Driving through Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood, the last thing you’d expect to come upon is a vineyard. Hough has long been one of Cleveland’s most distressed areas, site of the notorious ‘Hough riots” – the...
The 9th annual Vintage Illinois, the largest wine festival in Illinois, was held September 15th and 16th at Matthiessen State Park in north-central Illinois. This year, 28 wineries participated in Vintage Illinois, the same...
When the early members of the Minnesota Grape Growers Association (MGGA) first experimented with wine grapes in the early 1970’s, all the vines were cold tender or marginal at best. Foch stood out as...
The German poet, Goethe said, ‘Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” The quote has been prophetic for Illinois Sparkling Company. Illinois Sparkling has embarked on a bold move to create methode champenoise sparkling...
The Chicagoist reports that the number of craft brewers is swelling in Illinois and nationwide. Illinois has 57 craft brewers currently, but that number is set to double, according to the article. Makes you...
Aquaviva Winery is using bird netting that covers multiple rows at its 20 acre vineyard in Northeast Illinois on the outskirts of Chicagoland. According to general manager, Joe Brandonisio, only red grapes are covered with...
The October 2012 issue of Midwest Living Magazine contains a six page color spread on Southern Illinois Wine. Numerous local wineries are featured. See: http://www.midwestliving.com/travel/illinois/the-good-life-along-illinois-shawnee-hills-wine-trail/
The growing U.S. appetite for regional craft beers is having a positive, knock-on effect for the makers of local cider, sparkling and still wine. According to the Brewers Association, the craft beer industry grew...
On August 14th, 2012, City Winery founder Michael Dorf, along with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Alderman Walter Burnett Jr., welcomed 1,000 guests into the winery for the first time. The night began with...
Chicago based Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant opened its ninth location this month in Hobart (Merrillville) Indiana. This year, Cooper’s Hawk also will be opening restaurants and wineries in Cincinnati, Columbus and Kansas City....