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2018 Vintage Illinois

2018 Vintage Illinois

Posted on November 25, 2018 By by

2018 Vintage Illinois took place September 15 & 16 at Matthiessen State Park. I was able to attend for a short period on Saturday. Even though my time was limited, I was able visit all of the winery displays and taste several wines. Needless to say, trying to fully explore the wines from 24 wineries would be a bit much in a matter of hours.

This was my first, but will not be my last visit to this event. The number of attendees was amazingly large, but all were having a great time enjoying the wine, live music, and food trucks.

Here is a selection of the wines that I really enjoyed and recommend. This is not all inclusive. The notes are those of the wineries.

August Hill Winery – Utica, IL 

Ravat 51 – Ravat 51 is a dry, medium-bodied wine filled with notes of rose, pineapple, lemon, orange, and moonflower. Similar to a dry German Riesling, this wine is from Vignoles grapes (a.k.a. Ravat 51), a French-American hybrid that grows well in Illinois.

Chambourcin – A smooth and timeless dry, red table wine made from Illinois-grown Chambourcin grapes. This medium-bodied wine is similar in style to a light pinot noir with its upfront fruit character and aromas and flavors of blueberry and dark chocolate.

2018 Vintage Illinois Fox Valley Winery

Fox Valley Winery; Oswego, IL

2015 Petite Pearl – This 2 time 2017 Silver Medal Winner and 2018 Governors Cup Winner for Best Red Wine….was “Estate Grown” at our vineyard in Sheridan!!  This exciting new varietal  has a deep rich color, with lingering plum flavors and soft oak aromas.  Our Medal winner offers a full bodied strong tannin structure and a smooth full finish.  The Petite Pearl was aged 12 months in French Oak Barrels.

Galena Cellars Vineyard & Cellars; Galena, IL

General’s Reserve Red – A classic blend of European varietals and native French hybrid grape varietals resulting in a premium red wine with notes of plum & chocolate and soft, velvety tannins to round off the finish.

Massbach Ridge Winery; Elizabeth & Galena, IL

Massbach Reserve – Full-bodied, dry, oak-aged red made from a blend of Frontenac and Foch grapes. 2012 Vintage.

Prairie State Winery; Genoa, IL

Fusion – A unique concept of co-fermenting CA-grown Tempranillo with a small amount of IL-grown Frontenac. 100% barrel aged.

Prairie Pumpkin – Made of 100% Pumpkins and infused with all of your typical pie spices. Enjoy chilled when it’s warm out and warmed when it’s chilly out! 

2018 Vintage Illinois Spirit Knob Winery

Spirit Knob Winery; Ursa, IL

Traminette – Semi-sweet aromas and flavors of pineapple with hints of citrus. This particular wine is very light and crisp.

Rapture – Dessert wine with hints of cherry and raspberry. Great cigar wine!

2018 Vintage Illinois Walkers Bluff

Walkers Bluff Winery; Carterville, IL

Cabernet Sauvignon – A BIG BOLD full-bodied red wine. It is a well-balanced wine with great structure and medium tannins. Flavors of this wine are black cherry, vanilla oak, black pepper and violets. 

I’m looking forward to a much longer visit to Vintage Illinois 2019. Mark your calendars for September 21 & 22, 2019.

Scott Morris

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Scott Morris

Welcome! CU4Wine & More is a place where I can share my experiences with fellow wine lovers, foodies, and travel enthusiasts. I don’t consider myself a critic, because I believe everyone has their own tastes and ideas of what a positive experience should be.

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