The third largest grape crops in the United States are harvested in what state? It’s Illinois of course! Illinois has been touted as an up-and-coming wine state for a few years now. Wine grape growers are finally taking advantage of the richest soil in the nation. Fall is a good time to find local wine for holiday parties or for causal enjoyment. The Little Traveler has local wines, as does the wine tasting room of Galena Wine in Geneva. But the most entertaining way to try local wines is to go to the winery yourself. Check out the Northern Illinois Wine Trail where local wine tours are at it best at:
www.visitnorthernillinois.com/wineTrailWineries.html
August Hill Winery
106 Mill Street, Utica, IL 61373
815-667-5211
www.augusthillwinery.com
Fox Valley Winery
The Faltz Family
5600 Route 34, Oswego, IL 60543
630-554-0404
www.foxvalleywinery.com
Illinois River Winery
723 South Clark Street, Utica, IL 61373
815-667-4012
www.illinoisriverwinery.com
Sycamore Winery
322 West State Street, Sycamore, IL 60178
815-899-2920
www.sycamorewinery.com
Waterman Winery and Vineyards (formerly: Stiengtunt Vineyards & Winery)
11582 Waterman Road, Waterman, IL 60556
815-264-3268
www.sunsetwines.net
These wineries grow and bottle their own grapes and each one has a unique story. One winery is the first to grow the first Chardonnay grape in the State of Illinois successfully. Another Winery just won the best White Wine at the Illinois State Fair for the second year in a row. The third only uses the grapes they grow to make their wine. Start out early, these wineries are not that far, so make a day of it and taste the fruit of Illinois.
