Welcome to The Wine Huntress

Hi, I’m Susan Frasca, former proprietor, of Chicago’s Kinzie Chophouse for 21 years and current owner of The Wine Huntress.  During my ownership and under my guidance, Kinzie Chophouse received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator from 2002 to 2016.  Then in 2018, Kinzie was awarded the Best Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator

My love for wine started some time ago.  I decided to take my passion, hobby and love of wine and pursue it through a more formal means of study. I received Certification Level 1 from the American Court of Masters and passed through Level 1 and 2 with the International Sommelier Guild.  I received my Intensive Viticulture and Vinification Certification from the American Sommelier Association.   Then to go even deeper both in knowledge and interest, I took courses through the Wine Scholar Guild and studied the regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhone Valley.   

I am currently enrolled in WSG's Italian Wine Scholar program.  

Traveling and attending food and wine shows, and researching regions throughout the United States and Europe, is what I love.  Wine Spectators’ New York Experience, PROWEIN in Dusseldorf, Vin Expo in Bordeaux and London’s Wine and Spirits Show have been some of my favorite stops along the way.  Each endeavor, including the New York, San Francisco, San Diego, South Beach, and Pebble Beach Food and Wine Festivals, and the International Pinot Noir Celebration in Oregon, offers new insight to the inner makings of tasting and collecting wine.  So when I was invited to attend, and ultimately became a successful bidder, at the Premier Napa Valley Trade Auction 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019 I knew all of it would ultimately be the building blocks for The Wine Huntress

I navigated through the major AVA’s in the United States and traveled through the Piedmont, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia, Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio regions of Italy.  I journeyed in and out of the chalk soils of Champagne, Loire, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Cognac, Rhone Valley and Provence regions of France. I traveled to Priorat, Rioja and the Ribera del Duero region of Spain and spent two weeks in Porto, Portugal.

I’ve been on a “hunt” for a long time and now its time to bring my spectacular treasures back to you.   

I will continue to do so and it is all here for you to experience at The Wine Huntress.

So, why don’t you join me?  Come exploring at The Wine Huntress.