others but this is heavenly and my favorite. Cheers! Sun Feb 18 15:49:10 -0800 2007 2303132 65558 Abacus 2 2305205 Thanks- I'm writing this down for when I visit Chicago in two weeks! Sun Feb 18 15:53:11 -0800 2007 2305196 12349 christina_hunnicutt 1 2305308 You might want to call ahead to whatever Sam's or Binny's location you're planning to go to, to make sure they have it for you in whatever quantity you need. Since their website has it, they probably have it at their warehouse but not necessarily at every one of their stores, but I'm sure they can get it for you at any store if you arrange for it in advance. Sam's is more of a specialty wine store, well-known in the Chicago area. Everyone knows where to go for wine, and Sam's is it. The store in Chicago is the big, original one; I haven't been to their other locations, so I don't really know anything about how they compare. Binny's is more like a traditional big liquor store chain with a big wine department. Watch the weather reports; if the overnight temperatures are going down well below freezing, you probably don't want to leave the wine in your car overnight! Sun Feb 18 16:30:39 -0800 2007 2303132 55363 nsxtasy 2 2328123 Thanks for the tip on leaving wine in your car--I'll definately take it inside!! Sun Feb 25 13:52:53 -0800 2007 2305308 12349 christina_hunnicutt