Wine & Spirits

Cardinal Wine & Sprits
980 North Route 21
Gurnee, Illinois 60031
(847) 662-1020
Fax: (847) 662-1096
Ernie Olfe

This retail store is a real find. Right off Highway 294, on the other side of the Gurnee Mills Regional Shopping Center. Actually 137 and Riverside, on Riverside as it intersects 137, the West turnoff into Gurnee Mills.

Ernie Olfe has some great wines he negotiates, coddles, and gets from his distributors. While attending my son's graduation from the US Navy at Great Lakes, I found this store and purchased a case of 1996 Duckhorn Howell Mountain ( no longer available at the winery and the price was cheaper than the original, plus Ernie gave me a 10% discount and packed them in wooden boxes so I could take them on the airplane---side note: some airlines restrict the amount per case you take, so you may not want to declare it is wine ). He had wine I cannot get in California retail stores and at very low prices. The next time I am in the Chicago area, I am going to visit his store again. If you travel in this direction, it is worth the trip to visit his store.

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