Wine A While

Ready to “wine a while?”

Until my recent visit to five of 12 wineries on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, I had no idea that the southern tip of Illinois is one of the most established wine regions in the Midwest. The 40-mile trail through the western side of the Shawnee National Forest can trace its roots to the summer of 1995. It was then that three wineries — Alto Vineyards, Pomona Winery, and Owl Creek Vineyard — joined forces to start the first wine trail in Illinois. Nine more wineries have since been added.

I recently visited five of the dozen that are now a part of the wine trail near the two communities of Cobden and Makanda, along with a group of other writers and influencers based in the Midwest.

Wichmann Vineyard was our first stop. The family owned and operated winery, established in 2020, is the newest on the wine trail. Some of its oldest vines were planted in Niagara and Norton grapes by Ted Wichmann in 1980, who was also instrumental in Shawnee Hills being designated as the first American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the state. This part of the vineyard has the distinction of being the oldest commercial vineyard in southern Illinois. More than 1100 new vines were planted in 2021 with Chambourcin, Traminette, and Chardonel grapes. Ted’s daughter, Hanna, is now winemaker and owner/operator of the vineyard along with her husband, Don Moberly.

We deviated from wine-tasting on our next stop — Owl Creek Vineyards and Apple Knocker Hard Ciders. Hard cider fans will enjoy the extensive cider offerings from dry to sweet. Owl Creek, founded in 1980, was one of the original Wine Trail members. In 2005, the Genung family purchased Owl Creek from founding shareholders, and in 2012, Apple Knocker Hard Ciders was launched and has become a growing part of Owl Creek’s product line. Café offerings run the gamut from a vineyard picnic plate to paninis, salads, and soups.

Blue Sky Vineyard and Winery opened in 2005 and has grown to include 13 acres of vineyards planted with eight varieties of grapes. Designed with Tuscan-inspired décor, its tagline, “The Romance of Italy in the Hills of Southern Illinois,” is quite fitting. Stroll the grounds overlooking a lake while sipping on a wine of your choice. Its 2022 Chambourcin Reserve received Best of Show in this year’s Illinois State Fair Wine Competition. Two luxury suites above the tasting room can be booked for a bed-and-breakfast stay.

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StarView Vineyards was purchased by Brett and Regina Morrison in August 2013, after relocating to the area from Pennsylvania. They currently offer 18 wines using three grape varieties — Vignoles, Norton, and Chambourcin — grown on three acres. Visitors can enjoy wine and food (appetizers, sandwiches, and salads) inside, with lake views from a second level deck, or in the yard under a giant oak tree. Our tasting was held in an Event Barn used for wedding receptions, parties, and corporate meetings. Lodging is available for up to eight guests in a home on the property.

Our day ended at Feather Hills Vineyard and Winery. Randy and Renee Feather (yes, that’s really their last name!) purchased the property in 2017 and reopened the following year. It had been an existing winery for several decades, but they have since added their own unique touches. We were welcomed with glasses of Pink Bubbles, a sparkling Brut Rosé wine, before sitting down to a five-course dinner paired with wines.

The onsite restaurant is open daily, offering a farm-to-table menu. Feather Hills vineyards grow Chambourcin, Vignoles, Vidal Blanc, and Cabernet Franc. Fifteen wines are currently on its product list. Like several others we visited, weekend entertainment adds to the ambiance. If you’re ready for an overnight getaway, Feather Hills cabins are available for rent.

ACCOMODATIONS
An ideal base for exploring the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is Anna, Illinois, a small town off Interstate 57 in the hilly countryside of the Shawnee National Forest. Its most unique lodging is the Davie School Inn, a former elementary school, which has been operating as a bed-and-breakfast since 2004. (I stayed in the Purple Suite, which had formerly been the kindergarten room.)

GETTING THERE . . . AND GETTING AROUND
Plan on two to three hours’ drive to reach the Shawnee Hills region from Evansville and surrounding communities. Once you’ve arrived, leave navigation and alcohol consumption worries behind by booking one of several tour and shuttle services. They will safely take you through the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail as you sip and savor the wines of Southern Illinois.