Envoy at 07:29, 20 September 2007

2007-09-20T07:29:30Z

New page

'''Illinois wine''' refers to any [[wine]] that is made from grapes grown in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. As of 2004, 63 [[List of wineries in Illinois|Illinois wineries]], working with 193 grape arbors, produce 451,079 U.S. gallons (1.7 million liters) of wine annually with an annual total positive economic impact estimated at $20 million.<ref> Gene Campbell and Bill Shoemaker, "The Illinois Grape and Wine Industry: Its Current Size, 2004 Production, and Growth" (n.d, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois), pages 3, 7.</ref>

==History==
Grapes have been growing in Illinois for over 150 years. One of the first areas to begin growing grapes was on the banks of the Mississippi in [[Nauvoo, Illinois|Nauvoo]]. The oldest recorded [[Concord (grape)|Concord]] vineyard in Illinois was planted in 1851 and is located in Nauvoo State Park; the vineyard is still producing fruit. By 1880 there were over {{convert|600|acre|sqkm|1}} of grapes and 40 wine cellars in Nauvoo, and the town was known for its fine wines.

The oldest surviving family-owned vineyard in Illinois is also located in Nauvoo. Emile Baxter came to Nauvoo in 1855 to join an [[Icarian]] commune and remained after the breakup of the group. Learning about grape culture from his Icarian friends, Emile planted eight acres of vineyards. After [[Prohibition]] in 1936, the Baxter family winery became Illinois' first bonded winery.

In a sharply different region of Illinois, the [[Shawnee Hills]], Guy Renzaglia founded Alto Vineyards in 1984. He planted new varieties such as Chancellor, [[Chambourcin]], [[Vidal Blanc]], and Villard Blanc. Renzaglia and two other growers founded the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in the 1990s.

==Varieties==
In 2004, twelve grape varieties accounties for 89% of grape area harvested in Illinois. The favorite varieties, in descending order by area devoted to production, were [[Chardonel]], Chambourcin, [[Vignoles]], [[Traminette]], Concord, [[Foch (grape)|Foch]], [[Seyval]], [[Norton (grape)|Norton]], Vidal Blanc, [[Frontenac (grape)|Frontenac]], [[Niagara (grape)|Niagara]], and [[Cayuga White]].<ref> Campbell and Shoemaker, page 7. </ref>

Many of these varieties are "hybrid" varieties. These hybrids, which are adapted to the cold climates of central and northern Illinois, are grapes grown from vines that are hybridized descendants of both European [[vinifera]] grapes and native American grape varieties.

==Shawnee Hills American Viticultural Area==
One of the foremost grape-growing regions of Illinois is the Shawnee Hills, in [[Jackson County, Illinois|Jackson County]] and [[Union County, Illinois|Union County]] near [[Carbondale, Illinois]] in far southern Illinois. This region was listed as the ''Shawnee Hills American Viticultural Area'' (Shawnee Hills AVA) in December 2006, becoming the first [[American Viticultural Area]] within Illinois. Besides the benefits of appellation recognition, this designation allows wineries to use the term “Estate Bottled” for wines produced on the same premises on which the grapes are grown. As of 2006, the Shawnee Hills AVA included 15 wineries and 55 vineyards.<ref name=landis>{{cite news | title = Matter of taste: Area in southern Illinois gets Shawnee Hills designation | publisher = Springfield, Ill. ''State Journal-Register'' | date = [[2006-12-14]] | page = 21}}</ref> Jackson and Union Counties were the two foremost wine-producing counties in Illinois.<ref> Campbell and Shoemaker, page 3.</ref>

Characteristics that contributed to this decision are the lack of glaciation, as well as the bordering rivers. The heightened elevation (400 ft above neighboring land) in concert with [[sandstone]] and [[limestone]] subsoil offers satisfactory drainage, and summer breezes reduce fungal infestation. The climate of the Shawnee Hills AVA, within the [[Illinois Ozarks]] region, resembles several areas in [[Missouri]] known for their wine (see [[Missouri wine]]). The climate also resembles certain regions in [[Spain]] and [[Italy]].

==Categories==
The [[Illinois State Fair]], operated by the Illinois Department of Agriculture, recognizes ten distinct categories of Illinois wine:

* [[Dessert wine]]
* [[Fruit wine]]
* Generic blended wine
* Hybrid red
* Hybrid white
* Native American red
* Native American white
* [[Sparkling wine]]
* Vinifera red
* Vinifera white

In addition to grape-based wine, several wineries in the Illinois Ozarks and other regions of Illinois make fruit wine from [[apple]]s, [[peach]]es, and [[berry|berries]]. Fruit wine is an officially recognized category within the Illinois wine industry.

==References==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>

==External link==
*[http://www.illinoiswine.com/about.html Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association]
*[http://www.illinoiswine.com/resources/grapewineindustry.pdf Campbell-Shoemaker monograph]
*[http://www.nauvoowinery.com/history.htm "History"]
*[http://wine.appellationamerica.com/wine-region/Illinois.html "Illinois Wine"]
*[http://www.nauvoo.net/history "Nauvoo.Net."]
*[http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/tables/07s0378.xls "Normal Daily Mean Temperature- Selected Cities"]
*[http://www.shawneewinetrail.com/history.htm "Shawnee Hills Wine Trail/History."]

{{American wine}}

[[Category:Wine regions of the United States]]
[[Category:Illinois culture|Wine]]

Illinois wine - Revision history

Envoy at 07:29, 20 September 2007