Illinois Office of Tourism Releases Wine Guide

Illinois, the 12th largest wine producing state in the country, is home to more than 100 wineries, 450 vineyards, 1,100 grape producing acres and more than 100 miles of wine trails. The Illinois Wine Guide provides a user-friendly listing of all wineries, tasting rooms, wine festivals, wine trails and much more. Wine enthusiasts can use the new guide to plan a wine-centric getaway or to supplement an already planned Illinois trip.

Browsing the guide, readers will find details on popular Illinois wineries like:

• Spirit Knob Winery - With more than 140 medals, Sprit Knob is one of the most award winning wineries in the state of Illinois. The gorgeous winery is the ideal setting for wedding receptions, private parties, bridal showers or business meetings. Spirit Knob hosts fun and engaging events throughout the year such as comedy nights, dueling pianos, and live music.
• Alto Vineyards – Nestled in the Shawnee Hills of Southern Illinois, Alto Vineyards is the region’s oldest, most award-winning winery. Founded in 1988, Alto Vineyards shares the region with 11 other wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, in the state’s first federally recognized grape-growing region, known as an American Viticultural Area (AVA).
• August Hill Winery – Visit the Illinois Sparkling Co. tasting room at the August Hill Winery and experience locally-made, handcrafted sparkling wines. The popular tasting room offers wine flights, wine gifts & accessories, a local art gallery, outdoor patio and private events.

“This state offers such a variety of activities to inspire travel, and our guides allow us to showcase how Illinois tourism can cater to individual interests and hobbies” says Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism. “Illinois Wine Country is quickly becoming a popular destination for wine enthusiasts across the country, and we’re happy to aide that trend with this user-friendly wine guide.”