Wine country? In Illinois? Absolutely! From the northern to the southern fringes of the state, the Land of Lincoln is home to more than 30 wineries whose reputations are growing as fast as their grapevines. And with fall harvest celebrations in full swing at many wineries, now is the perfect time to make a trek to the vineyards. Whether you’re a true wine devotee or simply a celebratory sipper, you’ll find that Illinois wineries are ripe for exploration.  by Pauline Tingas

Chicagoland
Thirty miles northwest of Chicago in Roselle, Lynfred Winery (15 S. Roselle Rd., 888-298-WINE) is a 24-year-old establishment that’s turning out an impressive number of wines: 50 varieties and more than 25,000 cases each year. The award-winning winery made a name for itself with its 1983 chardonnay and, most recently, drew acclaim for its 1994 cabernet. If you won’t take our word for it, consider that of Chicago celebrity chef Charlie Trotter. The Lynfred ’94 red was selected by Trotter for international competition, and appears on the wine list of his world-renowned five-star restaurant.

Rudolph Valentino DiTommaso planted more than 5,000 grapevines in Long Grove in 1995, and he’s only now realizing the fruits of his labor. Since bottling his first collection in 2001, the beautiful Valentino Vineyards and Winery (5175 Aptakisic Rd., 847-634-2831) has won 21 medals and expanded its offerings to more than 20 different wines. And it’s all a family affair. Carrying on the favorite pastime of his Italian grandparents, DiTommaso now schools his daughter Briana Valentina in the winemaking craft. The younger DiTommaso is also an accomplished chef who plans the winery’s Friday night tasting dinners.

Northern
You’d be hard pressed to find a winery in a downtown setting, but Prairie State Winery (217 W. Main St., 815-784-4540) holds its own in the Main Street shopping district of Genoa. Regional produce and Illinois varieties of grapes are used to craft small batches of wines, including several fruit and 10 grape varieties, such as the popular Prairie White. And though Prairie State maintains its vineyard outside of town, if you peer into the back of the shop you can view winemaking activity in the production room.

In the northwest corner of the state, where grapevines were planted in the 1830s, Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery (515 S. Main St. (shop) and 4746 N. Ford Rd. (vineyard), 800-397-WINE) gives you the option of visiting two scenic locations. A retail shop and tasting room are housed in a restored grain storage building in the heart of the historic town. And, just six miles away, there’s a small vineyard and winemaking facility with countryside views. The Cellars’ 40 award-winning wines include white, red, blush, fruit, dessert and sparkling selections made from grapes and various other fruit picked in Illinois and across the U.S.

Wine lovers can enjoy the great outdoors while sipping a glass of vino at the Starved Rock Wine & Musical Festival (815-727-9765), held on September 20 in Starved Rock State Park, near Utica. Samples from the state’s top wineries will be featured, along with food and music. (For more details, turn to page 5.)

Central
It’s not just the wine that’s handcrafted at Cameo Vineyards in Greenup (400 Mill Rd., 217-923-9963), it’s the winery itself. Owners Dan and Sonya Webb salvaged wood from their grandfather’s barn to painstakingly build the winery, its quaint tasting room and two porches that overlook a historic covered bridge. Having just popped the cork on its first year of production, Cameo operates with a decidedly local flavor: the winery offers 13 varieties made predominantly from Illinois grapes. Last year, Cameo processed 35 tons of the state’s bounty. 

Champaign’s Alto Vineyards (4210 N. Duncan Rd., 217-356-4784) is the retail outpost of the southern Illinois winery of the same name. Stocked with Alto wines, as well as a selection of internationally known brands, the shop includes a tasting room with gifts, gourmet foods and local art. While some find Alto a great stop before a university sporting event, live blues and jazz on weekends establish it as the main attraction.

Western
The granddaddy of them all, the state’s oldest winery is Baxter’s Vineyards (2010 E. Parley St., 217-453-2528) in historic Nauvoo. The winery was established in 1857, and still maintains a homespun aura. Now with the fourth generation of Baxter winemakers at the helm, the 12-acre vineyard and winery provides complimentary tastings of a dozen different wines. The Baxter gift shop sells gourmet foods, handcrafted wares from area artisans and winemaking supplies for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Collver Family Winery (2 Rooster Way, 217-335-3279) in Barry is a recent addition to the state’s selection of wineries. Like most in Illinois, the operation is family run, with wines produced and bottled on-site. Grapes are predominantly locally grown French-American hybrids that are used in four different white wines, two reds and a white zinfandel. Tours are by appointment, year ’round.

Southern
With more than a dozen wineries in southern Illinois (thanks to the rolling hills and sandy soil ideal for grape growing), you’ll never wonder why wine trails are such an attraction. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (www.shawneewinetrail.com) was the first to crop up, marking out a 25-mile scenic drive through the Shawnee National Forest that’s especially beautiful during the fall. The trail begins at one of the largest commercial wineries in the state—Alto Vineyards (Highway 127, 618-893-4898) in Alto Pass—a well-recognized pioneer in Illinois winemaking. The vineyard has snagged more than 350 awards for its collection of 16 wines. Next on the trail you’ll find Owl Creek Vineyard and Winery in Cobden (2655 Water Valley Rd., 618-893-2557), which produces wines made exclusively from southern Illinois grapes and is committed to minimally processed, natural wines. The newest stop on the trail, Winghill Vineyard and Winery, is also in Cobden (5100 Winghill Rd., 618-893-9463), and is distinguished by its red barn setting and a gallery of works created by local artists and craftsmen. Farther along, the Pomona Winery (2865 Hickory Ridge Rd., 618-893-2623) is known for its fruit wines made from Illinois-grown apples, peaches, blueberries and strawberries. Especially notable is the Orchard Spice, or “apple pie in a bottle,” as it’s known. Also in Pomona, and last on the trail, the Von Jakob Vineyard (1309 Sadler Rd., 618-893-4500) boasts an elegant Tudor-style winery. Here, an all-weather deck and an indoor atrium provide equally inviting settings for a wine tasting or two.

In September, wine is the headliner in one of southern Illinois’ best-loved events. The Illinois Art and Wine Festival on September 27 and 28 takes place at the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop (14967 Gun Creek Trail, 618-629-2220) alongside Rend Lake. At this bacchanalian fest you can browse the work of more than 50 Illinois artisans, nosh on locally made foods and sample some of the state’s best wines.

If you can’t make the festival, though, don’t fret. The Rend Lake area is home to two wineries worth visiting anytime. At the GenKota Winery in Mt. Vernon (301 N. 44th St., 618-246-WINE) you’ll find an Amish-built structure with a wraparound deck where visitors are welcome to linger and choose from 14 different wines, including the popular

semi-sweet Three Dog White. Pheasant Hollow Winery (14931 State Hwy. 37, 618-629-2302) is a relative newcomer to Illinois wine country, located close to the lake in Whittington. The four-year-old winery hosts special events like winemaker’s dinners and murder mystery dinner theater to showcase 25 different wines.

Southwest
The town of Grafton, located at the meeting of the great Illinois and Mississippi rivers, is a scenic setting for the Piasa Winery (211 W. Main St., 618-786-WINE). Piasa turns out 10 different wines, including the Traminette white, which just earned a double gold in a recent Illinois wine competition. Farther south, the Waterloo Winery (725 N. Market St.,

618-939-5743) is anchored by the beauty of a restored 1818 mansion and its adjacent gardens. While there are 50 different grape varieties to be had, Waterloo also specializes in customized wine labels and etched glass bottles for special events. 

For more information on Illinois wineries and wine-related events, call 800-2CONNECT or log on to www.enjoyillinois.com.