Cellar Door: Just the right wine, just the right venue

The summer humidity still clings to the air as the clouds and setting sun intertwine for one of those final summer sunset dances that bring hypnotic oranges, pinks and reds to the sky. With a wine glass sweating from the cold golden Pinot Grigio inside it, the best seat for this show in historic Downers Grove can only be found at the Cellar Door, also the best seat in town for people watching.

It’s a risk reminding folks of this unique locale with its wonderful patio and great venue for people and sunset watching – so many have already found this simple oasis. And why not? With as many as 30 wines by the glass, a nice trio of beers on tap and easy-going food that pairs well with the wine or beer, the Cellar Door at 5150 Main Street is in the thick of things in downtown Downers Grove and has kept the place modest so patrons can enjoy really good wine – REALLY good – at $5-7/glass instead of $18/glass like one might find in a comparable wine bar in Chicago.

What a difference a day makes
While many come to the Cellar Door to relax after any given day spent behind a computer screen or a lawnmower, each day of the week has its own unique offerings to provide even more of a draw than just good wine and food. The Cellar Door boasts live music on Thursday and Saturday nights, and Fridays offer $5 wine tastings that match perfectly with the vintage cars nearby. For those who need extra motivation at the start of the week, there are half-price wines by the glass on Mondays, $2 glasses of homemade Sangria on Tuesdays and $3 select import beer bottles on Wednesdays. Important to remember is that the Cellar Door is also a wine shop. That means, not only can you purchase bottles of your favorites from tastings right there and then, but that you can come in, pull your own personal favorite from that unforgettable Tuscan villa right off our store shelves and try to recreate the moment with a $10 corkage fee plus the retail cost of the wine. Having some authentic Italian cheeses, Parma ham and bruschetta may help the senses in this quest as well.

Evolving from wine shop to wine bar
Four years ago as Hinsdale Cellars was looking to expand, it realized that many wine lovers in this area would appreciate a great wine bar located closer to home than Chicago. Downers Grove seemed ideal, and the goal was to keep the place intimate, simple and affordable so patrons could enjoy more interesting and new wines with very fresh food that paired well. It took awhile to reach this goal because of licensing hurdles, but ultimately the Cellar Door transformed from wine shop to wine bar in early 2008. Today, its chef has created a taste-tempting menu of lighter fare with beautiful salads (beet and goat cheese, anyone?), soups, multi-cultural tapas-size dishes (who isn’t tempted by a mango salsa Vietnamese garden roll?), panini, and an imaginative selection of cheeses and charcuterie. But, while the food is fresh and exciting, the emphasis is still clearly on the wine, as it works with a wide range of distributors and auction houses. A large backroom is also available for private parties, book club meetings or special tastings.

So, whether you are looking for a luxurious way to have lunch, a satisfying snack after a move at the Tivoli or just want to enjoy one last summer sunset before cooler weather chases us back inside, the Cellar Door has your wine breathing and your micro-brew chilling.

Sign up to receive e-mail notifications about Cellar Door tastings and events by e-mailing info@hinsdalecellars.com.

Hours:

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday 12 – 8 p.m.