Get to know the region's wineries: Wine tours allow visitors to sample goods, make friends

Paducah bartender Aaron Conley and girlfriend Lauren Dixon rode there with two friends to hear live music and get out of town.

David Reeb of Benton, Ill., wanted to take Kristi Jenkins there on his Harley-Davidson through the soft rolling hills of southern Illinois.

Southern Illinois University students Joe Geeseman and Jennifer Bollaert heard about a festival there and checked it out on a Saturday.

All of them, varying in age, interests and social status, recently traveled to the same unlikely place: the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. An hour's drive from Paducah just west of Interstate 57, the trail is 30 miles of viticulture.

Not all of the trail's visitors are in love with wine. They don't have to be.

"I don't even like it. I'm more of a beer man," Conley said.

"It was relaxing and low-key," said Conley, 36, about his trip in July to Blue Sky Vineyard, one of the ten Shawnee wineries.

With the Southern Illinois Wine Trail and its six wineries just east of Interstate 57 the region attracts more and more people to wine country from all demographics.

Conley confirmed the stereotypical image of a winery buff: affluent, old and with a nose in the air about all things wine.

"(Blue Sky) had live music, we got to be outside in the scenery, and everything was so nice," he said.

"I saw people of all ages there, and everybody was really friendly."

Day trips and weekend stays at the wineries have become so in style that they've necessitated a personal tour guide.

Heidi Yocum of Paducah opened Winery Tours of Southern Illinois last month. Starting at $35 per person she'll provide shuttle service, trip planning and group trip coordinating.

"We have about 100,000 visitors a year," said Amy Erickson, director of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Association.

Since the first winery opened -- Alto Vineyards in 1984 -- visitors and interests have sprouted up right along side their grape vines, Erickson said.

Last weekend Alto Vineyards hosted a festival where the Shawnee wineries set up booths, gave out samples and a bluegrass band played all day.

Six hundred people showed up, and Erickson said the heat probably cut down on crowd size.

"People want a new experience, and at the vineyards they get just that," Erickson said.

"And southern Illinois is absolutely beautiful. That doesn't hurt."

The wineries do their part to appeal to everyone.

The Bella Terra Winery on the Southern Illinois trail offers bands and karaoke on weekends as well as big screen TVs for NASCAR viewing each Sunday.

Adjacent to the winery is a regulation-size bocce court, bocce being an outdoor game using balls and combining the concepts of horseshoe and bowling.

A horseshoe pit, public barbecue grill and an ice cream shop also await tourists.

"We're getting folks from Paducah, Metropolis, a couple from Tennessee," said Ed Russell, Bella Terra Winery owner.

Also vice president of the Southern Illinois trail's association, Russell planted his vineyard in 2000 and finished his building a year and a half ago.

"We've been building clientele steadily ever since," he said.

The reasons people gave for visiting the trails showed while the vineyard is all about the wine, traveling there doesn't have to be.

"All the wine is grown here, so it's a good way to support the local economy," Reeb said.

"And you can pay $10-15 for a good bottle," Jenkins said.

Russell confirmed every association winery uses local resources to produce their wines, from planting and harvesting grapes to bottling.

"Most people come out here looking for a good time, so the atmosphere is good," said Debbie Rosendohl of Belleville, Ill., while at Alto Vineyard last weekend.

Debbie recently married Danny Rosendohl, and the two rank visiting wineries near the top of their list of fun, relaxing and intimate dates.

"You get to meet new people, too," Debbie said while she and Danny sat at a table with Reeb and Jenkins, who they had just met.

"The wine is nice though," Debbie continued. "You learn things. You pick up on things like the differences in grapes."

"And drinking the wine isn't bad either," Reeb added.

Adam Shull can be contacted at 575-8653.

Wine tour tips

Before you tour a winery, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail has some tips.

Peak seasons

The busiest season for wineries runs from September to December. Visitors pick back up in May and June with high temperatures holding most people at bay in July and August.

Wine touring tips

Designate a driver.

Try something new and you might be surprised. Let the staff make suggestions.

Take notes, especially if you are gone all day. You'll appreciate the cheat sheet when you get home.

Visit during the off-season. November through April is an excellent time.

Ask questions. Winery staff love to be engaged and help educate.

Eat the crackers. They help clean your palate and absorb alcohol.

Don't just stick to big-name wineries, hit the smaller ones, too.

The nose knows. Avoid strong perfumes or aftershave. The aroma of wine is half the fun of tasting.

Call ahead for large parties.

Be patient. You may have to wait a minute or two before the staff can serve you if you visit during the peak seasons.

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Alto Vineyards at 8515 State Route 127 North, Alto Pass, Ill., 62905

Pomona Winery at 2865 Hickory Ridge Road, Pomona, Ill., 62975

Owl Creek Vineyard at 2655 Water Valley Road, Cobden, Ill., 62920

Von Jakob Vineyard at 1309 Sadler Road, Pomona, Ill., 62975 (it has an orchard listed at 230 State Route 127 North, Alto Pass, Ill., 62905)

Inheritance Valley Vineyards at 5490 Route 127 North, Cobden, Ill.

Hedman Vineyards at 560 Chestnut Street, Alto Pass, Ill., 62905

Blue Sky Vineyard at 3150 South Rocky Comfort Road, Makanda, Ill., 62958

Star View Vineyards at 5100 Wing Hill Road, Cobden, Ill., 62920

Kite Hill Vineyards and Winery at 83 Kite Hill Road, Carbondale, Ill., 62903

Orlandini Vineyard at 410 Thorn Lane, Makanda, Ill., 62958

Southern Illinois Wine Trail

Bella Terra Winery at 755 Parker City Road, Creal Springs, Ill., 62922

Cache River Basin Vineyard and Winery at 315 Forman Lane, Belknap, Ill., 62908

Flint Hill Vineyard at 2105 Illinois 45, Muddy, Ill.

Hogg Hollow Winery at Route 2 Box 202-4, Golconda, Ill., 62938

Shawnee Winery at 200 West Commercial Street, Vienna, Ill.

Windy Hill Vineyard and Winery at 2955 Creal Springs Road, Creal Srings Ill.

Three simple steps to wine tasting

1. Swirl -- Swirl the wine in the glass vigorously to coat the side of the glass and release the aroma of its bouquet.

2. Smell -- Place your nose in the glass and sense the different aromas in the wine.

3. Taste -- Sip a small amount of wine and allow it to come into contact with all of your taste buds. The ideal touch is a soft, velvet feeling in your mouth.