WE ARE CANDID.
Candid Wines serves retailers and restauranteurs in Chicagoland with thoughtfully farmed and exquisitely made wines from around the world. We are a direct importer and independent distributor focused on value, quality, and customer service. Our team consists of restaurant and industry veterans with a penchant for sharing the joy we find in every bottle we sell.
And as a family-owned, independent importer, we strive to offer unmatched service and quality. For nearly 20 years we have championed high-quality, great-value wine estates with the belief that sustainability must be the standard and not the exception in the wine industry.
We welcome you to experience our portfolio and taste the fruits of our labor.
OUR PASSION
"What is your favorite wine?" is a question we are often asked.
The answer is always the same. Our favorite wines are the wines that make our friends and colleagues happy. Introducing customers to new flavors, places and people is the best thing about importing directly. Our favorite wines are the wines that make other people smile.
Our lives have taken us all over the wine world and we will never tire of finding delicious, unaccustomed wines, telling the stories of those who created them, and constantly improving our business in order to better serve our customers.
OUR TEAM
Damien founded Candid Wines in 2005 to connect Chicago and Illinois restaurants and retailers with organic, biodynamic, and family-owned wineries from around the world. Based in Chicago, he built Candid as a direct importer and independent distributor with a service-first approach and a long-term focus on sustainably farmed, terroir-driven wines. Before launching Candid, Damien lived and worked in France, spending time in professional kitchens and visiting cellars across key regions—experience that shaped his buyer’s eye and producer relationships. He also created Ask a Winemaker, a YouTube library with 700+ interviews and vineyard clips that turns winemakers’ expertise into accessible education for trade and consumers. Today he leads portfolio strategy, producer partnerships, and training, helping Illinois buyers build profitable, distinctive wine programs rooted in authenticity.
DAMIEN CASTEN
Chief Executive Officer
Gillian's passion for operations led her to Candid Wines, after 10 years in private equity and tech. As our Chief Operating Officer, Gillian spends her time building processes to help Candid and its employees better serve our customers and producer partners.
And all we had to do to convert her to “wine lover” status was open up a bottle of Scherrer Cabernet…
GILLIAN CASTEN
Chief Operating Officer
A veteran of the beverage industry, Alex McNeely combines passion and technical knowledge in a way that makes him a true partner to his customers. After a decade as a buyer and a Sommelier in New York City at The Spotted Pig and Lilia, Alex’s interest in winemaking led him to pursue a degree in Enology and Viticulture at Lake Michigan College – and work harvest on the Sonoma Coast and in the Willamette Valley. Familiar with many Candid producers from his time in NYC and tenure at Chicago gem All Together Now, he joined Candid Wines at the start of 2023. A pro’s pro, Alex is an incredible ally in building lists, training staff, and recommending the perfect Pinot to help your program stand out.
ALEX MCNEELY
City Sales
With over a decade of wine sales experience on- and off-premise, Scott (WSET III) is a trusted partner for Sommeliers and Wine Buyers in Chicago. He honed his expertise in collectible and classic wines at Hart Davis Hart and Wally’s, cultivating a passion for terroir-driven producers like Brianne Day and Champagne Pierre Moncuit. Now at Candid Wines, Scott connects trade professionals with world-class selections.
Connect with Scott today to explore Candid Wines' portfolio and bring some of the best in the world to your selection.
SCOTT RUTKOWSKI
City Sales
As Candid’s lead delivery driver, Michael spends as much time with our customers as anyone on our team and takes extreme care in what he does. If you’re a customer, chances are that Michael has saved your order from an error or rearranged a route to make sure you received delivery on time. Michael measures twice and cuts once, and does everything with a smile, even if it’s -3 degrees out or the rain is blowing sideways. Michael’s fan base is large and not limited to the wine industry; music fans across Chicago know Michael from his years as a talented vocalist!
CISCO AYALA
Wine Deliveries
MICHAEL MARTINEZ
Cisco is the heart and soul of Candid Wines. He oversees the care and well-being of every Candid bottle of wine from the moment it lands at our temperature-controlled Chicago warehouse until it is carefully loaded on a truck and delivered to its new home. Long-time customers remember “Cisco the Driver” as one of their favorite delivery people, but we couldn’t be happier to have his incredible attention to detail and mischievous, jolly, “we-can-fix-that” attitude now focused on managing our warehouse and domestic ordering. Though he has been in the wine industry for many years, his favorite flavor is still Malort and he never misses a chance to foist a shot on an unsuspecting visiting winemaker.
Warehouse Manager
Avi’s journey into wine began on the sales floor, but his strength lies in turning curiosity into connection. He's worked in distribution, building a book of clients from scratch by focusing on what buyers actually need: reliable communication, thoughtful curation, and a spark of energy that makes selling wine more fun. A musician with a background in digital content creation, Avi helps clients tell stories around the wines they love. Whether you're a retail buyer looking for something fresh or a restaurant that wants to make your wine list come alive online, Avi’s got ideas (and the wines to back them up).
AVI GELFMAN
North West Sales
Stephen brings years of front-line experience from some of Chicago’s most demanding dining rooms, including The Alinea Group and Moody Tongue. He’s stood shoulder-to-shoulder with sommeliers, chefs, and beverage directors—and revels in matching the right wines with the right moments. His approach to wholesale sales is simple: he serves his customer base the way he's served thousands of diners over the years, with class, respect, and an eye to finding a bit of magic in every exchange. Whether that means a strategic update to a club list or training your team to hand-sell that under-the-radar Pinot Meunier, Stephen is here to listen first, suggest second, and follow through always.
STEVEN KENDALL
North Shore Sales
A veteran of the beverage industry, Alex McNeely combines passion and technical knowledge in a way that makes him a true partner to his customers. After a decade as a buyer and a Sommelier in New York City at The Spotted Pig and Lilia, Alex’s interest in winemaking led him to pursue a degree in Enology and Viticulture at Lake Michigan College – and work harvest on the Sonoma Coast and in the Willamette Valley. Familiar with many Candid producers from his time in NYC and tenure at Chicago gem All Together Now, he joined Candid Wines at the start of 2023. A pro’s pro, Alex is an incredible ally in building lists, training staff, and recommending the perfect Pinot to help your program stand out.
STÉPHANIE DOUCET
South West / Western Sales
Maritza has worked in food and wine for nearly a decade, supporting one of Chicago's best cheese-mongers prior to joining Candid. She manages the back office details that keep our operation going. If you have questions on an invoice, a credit, or an item receipt, Martiza is here to help.
MARITZA CAMPOS
Office Assistant
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
IAM A WINE DRINKER, NOT A WINE TASTER. WINE SHOULD BE SO DELICIOUS YOU WANT TO OPEN THE NEXT MAGNUM.
KLAUS PETER-KELLER
CONTACT US
VISIT US!
