What an amazing find! Perfect before a show! Def will be back! Service and food were great!! read more

We had a wonderful wine tasting on December 2. Heidi Schmalz is a great host and came around with the wine. She made sure that we were served and happy with the service. The place is very relaxed and comfortable, having couches and chairs and high tops to relax in. They have PINSA ROMANA PIZZAS, which is like a flat bread on pizza dough. The onion soup Pinsa and the cheesy beef are great and shareable. read more

Can we talk about how cute this place is?! I was looking for a spot for girls' night and found this place on Yelp. We went on a Friday night and were worried it might be too classy since we're a loud group, but it ended up being perfect. Had a blast. The interior is super cute, warm, cozy, and great for a girls' night or date night. Street parking can be a little tricky to find, but there's a free parking garage not too far from the bar. When we got inside, the staff greeted us with warm smiles and walked us through how everything works. They have a self-serve wine dispensary that rotates monthly, yummy bites, comfy seating, and other drink options. Two of my friends did the self-serve wine experience (you get a card, choose your ounces, and pour into a little carafe before pouring into your glass) and it was so fun and new for us. My other friend and I split a bottle of white sangria which tasted like juice, just the way we like it. For bites, we tried the pretzel with obatzda cheese, asiago-stuffed dates, fig & prosciutto pinsa, and the special bacon jam & brussels sprout pinsa. Everything tasted homemade and paired perfectly with the wine. The pretzel was warm and fluffy and honestly exceeded my expectations (I'm not much of a pretzel person). The asiago dates were delicious but tiny, we all wished there were more! The pinsas were solid, but my favorite was the fig & prosciutto. The bacon jam was a little sweet for me. Overall, we had such a great time and loved the vibe. Can't wait to come back! read more

See all

This place is so cute and cozy and I can't believe I hadn't been here before! We stopped in for the special on a glass of wine with a donation to the food pantry and we were going to Dotombori for dinner, but we wound up staying and eating. The owner, Heidi, was so welcoming and told us about how she came to open Uncork, Unwind and we had a really nice conversation. The food and wine were fantastic! We shared a German pretzel and a pinsa- the crust on the pinsa is so light and fluffy. I can't wait to try another one. We had a couple of standard wine glasses off the menu and also tried a couple of the featured wines . It's a cool concept that the part of the world changes monthly for the featured wines and then these are self-service, so you can try as many as you want for a small fee and then get either a small or large glass. I feel like we will be here at least monthly going forward! read more

See all

A hidden gem in the revival of downtown Des Plaines, we need more fun places like this in the area. A nice variety of wines to try and the small food portions available are delicious, try the crab cakes. Excellent service. Our next stop will be when they have live music, you may need a table reservation during such times. read more

Uncork, Unwind - This is outside Uncork Unwind and you can see Des Plaines theatre in the background. - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

My sister had her shower here! Thanks to our good friend Naomi! I wanted to give Heidi and all her staff a huge shout out and thank you for providing safe food and drink for me. I have celiac disease and didn't think I would eat here today and was not concerned to because I live in the neighborhood or would have brought for myself. Thank you so much for your meticulous care! You provided an excellent and safe margarita pizza that tastes amazing. There is always risk of cross contamination in shared environments, but you were kind and inclusive and went out of your way. Even separating some gluten free cheeses too! Thank you! This place is so cute! We had a blast! read more

Uncork, Unwind - Thank you Heidi and Staff for providing gluten free option for me! - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Went here for the first time last night. Such a cozy, friendly and welcoming atmosphere. We had good wine and delicious appetizers. The hosts were gracious and kind. I would recommend making reservations it's a small place and got busy. Definitely will be coming back. read more

Great food. Desserts were so good. The wait staff was very helpful and friendly. Drink costs were over the top price wise but menu items were very reasonable read more

I found the Australian wine tasting via Facebook events and decided it was the perfect event to try Uncork, Unwind for the first time. Heidi was extremely accommodating from the beginning when I was purchasing tickets. The sommelier that night, Kimberlee, was extremely insightful and gave helpful tasting notes to the group, provided facts about the small batch wine and checked in on our thoughts. The shop provided an intimate cozy feel for the evening. Only thing I'd change would be larger pours because the wine was so delicious!! read more

Uncork, Unwind - September Australian wine tasting - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

My 3rd time here, and we celebrated a friend's birthday tonight. I can't rave about Uncork, Unwind enough. This time I need to share how fantastic the food is. Chef does a stellar job. Had the chicken quesadillas and freshly baked homemade chocolate chip cookies, and both were SO good. Service and wine selection, both whites and reds are excellent as always. Phenomenal establishment. read more

See all

If you are looking for a local wine bar where you can choose your own wine experience, including pour amount and white or red varieties, then you have to visit Uncork, Unwind! Their wine options are not just limited to the four different whites (on the left side of the wine station) and four different reds (on the right side), you can also order from one of their many bottles too! They have themes based on the month, so why not go back every month to try something new. What is so fun about Uncork, Unwind's ambiance is the variety of different seating options. You can sit at the bar, high top tables, or even on couches. The food options that I was most drawn to were the charcuterie boards on the menu. I love the many different options and you really can't go wrong with any one you pick. We picked two, the Hans' Pretzel and Charcuterie Board and the Fromage Blanc, and both were absolutely delicious! I additionally can't speak more highly of the staff! Each staff member was very interactive. Our server helped me pick which charcuterie board option would be best for my friends and me. I definitely recommend stopping by Uncork, Unwind if you get the chance! read more

Uncork, Unwind - Hans' Pretzel and Charcuterie Board (left) Fromage Blanc (right) - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

Stopped here on a recommendation from Yelp. The owner was very hospitable and welcoming. The shop is truly a gem. Perfect for a drink or two in a tasteful and classy environment. We chose to use the self-service wine stations, which provided a great selection of drink options. There's draft beer on tap for those who prefer another option. Do not miss out on the house made olives! I'm not a huge olive eater, so these rocked my world! Could eat them all day! Walk-ins are welcome, but I recommend a reservation if you want a seat on weekends. read more

I was looking for a way to pass time before dinner with a friend in the area. Uncork, Unwind appeared in my search results on here, so I decided to stop by. Uncork, Unwind is located in downtown Des Plaines. There is street parking, but also a free parking garage about a block away from the bar. I sat outside on the patio during my visit, but the owner gave me a tour of the inside wine bar area. The atmosphere is very cozy. The owner was very passionate about her business and wine. The wine store had many affordable wines available. There were so many bottles under $20. I ordered a glass of wine and ordered the whipped feta appetizer. Both were really good. I came solo during this visit, but look forward to bringing others here in the future. read more

I love this place. It is warm and welcoming, the wine station lets you try one or two ounces of several wines before deciding, and the food and small plates are outstanding. I love the fig and prosciutto pins and the Thai chicken pinsa read more

Great little gem I found on a Sunday afternoon. Host Heidi couldn't be nicer. A wide variety of Wines, every single one was spot on. Best bacon wrapped dates (with Asiago cheese) that I ever had. Tempted to drive by just to pick up another order. Charcuterie pretzel board had just enough for two l, yumm. They also do self purs per ounce visiting different wine regions (have not tried it yet). Space is cozy. Spacious yet intimate. Will definity be back. read more

See all

Cute atmosphere, great service, food was delicious! Go check it out...owners are very welcoming & attentive! Great for a girls night or date night!!!! read more

Nice place and Friendly Service. Food could have been a little better and the wine poor was light.

My husband and I happened upon this place looking for a cute Sunday night place to grab light fare and drinks - sooo impressed! They have the e-system for tasting flights (winerator) and select regionally on a monthly basis so the wines tastings are up to date and don't get boring. Every tasting was great (both Red and White selections). We had the food which was all freshly prepared and very affordable. Well done - highly recommend for parties (we saw a larger group outing there) as well as intimate date night! read more

Uncork, Unwind - Lounge / cozy bar area - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

My cousin and I found this cute wine shop today after spending the day in chicago. We wanted a place close to the metra station after running around all day. So glad we did. Little did I know that this cute place is just a couple blocks from my condo building. My cousin enjoyed a cider while I took advantage of the wine pours selection for the month. Very tasty. Also enjoy cheese/pretzel board and a flatbread. Both good. Great place for a date night or a small group of girls getting together over drinks. I plan to be back with a few friends. read more

Uncork, Unwind - Wine Bars Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Great relaxed vibe. You can sit at a high-top table or on cushy upholstered furniture next to a coffee table. Wines by the glass, or get a card and go to the wine station where you can pour yourself 1 oz, 3 oz, or 5 oz tastings into a little decanter--and you can share those with others in your party if you like. Food is quite impressive: The pizza and giant soft pretzels are exceptional. Background music is just right--not too loud, not too quiet, not too hard, not too soft. Goldilocks would like it here! And staff is very helpful and attentive. read more

Great place for a night out. You can order wine by the glass or get a card to self pour and try out different wines.

Uncork, Unwind is available for private party rentals. I hosted my daughter's baby shower here and could not be happier with my decision! Throughout the planning process until the day of the event, owner Heidi quickly responded to my emails, was extremely helpful with her wine and food suggestions and her attention to details such as guests with food allergies was much appreciated. The unique restaurant decor made a beautiful backdrop for pictures. Guests could choose to gather at high top tables or in cozy couch areas. I heard nothing but compliments from my guests on the food and wine choices. Heidi even ordered in a wonderful non alcoholic wine for some of my guests. My husband and I have enjoyed wine with friends here in the past and we will happily continue to support this gem of a business in downtown Des Plaines. I would not hesitate to host another event here in the future. Many thanks to Heidi and her staff for making this such a fun and special celebration for my family and friends. read more

Great place and so very close to my house that I can walk there! Heidi is awesome and very attentive to the customers needs. The food is very tasty and the wine is always top notch. Every month they select a different wine region for the self pour machines, you can get a taste (1oz) to a full glass (6-9 oz). I didn't even know some of these regions produced such high quality wines! read more

If you like wine, head to Uncork, Unwind in Des Plaines. The staff is friendly and responsive. There are many wines to choose from! The tasting options change each month, and they follow a theme or region of the world. In warmer months, you even can sit outside! I also love the appetizers and have stopped in just to pick up food. read more

I am personally not a big drinker. But, I was excited to have somewhere local offering healthy food options. My husband and I tried the double avocado wrap and the Mediterranean wrap. Both were very fresh and excellent portions. Of course this is first and foremost a wine shop and it does not disappoint! The inside is a nicely decorated lounge that will be a great hangout once indoor dining resumes. In addition to the displays of wine, they have several on tap. They feature different regions for wine each month. So, it is definitely worth visiting more than once! You can even sign up for member rewards. What a welcomed addition to Downtown Des Plaines! The woman running it, Heidi, could not have been any nicer. We wish this business the best of luck! read more

Stopped in on the way home from dinner on a weekday. They were super friendly and it was such an inviting environment. Will definitely be back to this cozy spot! read more

Super darling spot, I always try to bring friends here when they're in town. Cute interior and relaxing place to hang out or spend with friends/date night. Owner is absolutely lovely, just a greatly run spot with such great service. Not to mention the delicious wine... fun to taste from across the world and so easy to do! The food as well is yummy. Love this place!!! read more

I stopped by on Sunday to drop off some little wine cork gnomes for the owner. I decided to stay and have a glass of wine. It was a quiet, cozy and clean place for me to relax and just enjoy my drink. You can sit at the bar, or a table, or comfy couches. The wine list looked very good as did the food. This is a good place to just relax with a drink or a get together with friends or coworkers. And, also, for a wine tasting event with friends. I would definitely go back with my husband or friends to try some wine and the food. I also did purchase a bottle for the Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you Heidi. read more

If you want a nice date night out or a nice get together with friends I highly recommend Uncork and Unwind. I've visited about five times and plan to make it a regular place to meet. read more

A gem in downtown Des Plaines. Found my favorite wine here and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious their flatbread was! Will be back.

Great place, and appealing atmosphere! Food was good too! There's a rewards program!

Had a great time at this local wine bar. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. The food was quite good, and the prices were reasonable. Looking forward to returning on my next trip to Des Plaines read more

Cute space, comfy chairs, wonderful wine and the giant pretzel board is to die for! The owners are always there and provide great service.

Such a unique concept that allows you try to different wines based on the monthly theme. We had an amazing experience and will definitely be back soon! read more

Uncork Unwind is perfect for catching up with an old friend over a lovely glass of wine. Heidi, the owner, was so warm and friendly and clearly cares about each guests' experience. The rotating wines on tap are a great way to sample a wide variety. You must get a pizza, the crust was outstanding. Can't wait to come again soon! read more

A hidden gem!!! An inviting, warm beautiful space that offers a wine selection created with passion and care. Small bites are offered as well as a few local beers. The monthly wine sampler is not to be missed. The detailed tasting notes are helpful/appreciated and demonstrate the attention to detail from the owner in creating the perfect experience. I could stay here for days. Don't miss out on this place. Congrats on your 1 year anniversary. Cheers! read more

This new wine shop is a wonderful addition to downtown Des Plaines. They have a nice array of different wines and have delicious menu options to pair with the wine. The decor is well done. There are comfortable chairs, couches, high top tables. Stop by and sip wine and enjoy some food. I highly recommend everyone stop in and see the nice new Des plaines business! Well worth the trip. read more

A great little wine bar located in downtown Des Plains. An easy place to stop by for quick drink and has a great rotation of wines to bring home. Wonderful staff. read more

We have become semi regulars at Uncork. Heidi, Michael, and Tony are always great hosts. We had a surprise party there, 35 people, and everyone loved the place and couldn't wait to return. If you are looking for a low key glass of wine to unwind, specialty and eclectic choices, great flatbreads and olives , and now Sunday brunch this is the spot. You are made to feel right at home. Great space, very reasonably priced. Continued success Heidi, Tony, and Michael! read more

My favorite wine lounge! Friendly service, warm atmosphere, delicious food, exceptional wine!