To help you get to know who's who in Illinois tourism, ITN profiles an industry leader each month. This month we introduce Brenda Logan, owner and general manager of Baxter's Vineyards in Nauvoo and secretary-treasurer of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.

Did you know in 1900 Illinois was the fourth-largest wine producing state in the nation? Or that the Illinois wine industry has proliferated in recent years, growing from just 12 wineries in 1997 to nearly 60 wineries today? Or that the Shawnee Hill Wine Trail entertains 100,000 visitors each year, generating gross annual revenues exceeding $2 million? If not, then you probably haven't met Brenda Logan.

Growing grapes and making wine has been a vital part of the Western Illinois town of Nauvoo's history since 1848, and a family tradition for the Baxter family for almost as long. Emile Baxter planted his first vineyard in 1857, and his sons joined his grape growing and winemaking business when they grew up. After Emile's death in 1895, his sons continued raising grapes and making wine until Prohibition.

When alcohol became illegal, the Baxters continued to raise table grapes that were shipped by carload lots to northern markets. After Prohibition ended, Emile's son Cecil Baxter and his sons applied to the state of Illinois for a license to once again manufacture wine. Baxter's Vineyards has been producing wine ever since, making it Illinois' oldest winery. Over the years, its ownership has passed from generation to generation, making the winery a steadfast family tradition - and a fixture in Nauvoo.

In 1987, Brenda Logan and her husband Kelly purchased the vineyards and winery from the family corporation. By doing so, Kelly became the fifth generation of Baxters to operate the grape-growing and wine-production business founded by his great-great-grandfather.

Today Baxter's Vineyards includes a winery as well as two stores, Carol's Pies and the Village Treasures gift shop, that are also located in the winery building at the southeast edge of Nauvoo. The gift shop features wines and wine-related items, grape juice, sparkling juices, cookbooks, jams, jellies, gourmet foods, several cheese varieties, souvenirs, and gift baskets for any season or holiday. Carol's Pies is home to specialty homemade and fresh-baked pies along with tasty breads. Whether they are crushing grapes, bottling wine, baking goodies, making apple butter or grape jelly, the delicious aromas of Baxter's Vineyards welcomes visitors as they walk in the door.

The Logans have 14 acres on which they grow 13 varieties of grapes. Over the last five years they've planted a number of different grapes, including several French hybrid varieties, and they also buy grapes from local growers. The Logans also have four acres of dwarf apple trees that produce fresh apple cider during the harvest season, and where customers can pick their own apples in four different varieties.

While husband Kelly is the viticulturist and works in the vineyards and orchards, Brenda is the chief wine maker and general manager. She's also one of seven local business people who are working to bring back the town's blue cheese industry, a 67-year old Nauvoo tradition. Nauvoo Cheese Inc. will feature a tourist-friendly cheese-making viewing room along with a museum. The buildings next to the winery will be used for the manufacturing of the beloved blue-veined cheese.

Along with her husband, Brenda is a lifelong resident of Nauvoo and has one daughter, Kim, who just married in June. Brenda devotes most her time to the winery and to promoting Nauvoo, and currently serves in a variety of positions on several boards and organizations, including roles as secretary of the Nauvoo Chamber of Commerce, chairperson of Nauvoo Tourism, treasurer of the Nauvoo Grape Festival Association, director of the Agriculture & Tourism Partners of Illinois, and secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association. Logan is also on the board of directors of the Western Illinois Tourism Development Office.

A veteran of the tourism industry, Brenda has been an active stakeholder for approximately 20 years, first working with the Western Illinois Tourism Council. As a true pioneer in the Illinois wine industry, Brenda has worked with the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association since its 1992 establishment and has watched the industry grow at a very rapid pace.