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Southern IllinoisWine Country
2013 Free
sights & sounds MUSIC, lodgIng EnHAnCE YoUR oUTIng
gET InTo THE gRAPES
wine varieties
tasting 101 TAKE YoUR EXPERIEnCE
A FEW STEPS FURTHER
SERvIng SECRETS
the half-hour rule
THE EASY WAY To gET THE WInE JUST RIgHT
920 Kratzinger Hollow Road • Cobden, IL800-440-4489
618-833-7788theblueboarrestaurant.com
618-833-6100boarsnestbb.com
618-833-5858greatboarso� re.com
Th e Great Boars of Fire can cater a party of ten guests or events of thousands. No party too small, no event too big. We also pride ourselves in being fully mobile. We are very proud to say we have been invited and have traveled cross country to cook for various events.
Th e Great Boars of Fire Lodge is ideal for any special occasion. Th is beautiful banquet facility is nestled in the Shawnee National Forest of Southern Illinois.
Th e Blue Boar Restaurant off ers a full menu including Cajun Style dishes, Steaks, Seafoodand full breakfast served on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Our full service bar is great for casual or impressive scenery. We complete the experience with football and all other attractions on big screen TVs.
Th e Boars’ Nest Bed & Breakfast off ers fi ve cabins and is located in the heart of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. Th e Honeymoon Cabin has a private deck and jacuzzi tub. Each cabin has a full kitchenette. Open year round.
Food, Fun & Relaxation
140 Buttermilk Hill Rd • Ava, IllinoisJust off IL Rt. 3 • (618) 763-4447
Hours: Mon-Thurs Noon-6pm • Fri-Sun Noon-8pm
Wine country Southern Illinois | 1
Wines to suit every taste.
A Publication OfThe Southern Illinoisan
A Lee Enterprises Company
PublISherBob Williams
eXeCuTIVe edITor
Gary Metro
edITorCara Recine
WrITerS
Cara RecineAdam Testa
CoPy edITorAshley Kendera
CreaTIVe dIreCTIon
& layouTSharon Reynolds-Haege
aCCounT eXeCuTIVeS
Kelly CaudillBrian Flath
Meagan Murray Levi Wampler
SaleS aSSISTanT
Michelle Goolsby
ad GraPhIC deSIGnAndrew McBride
The SouThern IllInoISan710 North Illinois Ave.Carbondale, IL 62901
www. thesouthern.com
For Advertising Inquiries, Call (618) 351-5014
addITIonal SourCeS: Illinois Grape Growers and
Vintners Association, wineintro.org, Wine Specatator’s Pocket Guide to Wine, The Wine
Merchants of St. Louis
Wine Country Southern Illinois is printed once a year by The Southern Illinoisan. All contents copyright 2013. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents, without the prior written permission of the publisher, is strictly prohibited. This Guide is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork. Submissions will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
if you have ever spent a lazy afternoon enjoying the sunshine and sipping wine at a southern illinois vineyard, perhaps a fanciful notion of doing the same in france, Germany or tuscany came to mind.
actually, the notion is none too fanciful. europe may seem a world apart, and not merely geographically, but there are true connections between the wines produced close to our homes and those better-known — but not always superior — varieties enjoyed on the continent.
france looms large in our winemaking lineage. french settlers in illinois brought their winemaking ways into what was then the wilderness of the new World. By the 1700s, winemaking was established in illinois, and the business grew steadily until prohibition became the law of the land – at a time illinois was the nation’s fourth largest producer of wine.
that isn’t our only french connection, however. During the 1800s, winemaking in france was devastated by insects infesting vineyards and destroying whole grape harvests. to save winemaking, the french imported grapes native to illinois and crossed them with french grapes to create a hybrid. those hybrid grapes later were imported to the u.s. and used to establish new wineries and vineyards throughout illinois from 1979 through 1995.
france and southern illinois are forever connected through the shared grape, but we also have similar, if not exact, characteristics in climate and terrain. When combined with loving human care in the many vineyards across southern illinois, our soil, rainfall and sunshine produce high-quality wines.
our dry red chambourcin wines enjoy a well-deserved reputation, but you also will find many admirers of locally produced chardonel, traminette, vignoles and other wines. if you enjoy a lovely glass of wine, there is a vineyard somewhere in the region especially suited to your tastes and a product line of wines that will delight and captivate.
enjoy the bounty of our remarkable and ever-growing grape harvest!
Best Wishes, The Southern Illinoisan
618-995-9463blueskyvineyard.comblublub ueskeskeseesss yviyviyyyy neyneyneyneyeyyyyyyyyyyyardraardrdardrda d cococo.co.co.co.cococoommmmmmmmmmmmmblubluuueskeskeses yviyviyy neyneyneyyyyardard co.co.commm
Mon-Thurs 10am-6:30pm Friday 10am-Sunset Saturday 10am-7:30pm Sunday 12pm-7pm
Come visit us in the rolling hills of theShawnee Hills National Forest!
We offer a wide variety of award winning,hand-crafted wines that will
surely please any palate.
We also offer two Suites, a Banquet Halland Live Music on the weekends.
Wine country Southern Illinois | 3
the shaWnee hills american viticultural area
IllInoIs receIved Its fIrst american viticultural area recognized by the alcohol and tobacco tax and trade Bureau. southern illinois’ shawnee hills region is the state’s first region acknowledged for its distinctive winemaking properties.
Besides the benefits of name recognition, this federal ava designation allows wineries to use the term “estate Bottled” for wines produced on the same premises on which the grapes are grown. to be a shawnee hills ava wine, the wines must derive 85 percent or more of their volume from grapes grown within the ava, re-assuring consumers that wines with the shawnee hills designation on the label are enriched by the region’s characteristic grape attributes.
the ava stamp confirms the shawnee hills region’s capability for producing unique wines that are distinctly illinois.
4 | Wine country Southern Illinois
GettinG into the Grape:
Varietiessouthern illinois Winemakers use different grape varieties to produce a diversity of high-quality wines. many of the top grape varietals are french hybrids, developed by crossing french grapes, such as the chardonnay, with native american vines, such as norton, which originated in colonial virginia. norton grapes produce a dark, inky red wine with flavors of plums and cherries. the result of this “crossing” is grapes that produce excellent wine, but that are less susceptible to extreme cold — making them ideal for illinois’ unpredictable weather.
chambourcIn (red): a late-ripening, dark blue-black grape that can produce a highly rated red wine with a reasonably full, slightly herbaceous flavor and aroma. chambourcin grapes are usually used to produce claret or Bordeaux-style wines, but can also be used to make rosé.
seyval (WhIte): one of the most widely planted grapes east of the rocky mountains, the seyval grape features aromas of grass, hay and melon. seyval produces food-friendly white wines that are often thought of as alternatives to chardonnay.
vIgnoles (WhIte): produces excellent white wines of many different styles, including dessert wines and both dry and semi-sweet varietals.
chardonel (WhIte): a hybrid of chardonnay and seyval vines, this full-bodied, crisp and dry grape produces european-style wines exhibiting toasty oak, ripe apple and pear flavors.
vIdal blanc (WhIte): popular for its fresh and fruity characteristics, the vidal Blanc grape is similar to sauvignon Blanc and muscadet grapes and can be vinified in a variety of styles.
tramInette (WhIte): a floral nose harmonizes with flavors of honey and apricot. an unexpected spicy finish adds to the character.
norton (red): sometimes call cynthiana, the norton grape produces a dark, inky red wine with flavors of plums and cherries.
here are the most common hyBriDs BeinG GroWn in southern illinois:
Wine country Southern Illinois | 5
Your Source for Summer FunLive Music • Murder Mystery DinnersComedy Nights • Sangria Sunday specialsComplimentary Wine Tastings
Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy thescenery on the patio or around the pond....
217-463-2600 • 1288 N 1200th St., Marshall, IL View our website for directions • castlefi nnwinery.comMonday’s Closed or by chance • Tues-Thurs {10-6pm} • Fri {10-8pm} • Sat {10-6pm} • Sunday {Noon - 5pm}
Open to the public during regular business hourseven on event days.
om
�
“Your Destination is Our Destination”
Serving Southern IllinoisCall 618-985-6953 for
information & available dates
Specializing in Wine Trail ToursWeddings & Formal Events
Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties
Call for Special Weekday2-4 People Rates
You take the trip, we’ll getyou there and back safely
Learn more at www.si-tours.net
6 | Wine country Southern Illinois
here are some helpful descriptors when exploring southern illinois wines:
Acid/Acidity: makes wine taste sharp. also contributes to the bouquet and brilliance; can have too much or too little.
AppeArAnce: refers to a wine’s clarity, not color.
AftertAste: the taste or flavors that linger in the mouth.
Age/Aged/Aging: improves flavor. all wine is aged from weeks to decades. after a certain point, all wine declines in the bottle.
BAlAnce: a tasting term, states whether the fruit, acid, wood flavors, etc. are in the right proportion.
chewy: Describes rich, heavy, tannic wines that are full-bodied.
complexity: a combination of richness, depth, flavor intensity balance, finesse and others.
crisp: a tasting term, denotes a fresh, wine with good acidity.
dry: having no perceptible taste of sugar.
eArthy: Describes a wine that tastes of the soil in which it was grown. red wines most often have this characteristic.
fermentAtion: the process that turns the grape into wine.
finish: also called aftertaste. Great wines have rich, long finishes.
fresh: lively, clean and fruity tastes, essential for young wines.
green: tasting of unripe fruit. not a bad thing really, especially in a riesling.
legs: the droplets that form and ease down the sides of a glass when the wine is swirled.
mAture: ready to drink.
nose: the smell or aroma of wine. also called bouquet.
pAlAte/mouthfeel: the feel and taste of wine in the mouth.
supple: Describes a wine with well-balanced tannins and fruit characteristics.
tAnnin: the mouth-puckering substance – found mostly in red wines – that is derived primarily from grape skins, seeds and stems. tannin acts as a natural preservative that helps wine age and develop.
fruIt WInes hIt the (dry and)
sWeet spot
many people have the mistaken belief that
because they don’t prefer sweet wines, they will dislike any wine made
from fruit. But that’s not true.
Grapes have enough natural sugar to produce a stable byproduct during fermentation. other fruits,
like apples, have much lower sugar content and
result in a much less desirable result.
the trick is adding sugar to the mix.
But added sugar doesn’t
make the wine sweet; instead, it feeds the yeast
involved and increases the wine’s alcohol level.
When the wine finds its way to the bottle,
there’s no distinguishable taste from the additional
sugar, and the same characteristics of grape
wines exist.
for those wanting to try something different,
fruit wines are an alternative. they come
in dry and sweet, red and white,
just like grape wines.
Wine talk Beyond Grapes
Your news, your way,every day.
Whether it’s in print, online or on the go, The Southern Illinoisan has the news and information you want,
when you want it. No one in the region does it better.
www.thesouthern.com(800) 228-0429
com
8 | Wine country Southern Illinois
for many of us, a winery is a place to relax and recuperate in a great setting. But if you’re ready to take your wine experience a step further, learning more about tastings might be on your to-do list.
tasting isn’t the same as drinking. to experience the full flavor of wines, take the time to pay attention to your senses: sight, smell and touch, as well as taste. and you don’t need to know much about wine — other than you like it — to begin the tasting journey. after all, that’s what tastings are all about.
in many wineries, you’ll have the opportunity to talk to winemakers, which will almost always add to the experience, for the wine drinker and the winemaker. and most of them will tell you the most important thing is that you enjoy
the wines and the winery experience. learning about wines can be as complicated or as simple as you want it to be.
it’s also good to venture into wine tastings with an open mind. that’s where a wine “flight” comes in hand. many vintners will recommend you try five wines in a taste range you know you like – sweet wines, for instance – and one wine outside your known preference. it’s a really good way to broaden your wine palate.
if in the back of your mind you can still hear your mom saying “Don’t spit!” that won’t be an issue. people who spit out wine are almost always involved in wine judging. if they swallowed every taste of wine, they wouldn’t be sober for long.
tasting 101
1. pours should and will be small, enough for a couple of good samples. that allows for swirling the wine around in the glass to release its aromas without splashing. (ever tried to get a red wine stain out of a white shirt?) and just as important: if you drink bigger servings, you’ll end up tipsy.
2. Wines are usually tasted in a certain order. Drink whites before reds, dry wines before sweet wines.
3. if you don’t like a particular wine, it isn’t considered an insult if you discard it.
4. you can ask for a second pour on a wine. But as a matter of etiquette, don’t ask for a second pour on every wine you taste. if you find a wine you like, buy a glass.
Before you embark on your tasting, here are a few tips:
Wine country Southern Illinois | 9
see: tilt the glass in front of a light surface or source. is the color clear or cloudy? it should be clear. is it rich and deep in color? many good reds are. color will vary according to the variety of grapes and wine.
swirl: the swirling motion releases the flavors. simply put the glass on the table and move the glass in a circular motion. as the wine coats the sides of the glass, it releases its aroma and the wine “crawls” down the side of the glass.
smell: there are global tasting experts who can sniff a wine and tell which grape, which vineyard in which country and in what year it was likely released. But luckily, we don’t have to do that. Just put your nose into the glass and take a big sniff. you will likely be able to detect general scents, like fruity, earthy, spicy or floral.
sip: take a little wine into your mouth and appreciate the taste of the wine. it is meant to be sipped, not gulped or swallowed like a shot. When you do take a sip, make sure your mouth is coated because different parts of your mouth pick up subtle tastes and differences in the wine. Did it taste the way you thought it might, the way it smelled? is it sweet? acidic? light? full-bodied? But the most important question: Did you like it?
savor: have you ever had a wine so good that several minutes after your last sip, it still tastes good? you can still “feel” the wine in your mouth, like velvet. then you know what it is to savor the wine. technically, that’s called a wine’s “finish,” and it’s the payoff of any tasting — that, and deciding you probably ought to take a bottle of it home with you.
many reputable sources, including regional experts, recognize the five s’s:Wine “fliGhts” are
hiGhly elevateD tastinGs.
they usually take place
in formal settinGs,
in competitions, in
samplinGs of the same
Wine maDe By Different
proDucers or in a
varietal maDe over
successive years By
the same Winery.
HoRIzonTAl TASTIngS:
the Wine type is from the
same vintaGe (year) But
from Different Wineries.
vertIcal tastIngs:
Different vintaGes of
the same Wine type from
the same Winery.
Take flight
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12 | Wine country Southern Illinois
how is a vineyard different than a winery?a vineyard is an area of land equipped for the cultivation of wine grapes.
a winery is the establishment at which wine is made. Wineries will typically house winemaking equipment and, in some instances, some may house bottling lines, warehouses and tanks. in many occasions, wineries also operate adjacent vineyards.
the diverse grape growing and winemaking industry in illinois incorporates both wineries and vineyards.
Get a grasp on the GlasshoW you hold a glass while drinking wine might seem trivial, but there is a right way to do it and a good reason for it. the temperature at which a wine is served can negatively affect
the taste, and it takes only a little body heat to change it. holding
the glass in your hand with fingers wrapped around the bowl will quickly
warm the wine, making that last sip not nearly as good as the first.
so, make the sweet life last longer by grasping the glass by the stem or the base, whichever is more comfortable to you.
Wine country Southern Illinois | 13
The quickest route to Southern Illinois Wine Country!winecountrysi.comFrom maps to locate your favorite winery or vineyard to the local lodging and entertainment, winecountrysi.com is the best website to get all of the information you need to plan your wine country getaway.
Visit us online today and find out why we’re the premier source of wine country information.
14 | Wine country Southern Illinois
Stay a while
much like the wine industry in the region has blossomed through the years, more intimate lodging has also become a prosperous venture in southern illinois. from bed-and-breakfasts to rustic cabins, visitors and residents alike have opportunities to escape the urban streets and spend the night surrounded by nature.
many of these facilities offer their own special amenities, whether it be a taste of europe or an up-close-and-personal experience with the area’s wildlife. some adopt a more authentic outdoors atmosphere aimed at those with natural flair, while others offer a five-star escape complete with modern design and conveniences.
some bed-and-breakfasts can even be found on the same properties as the wineries, making access even easier and allowing guests to sample the wines from the comforts of their own homes-away-from-home.
the warmth and hospitality extended by the staffs of southern illinois’ wineries extend to these intimate lodging venues, as well. ask most any bed-and-breakfast owner, and he or she will say they strive to make their guests feel like part of the family.
and what’s better than waking up after a late night sipping wine on the patio than a home-cooked breakfast?
on almost any given day, a number of musicians — local, regional and national — will take the stage at one or more of southern illinois’ wineries. the performance might be one largely unadvertised or promoted, or it could be a special attraction show featuring musical legends.
While many winery concerts are associated with certain styles of music, the region’s venues offer a wide variety, creating opportunities for everyone. this summer season will see local favorites such as the ivas John Band or Bill harper nationally recognized performers including sheryl crow.
Find the complete listing of who is playing where at winecountrysi.com or at flipsideonline.com
B&Bs, caBins make you feel at home
the sounD of music
after a lonG Day of absorbing the breath-taking beauty of the shawnee national forest and the landscapes of southern illinois’ vineyards, who wants to return to the city to take up shelter in a hotel room?
Wine country Southern Illinois | 15
Fri: 5pm-12am • Sat: 5pm-12am • Sun: 12pm-6pm • Kitchen Closes at 9:30pm618-684-8000 • masesplace.com • 5162 Hickory Ridge Rd., Pomona
1 mile south of Little Grand Canyon on the Wine Trail
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16 | Wine country Southern Illinois
Wine in illinois:
A Rich Historythe illinois Wine inDustry has exploded in recent years, growing from just 12 wineries in 1997 to more than 90 today. illinois is consistently among the top 12 wine-producing states. illinois also enjoys a rich winemaking tradition that dates back to the 1700s:
1778 – french settlers in la ville de maillet (what is now peoria) bring the winemaking expertise of their homeland to illinois. the village features a wine press and an underground wine vault.
1857 – emIle baxter and sons open a winery in nauvoo, along the banks of the mississippi river. Baxter’s vineyards remains illinois’ oldest operating winery, run by a fifth generation of Baxters.
1900 – IllInoIs is the fourth-largest wine producing state in the nation.
1920 – the prohIbItIon act stops all legal winemaking. some illinois vineyards continue to grow table grapes, others uproot their vines to make way for corn and soybeans. two generations of wine-making in southern illinois were completely lost because of prohibition.
1933 – prohIbItIon is repealed.
1936 – the baxter famIly returns to producing wines for the first time since prohibition.
1979 – fred e. Koehler and his wife purchase a large prairie-style house in roselle and start making world-class wines as lynfred Winery.
the laWlor famIly in Galena opens Galena cellars Winery.
1984 – retIred sIu carbondale professor Guy renzaglia establishes alto vineyards in alto pass, planting five acres of grape varieties unheard of in the region – chancellor, chambourcin, vidal and villard Blanc. these varieties have since become widely accepted by midwestern wine drinkers.
1995 – WInerIes and vIneyards are established throughout the northern, central and southern regions of illinois.
the oWners of alto vineyards, owl creek vineyards and pomona Winery in southern illinois meet with area tourism officials and form the shawnee hills Wine trail.
2001 – IllInoIs boasts 27 wineries.
2005 – the state of IllInoIs designated september as “illinois Wine month.”
2006 – a regIon in southern illinois is recognized as the shawnee hills american viticultural area (ava) by the federal government. it is illinois’ first ava designation.
source: iGGva
Wine country Southern Illinois | 17
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18 | Wine country Southern Illinois
If you have a taste for sWeeter WInes, a blush might be your favorite. and you don’t need to be embarrassed about that. But a blush can range from sweet to dry, with fruity aromas and flavors.
But what makes a blush a blush? color, mostly. typically a rosé – traditionally the ‘old world’ name – or blush is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough – if any – to turn it pink. Winemakers can blend wines to create a blush, or it can be created in the way the juice is fermented.
here’s What you need to KnoW about blush WInes:
not for aging: Blush wines are “young” wines; best to drink these wines within several months of their release.
tiny bubbles? sometimes. rosés and blush wines can be made still, semi-sparkling or sparkling. regional wines are generally still wines.
Keep your cool: Blushes are served chilled.
Just ask: Winemakers like talking about wines, so don’t hesitate to explore a blush with them.
Don’t Be emBarrasseD;
go ahead and Blush
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pairinGsWhat goes with what.
there are hundreds of wine varietals to choose from and thousands of possible pairings. these are basic suggestions. a couple of thing to know, though:
We list grape varietals, not a wine 1. region, like Burgundy or Bordeaux.
all reds and whites are produced 2. in many styles, based on sugar content. Dry wines have less than 1 percent sugar and tend to have more tannins. sweet wines have much more sugar and higher acidity.
and, above all, know that everyone’s palate is different, even among professionals. you are the final judge of what you like.
Food Wine style traditional southern varietals illinois varietals
red meat, rich Full-bodied, dry red Zinfindel, Cabernet Sauvignon Chambourcin, Norton
red meat, lean Medium-bodied, dry red Pinot Noir, Merlot Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin
Seafood Medium-bodied, dry white Chardonnary, Sauvignon Blanc Chardonel, Seyval
Pasta, red sauce Light-bodied, semi-dry red Chianti Chambourcin, young
Pasta, white sauce Medium-bodied, dry to Chardonnay, Chardonel, semi-dry white Sauvignon Blanc Seyval
Spicy food Medium to light-bodied Pinot Grigio Vignoles Semi-dry to semi-sweet white Gewurztraminer Traminette
Poultry, white meats Medium-bodied, dry white Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc Chardonel, Seyval
duck/goose Full-bodied, dry red Cabernet Sauvignon Norton
hard Cheese Full-bodied, dry red Cabernet Sauvignon Norton
Soft Cheese Medium-bodied, dry white Chardonnay Chardonel
Wine country Southern Illinois | 19
20 | Wine country Southern Illinois
thIs Is easy. really. you only have to remember the “half-hour rule.”
“take white wine out of your refrigerator 30 minutes before you plan to drink it,” said Jason main of the Wine merchant
in st. louis. “put red wine in the fridge 30 minutes before you plan to drink it. it’s that simple.”
this rule will help you get closer to the perfect serving temperatures for various wines, which makes a difference in aroma and taste.
“most white wines are served too cold,” said karen hand, winemaker at Blue sky in makanda. it mutes the flavors and “closes up” the wine, which means we miss too many secondary flavors.
“a lot of people think room temperature for red wine, refrigerator for whites,” main said. “But ‘room’ temperature, in the professional sense, means ‘cellar’ temperature.”
the ideal serving temperature for red wines is about 56 degrees; for whites, it’s about 45 to 50 degrees,
main said. But if you follow the “half-hour rule,” you’ll be very close to that and will better enjoy the full wine-drinking experience.
store all corked wines on their sides to keep the corks moist; store whites in the
refrigerator and reds in a cool, darker place.
30 minutes to
perfect wine
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