Midwest Wine Press

Vintage Illinois 2013 Introduces Honest Abe

by · September 26, 2013

The new Illinois wine logo and branding was featured for the first time at Vintage Illinois 2013

The new Illinois wine logo and branding was featured for the first time at Vintage Illinois 2013

Vintage Illinois 2013 was held at Mattheissen State Park near Starved Rock State Park on Saturday and Sunday, September 21 and 22, 2013.   Total attendance was in excess of 10,000 for both days, according to Jill Joyce of August Hill Winery in Utica who helps coordinate the event.  Tickets for the event were $20 which included seven tasting tickets and a souvenir glass.

A record  29 wineries participated in this year’s event.  When Vintage Illinois was introduced 10 years ago, a dozen wineries participated.

One of this year’s new participating wineries was Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, Illinois.  (The winery also has a tasting room in St. Charles.)  Acquaviva won a 2013 Governor’s Cup at the Illinois State Fair Wine Competition for their 2009 Frontenac.

According to Sergio Benavides, winemaker from Acquaviva, Vintage Illinois provided the winery with exposure to many new wine drinkers.  “This is our first year and we’ve already spoken with hundreds of people who are tasting our wines for the first time,” Benavides said.

Rick Mamoser, winemaker at Prairie State Winery, with co-worker Kathy at Vingtage Illinois

Rick Mamoser, winemaker at Prairie State Winery, with co-worker Kathy at Vintage Illinois

Mike White and Christine Lawlor-White of Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery

Mike White and Christine Lawlor-White of Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery

Cris and Keith Lane of Willett's Winery. Keith will be taking over as winemaker at Willett's. Brad Beam, who has been the winemaker at Willett's, will be resuming his duties as the chief enologist with the State of Illinois.

Cris and Keith Lane of Willett’s Winery. Keith will be taking over as winemaker at Willett’s. Brad Beam, who has been the winemaker at Willett’s, will be resuming his duties as the chief enologist with the State of Illinois.

Dick Faltz and Erica Hurley from Fox Valley Winery in Oswego

Dick Faltz and Erica Hurley from Fox Valley Winery in Oswego

Sergio from Acquaviva, their first year at Vintage Illinois.

Sergio Benavides, winemaker from Acquaviva Winery in Maple Park, pours for another customer at Vintage Illinois.

Cheryl Spana and Ginger Baerenwald of Hailey's Winery in Byron

Cheryl Spana and Ginger Baerenwald of Hailey’s Winery in Byron

 

 

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Mark Ganchiff

Mark Ganchiff is the publisher of Midwest Wine Press, the leading source of news on the growing wine industry in the central United States. Mark has been a wine judge at the 2012 and 2014 INDY International Wine Competition, the 2014 Cold Climate Wine Competition, the 2013 Mid-American Wine Competition, the 2012 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition and the 2013 Michigan Wine Competition. He also enjoys speaking at wine events including the Cold Climate Wine Conference, the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association Annual Meeting, the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference and the Wisconsin Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Mark's articles about regional wine have appeared in Vineyard & Winery Management, WineMaker and several regional magazines. Mark is a Level One Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. He lives in Louisville, but also has a residence in Chicago.

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