Announcements

There’s something special about September in southern Illinois.  Our vineyards are buzzing with excitement, grapes are hanging heavy on the vines and glasses everywhere are raised to celebrate harvest.  September is Illinois Wine Month and it’s a great time to...

Holiday meals wouldn’t be complete without a local wine by their side.  Check out some of our favorite Shawnee Hills Wine Trail wine and ham pairings, just in time for the holidays. A favorite entrée for the season, ham, with its sweet-and-salty richness, pairs best...

Norton is a red wine variety and widely referred to as America’s oldest native grape. There is some mystery behind the actual creation of the Norton variety. It is believed that in Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Daniel Norborne Norton was experimenting with grape cultivation...

Pairing local wines with locally grown foods from the same region has been taking place for centuries.  In the past, local foods were paired with local wines because that’s what the region produced and there was no knowledge of other wines and foods from different...

Why do wine & cheese partner so well?  Studies have shown that people enjoy eating items with an overall balanced mouthfeel.  Wine has tannins which can make your mouth feel dry and cause you to pucker, while the fat in cheese is oily and can create more of a...

The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail produces unique, flavorful, award -winning wines from fruit grown right here in the Shawnee Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA).  The most common varietal, found at all of our wineries but one, Pomona Winery does not produce grape...

The holiday season is upon us and the encouragement to shop local and support your local economy is abundant.    It seems to be understood that buying local products boosts the economy, creates local job opportunities and strengthens the overall community and its...

With so many different foods on your Thanksgiving table, finding the perfect wine to match your feast may seem overwhelming.  We know that you spend weeks planning and prepping to make the holiday run seamlessly.  From cleaning the house and Thanksgiving décor to...

A great wine and food pairing is one of life’s most pleasurable things and who knows what pairs best with their wines any better than the wineries themselves?  The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail wineries have teamed up three weekends each year to showcase their wines with...

Fewer Tourists: The “off” season is a great time to enjoy a tour of our wineries.  With fewer guests and quieter tasting rooms, you will enjoy more intimate wine tastings, often with the owner or winemaker.  After choosing your favorite wine, cozy up to the fireplace...