How a Catholic-Owned Wine Chain Became a Twin Cities Institution—And Why That Matters for All of Us
What happens when a Catholic family builds a wine and spirits business so well-known in Minnesota that it becomes a household name across the Twin Cities?
Meet MGM Wine & Spirits—a Catholic-owned wine and spirits chain with multiple locations across the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minnesota. In a region where Catholic life has shaped communities since the first French missionaries arrived in the seventeenth century, MGM Wine & Spirits has grown from a local shop into one of the most recognized names in Minnesota wine and spirits retail.
The Twin Cities: Catholic Country
If you want to understand MGM Wine & Spirits, you need to understand the Twin Cities.
Minneapolis and St. Paul sit at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers, and the Catholic presence in this region is woven into the very geography. St. Paul—the state capital—is named for the Cathedral of Saint Paul, whose magnificent dome dominates the city skyline. The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is one of the largest and most active in the country, with hundreds of parishes, dozens of Catholic schools, and a network of Catholic institutions that touch nearly every aspect of civic life.
The Catholic families who settled this region—Irish, German, Polish, Czech, Italian, and later Hispanic and African immigrants—built not just churches and schools but businesses. The Catholic commercial tradition in the Twin Cities is deep, and MGM Wine & Spirits is one of its most visible success stories.
From Local Shop to Regional Chain
What sets MGM Wine & Spirits apart from many of the businesses we feature is scale. This is not a single-location shop struggling to survive against the big chains. MGM has become one of the big names in Minnesota wine and spirits retail, with multiple locations serving customers across the Twin Cities metro area.
That growth did not happen by accident. It happened because the business consistently delivered what customers wanted: a wide selection, competitive prices, knowledgeable staff, and the kind of reliability that turns first-time shoppers into lifelong customers.
But scale has not erased the family values at the core of the business. MGM Wine & Spirits remains Catholic-owned, and the principles that guided it from the beginning—honesty, service, and a commitment to the community—continue to inform how it operates.
What They Offer
MGM Wine & Spirits carries one of the most comprehensive selections in the region:
- Wines — From everyday table wines to premium vintages, with strong representation from California, France, Italy, Spain, and emerging wine regions worldwide
- Spirits — A full range of whiskey, vodka, gin, rum, tequila, brandy, and specialty liqueurs
- Craft beer — An extensive selection reflecting Minnesota's thriving craft brewery scene
- Seasonal promotions — Special selections for holidays, game days, and entertaining seasons
- Gift options — Curated gift sets and accessories for wine and spirits enthusiasts
With multiple locations, MGM makes it convenient for customers across the Twin Cities to shop locally rather than ordering online or driving to distant warehouse stores.
The Catholic Case for Wine and Spirits
Minnesota has a complicated history with alcohol. The state's strong Scandinavian and Protestant heritage contributed to a culture of temperance that still echoes in some of the region's liquor laws. But the Catholic tradition offers a different perspective—one rooted not in suspicion of alcohol but in gratitude for it.
The Catholic intellectual tradition teaches that material goods, including wine and spirits, are inherently good. They are part of God's creation, given to humanity for enjoyment and fellowship. The virtue lies not in abstaining from good things but in using them rightly—with moderation, gratitude, and generosity.
This is the tradition that MGM Wine & Spirits operates within. Selling wine and spirits is not merely a commercial activity. It is a service to the community, helping people celebrate, gather, and enjoy the good things of life in a responsible and joyful way.
What Scale Makes Possible
When a Catholic-owned business achieves the kind of scale that MGM has, it creates opportunities that smaller shops cannot match. MGM can negotiate better prices, offer a wider selection, and invest in staff training—all of which benefit the customer. But more than that, a successful Catholic-owned chain demonstrates that faith and business excellence are not in tension. You do not have to compromise your values to compete at the highest level of retail.
MGM Wine & Spirits is proof that Catholic families can build businesses that rival the biggest secular competitors—not by abandoning their principles, but by living them out with discipline and skill.
Why This Matters
MGM Wine & Spirits represents something rare in the retail landscape: a Catholic-owned chain that has grown to compete with the biggest secular names without losing the family values at its foundation. If MGM disappeared tomorrow, the Twin Cities would lose not just a convenient place to buy wine—it would lose living proof that Catholic families can build and sustain businesses at scale, with integrity, in one of the most competitive retail categories in America. Their success gives permission and inspiration to every Catholic entrepreneur who wonders whether faith and commercial excellence can coexist.
How You Can Support
- Visit one of their locations across the Twin Cities area—find the nearest one at mgmwineandspirits.com.
- Make MGM your go-to shop for everyday wines, party supplies, and special occasion bottles.
- Ask their staff for recommendations—their knowledge is one of their greatest assets.
- Tell fellow Catholics in the Twin Cities that MGM is Catholic-owned, and encourage them to shop there.
- Follow them online and share their promotions with your network.
Discover More Catholic Food & Drink — Go Paid
MGM Wine & Spirits is just one of dozens of Catholic-owned food and drink businesses in our directory. Paid subscribers get access to our complete guide to Catholic wineries, breweries, and retailers across the country — plus exclusive deals from featured businesses.
Paid subscribers get: curated Catholic business guides, exclusive deals from listed businesses, deep-dive interviews, and full directory access. Upgrade your subscription →
Are you in the Twin Cities? Have you shopped at MGM Wine & Spirits? What do you look for in a local wine and spirits retailer? Share your thoughts in the comments.
MGM Wine & Spirits Multiple locations across the Twin Cities, Minnesota Website: mgmwineandspirits.com DCB Listing: Find MGM Wine & Spirits on Discover Catholic Business
Sources: MGM Wine & Spirits, Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Discover Catholic Business