Wine Bar Brings Napa to Downtown Crystal Lake

Exclusively Napa, a wine bar emporium, will be opening between and this month.

“We don’t have a date set yet,” Bob De Palma, general manager of Exclusively Napa, said.

The focus of Exclusively Napa is definitely wine. About half of their wines will come from North America, with 70 percent of those coming from the Napa Valley.

In addition to the wine bar, Exclusively Napa will have a full liquor bar and a list of signature martinis and cocktails. They will also have an espresso bar for the late morning and afternoon customers. While Exclusively Napa will not have a full dinner menu, they will serve appetizers and small plates.

De Palma plans to have wine education nights, periodic live entertainment and a wine of the month club.

Exclusively Napa is looking for all customers who “want to have a good time, anybody who wants to have fun and enjoy good wine.” They will have wine by the glass starting at $5.

The owner of Exclusively Napa is a doctor and a wine aficionado from Crystal Lake. He and his wife wanted to bring their experience of Napa Valley.

The building Exclusively Napa sits in is owned by Ann Nevills of , a neighboring store. Nevills is excited to see Exclusively Napa move in.

“It’s a wonderful addition to downtown. It’s a really interesting place, very uptown, very cool, urban décor,” Nevills said.

Diana Kenney, executive director of , said that work on Exclusively Napa had been taking place for quite some time. They first received their liquor license in the fall and got an amended license this spring.

“They’ve been working hard to transform the place,” Kenney said. “I know that Yours and Meyn is looking forward to having them as neighbors. We’re all members of each [other] in downtown Crystal Lake.”

Gary Reece, president of the , echoed Kenney’s thoughts. “Downtown has a great vibe about it. Exclusively Napa will add another element.”

For more information, contact De Palma at bob@exclusivelynapawine.com or at (815) 479-0770.