From engineer, to farmer and horse breeder/trainer, to viticulturist, to winemaker, David Ponce and his wife Beth, of Monte Alegre Vineyards & Cellars, have made their mark in the Southern Illinois wine scene. The property originally had three old vines of Fredonia grapes, which eventually became used for cloning, but the small vineyard started growing commercially in …
I’ve had Alto Vineyards wines before, but this was my first visit to the winery in Alto Pass. Located in southern Illinois, Alto Vineyards is one of the founding three wineries of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, which was the first wine trail in Illinois. A friend and I greatly enjoyed the tasting and because we were the …
I was introduced to Walker’s Bluff wines at Vintage Illinois in 2018. Recently I had the opportunity to visit the winery and was truly amazed. Walker’s Bluff is not just a winery, but instead a magnificent getaway. Just because it is secluded does not mean it is not thriving with activity. From the lane leading to Walker’s …
I bet you thought the name Cameo Vineyards is derived from a particular style of broach or jewelry, but don’t be fooled. It actually refers to a 1955 Chevy Cameo pickup truck. Cameo Vineyards has been around since 1991 and is one of the oldest wineries in Illinois, being the 25th. Cameo Vineyards is located in Greenup, …
Recently my wife and I were vacationing in western North Carolina and decided to try out the Western North Carolina Cheese Trail, or at least a few locations close to Asheville. We did make it to a few of the farms, but when we saw a sign for Chimney Rock State Park our plans quickly changed. As fate …
Whether you just want to get out of town for a day or evening or are specifically looking for a winery to visit, Willow Ridge Winery is a place where you can relax and enjoy some great wines. Located in rural Westervelt IL (northwest of Shelbyville) the winery stands out among the surrounding farmland, on the 150 …
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 …
Over the last several years my family has had the opportunity to make multiple trips to Knoxvile, TN. One of our regular routes includes Highway 40 from Nashville. Recently the trip had a little flexibility that allowed an impromptu stop at Stonehaus Winery in Crossville. Stonehaus Winery opened it’s doors in April 1991 offering five …
No trip to Asheville, NC is complete without a visit to the historic Biltmore Estate, and no trip to the Biltmore Estate is complete without a visit to the House, Gardens, and of course the Biltmore Winery. George W. Vanderbilt commissioned and built the house, which sits on 8,000 acres of beautiful land, and officially …
During my recent visit to Napa Valley, I had the pleasure of visiting Starmont Winery & Vineyards in the Carneros wine region. The winery and tasting room, is located in the midst of the famous Stanly Ranch Estate vineyard. The tasting room has an inviting entrance, with the vineyard as a backdrop and an outdoor …