Wine is produced and consumed in all 50 states, and every single one is wonderfully unique…
Illinois has a long history of winegrowing, with the first grapes planted in 1691 and the “Land of Lincoln” ranking as the nation’s fourth largest wine producer in 1900 before Prohibition wiped everything out. The modern industry began in the late 1970s with the first liberalizing law, and the opening of both Lynfred Winery and Galena Cellars Winery.
The Shawnee Hills AVA was recognized in 2006, followed in 2009 by the Upper Mississippi Valley AVA, which is the country’s largest, spanning several states. The Native grape varieties of Isabella and Norton were the first plantings, and today’s mix includes primarily French, Cornell, and Minnesota hybrid varieties. The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance, ably run by Executive Director Lisa Ellis, focuses on legislation and promotion, including Illinois Wine Month each September and promotion of Rose as the state’s signature wine (“Everything’s Coming Up Roses in Illinois”).
The 150+ wineries and six wine trails are scattered throughout the state. Among the oldest and most popular is Galena Cellars, with several unique locations including a three-floor tasting room in a historic building on Galena’s Main St. and a nearby rural vineyard location featuring a barn with a wrap around deck, heated igloos, and on-premises lodging. The winery’s empire began in Iowa, then Wisconsin, followed by Illinois which has the only locations today. Galena is routinely named as one of the best small towns in America to visit.
Today the third generation runs the show, with Eric White as Winemaker and his sister Britt White as Brand Ambassador, and wines named for them (Eric the Red, and Britt White). This playfulness is carried through a wonderfully eclectic mix of wines from different fruits to flowers(!) as well as grape varieties, with awards aplenty. At the 2021 Illinois State Fair Competition, their Daffodil Wine won Best of Show, with Double Golds going to Edelweiss, Frontenac, and Peach, and a Gold going to Chambourcin Rose.
Great Grapes: Chambourcin
Chambourcin, a French hybrid grape with Rhone origins, is a late ripening blue-black grape that can produce quality red wines combining spicy aromas with fruity flavors. It’s also often the source of elegant Rose wines, which is the “signature” wine of the Land of Lincoln.
Illinois
Economic Impact
Total Impact: $9.138 Billion
Direct (production, distribution, consumption): $3.365 Billion (37%)
Supplier (goods and services): $2.533 Billion (28%)
Induced (local community business benefits): $3.219 Billion (35%)
Wine Producers: 150
Jobs: 60,315
Wages: $3.1 Billion
Tourist Visits: 1,104,062
Tourist Expenditures: $374.7 Million
Total Taxes: $775.5 Million
Federal Taxes: $478.7 Million
State and Local Taxes: $296.8 Million
Total Impact includes the Direct, Supplier, and Induced levels reaching from vineyards to local communities, benefiting people and places far and wide.
