Winemaker has big plans in Grayslake

After more than a century of winemaking, the Glunz family is ready to expand operations in what could become the Sonoma of the Midwest.

Patriarch Joe Glunz envisions an expanded, California-worthy winery on family property in Grayslake with ancillary uses that someday could include a bed and breakfast with dozens of rooms.

The full-fledged winery would be built on about 10 acres on the south side of Washington Street, just west of the College of Lake County on land the family once farmed for raspberries.

The plan would be an expansion of the Glunz Family Winery & Cellars, which has operated just north of Route 120 and Atkinson Road in Grayslake since 1992. It also operates a tasting room in Long Grove.

"We really want to expand our winery and do something very special," Glunz said.

Though they would continue to import grapes from Washington, California, downstate Illinois and possibly Canada, rather than grow their own on location, the $3.5 million plan envisions a full-fledged winery "with all the bells and whistles you'll see at Napa or Sonoma," Glunz said.

Glunz said a 21,000-square-foot building would house three distinct uses: a wine production, aging and bottling operation; a tasting room with casual dining; and, a banquet room with a commercial kitchen that could serve up to 280 people for weddings or other functions.

Glunz has been working with architects on an "old barn" style building with lots of wood and stone.

"We're trying to build a facility as green as possible," he said. "We have bought $200,000 in recovered lumber from a munitions plant in Baraboo, Wisconsin."

Zoning is in place and the village has given preliminary approval of the site plan. An agreement to extend municipal sewer and water is pending.

Glunz said he would like to begin construction this spring, but still needs to secure financing. One possible source is through special bonds secured by Lake County as part of the federal stimulus package.

"From what I understand, it's going to be gorgeous," said Frank Brisbois, vice-president of commercial lending for Lake County Partners, the county's development arm.

Lake County has qualified for $60 million in bonds. They originally were to be used for new capital projects, but the scope has been broadened to include uses like the winery, Brisbois said.

The next step is to find a lender to finance the deal.

Should the winery proceed and depending on how it fared financially, additional plans for the Glunz property could include a 36-room bed and breakfast, a small warehouse and an open market-style retail space with gourmet foods or other stores related to the wine business.

Glunz is a third generation winemaker and the family has been in the business since 1888.

"I'm 70 years old and this has been a dream of my wife and I forever," he said.