Drink in the Northern Illinois Wine Trail
If you go west, you can hit the Northern Illinois Wine Trail. Charming towns with antique stores and cute cafes wend their way across the state up to the town of Galena and Eagle Ridge Resort, both of which host an annual spring Wine Lovers' Weekend to kick off the season in gourmet, celebrity chef/winemaker/sommelier fashion. Fifteen wineries on the Northern Illinois Wine Trail mean ample sample opportunity, with artisans and bucolic countryside to round out the trip.
Tasting notes: Famous Fossil Vineyard & Winery in Freeport opened last fall and is the only certified biodynamic vineyard in Illinois.
Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery, 10033 S. Western in Chicago, holds weekly classes teaching customers how to make wine. It uses honey from beehives on the lakefront for some of its wines. Visitnorthernillinois.com/wine TrailWineries.html
Two hours south of Chicago, this wine route is made up of seven wineries that are somewhat spread out. There aren't any quaint bed and breakfasts in the tiny farming community of Manito -- yet. But Hill Prairie Winery lists some lodging options on its Web site: hillprairiewinery.com and click on "friends."
Tasting notes: The wine tasting event Vintage Illinois at Starved Rock will be held in nearby Matthiessen State Park Sept. 19-20.
Illinois River Winery in Utica recently doubled the size of its tasting room. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard in Mackinaw will host an art fest July 12 and a grape stomp and harvest fest Sept. 6.
Illinoiswine.com/trail-ilriver.html
A dozen wineries make up this southwest Illinois trail, where you also can drink in stunning vistas along the Mississippi River. Area attractions include Carlyle Lake, Illinois' largest manmade lake. Tara Point Inn and Cottages in Grafton is popular with the B&B crowd, and the nearby Ruebel Hotel wins votes as well. Mississippi Half Step Restaurant gets a wholehearted recommendation from several winery owners.
Tasting notes: Piasa Winery in Grafton puts on live music every Saturday and Sunday in the summer. Orchard View Winery specializes in fruit wines, including a peach dessert wine.
Heartlandrivers.org/wineries.htm
The well-established Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in southern Illinois has a dozen members, including Alto Vineyards in Alto Pass.
At the ripe old age of 20, Alto is one of the oldest wineries in the southern part of the state.
The trail has partnered with a list of bed and breakfasts, found on the Web site along with a shopping trail, area attractions, restaurants, maps and more. Go canoeing in the Cache River Wetlands or hit the 45-mile Tunnel Hill bike trail to burn off any wining and dining calories. For more, visit southernmostillinois.com and the Carbondale Convention and Tourism Bureau at cctb.org.
Tasting notes: Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda has a collection of windmills on its grounds and, like several wineries on this trail, has a B&B on site.
At Pomona Winery in Pomona, all the wine is made from fruit other than grapes. Starview Vineyards in Cobden features a new tasting bar this year.
Shawneewinetrail.com