Your One-Stop Ultimate Guide To A Wine Tour Around Illinois
Illinois and its surrounding areas are a gastronome’s paradise, being a home of some of the finest restaurants and vineyards
Wine lovers especially are in for a treat in Illinois with its five-star wineries with established legacies. You can elevate the experience by choosing to ride with us when you visit them.
10 Must-visit Wineries In And Around Illinois
Illinois is an ideal place for visiting some of the hottest wine spots. No matter what kind of wine experience you’re seeking, you will find it in and around Illinois and its surrounding areas.
However, if you’re not sure where to begin, this article has you covered on some of the finest wine spots here, so you pick the right one for you.
Take a break from the city corporate life and unwind in the picturesque countryside of Illinois. We recommend Lynfred Winery, which is about 45-minutes from Chicago. Lynfred Winery is the oldest and largest family winery in Illinois, producing over 70 varietals and 30,000 cases of fine wine per year. Lynfred Winery boasts of the finest vintage wines, gourmet cuisine, and luxurious lodging. Complimentary tours on weekends, and wine tastings are available daily.
Visit the upscale August Hill Winery in downtown Utica if you’re only interested in the fine dining experience. Sip on locally made handcrafted wines in the Illinois Sparkling Co. tasting room at the August Hill Winery. Open seven days a week, and just a few minutes from the Starved Rock State Park, August Hill Winery promises an exceptional wine experience. However, if you want to visit their vineyards in rural Peru, Illinois, you’ll have to book their private tours in advance.
Prairie State Winery is your best bet if you’re seeking new exciting flavors, combinations of ingredients, and processes for producing fine wines. You’ll find flavors you’ll get nowhere else but here in Prairie State Winery. They’ve mastered the art of co-fermenting different kinds of grapes to invent some fun, fusion flavors such as the Snap! infused with fresh ginger. Using only Illinois-grown grapes, they have over 35 unique wines processed from their state-of-the-art facility close to the winery. It’s a warm, relaxing environment with a friendly staff to guide you to find the perfect wine suited to your palate.
Acquaviva Winery is a family-owned winery and vineyard sprawling across 85-acre Maple Park estate. With over a century dedicated to the art of winemaking, they’ve cultivated locally grown vines with award-winning creations. They have a tasting bar, Neapolitan-style pizza bistro serving foods that pairs well with the accompanying wines, retail marketplace, private event space, visible winemaking production center & vineyard tours. Acquaviva Winery has amazing architecture and hand-painted fine art by world-renowned artist Andrew Zabela. They specialize in private events and weddings. Visit Acquaviva Winery for their award-winning wines, delicious food, and spectacular views.
Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant is located in the Southwest Michigan hills serving the community for over 50 years. One of the iconic wineries in Michigan to offer a fine dining experience in their vineyards, this is a must-visit place if you’re looking for a quick getaway from Illinois. A fantastic option for a night-out with your family and friends. One of the first wineries in the area and the region’s best, they offer an eclectic lineup of wines - crisp sparkling wines, dessert cherry wine, rosés, dry reds, dry whites besides their winery tours. Dine in their restaurant that overlooks the vineyard, and serves foods with the freshest seasonal ingredients. You can also get artisanal chocolates at their restaurant.. With its exquisite wines, food, and one-of-a-kind Estate Tent among the vineyards, Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant can host your special occasions like a reception or bridal showers.
For award-winning, handcrafted wines, visit Fox Valley Winery which was established in 2000. No stranger to international awards, you will have a phenomenal wine-tasting experience at the Fox Valley Winery. This family-owned winery specializes in crafting small batches of fruit-focused Illinois-grown wines. They make most of their wines from their estate-grown single-vineyard grapes. They have wine tastings daily and host special occasions all year long. You can also shop for gifts made by local artisans. So, sip on their wine along with food pairings that match well alongside the picturesque Fox River Valley.
Chicago Winery is the city’s newest urban winery, creating small batches of on-site wine blends. You can choose from their wine tours, classes, tastings, and more. Dine at LIVA, which offers delectable food made from seasonal ingredients and an outdoor patio. Located downtown in River North, glam up your wedding, date night, or a fun night with your friends or colleagues by choosing Chicago Winery for your special occasion.
8. Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery, located in Washington Heights, is known for its artisanal brewery. What’s distinct about this place is they are the only meadery besides their winery and vineyards. Some fresh and fruity blends include the Wild Berry Nectar and Green Apple Riesling. You can choose from a range of meads and wines with the help of the friendly staff at Wild Blossom Meadery.
The 12 Corners Vineyards is located just a few miles from Michigan’s famous “Gold Coast”. Sprawling over 40 acres of land planted with vinifera and hybrid grapes, 12 Corners is one of the largest wineries in Michigan. They offer wines at Benton Harbor, South Haven, and Grand Haven. Taste their fine wines while seated in an outdoor location overlooking the spectacular vineyards. Visit 12 Corners for its premium guest services, fantastic scenery, and of course the incredible wines which will have you coming back for more. There are also 4 acres of apple trees that are used to make hard apple cider. You can rent the place for your special occasions.
10. Valentino Vineyards & Winery
Savor award-winning wines at the Valentino Vineyards & Winery. They’ve won over 40 awards and medals for their exceptional homegrown wines. They produce around 20 different types of wines with 20 different varieties of grapes grown on their 20-acre Estate Vineyard. The wines are barrel aged in very fine quality French and American Oak Barrels. The Tasting Room is open from May until December with no reservation. You can walk in during their open hours. However, the Vineyard Tour, Wine Tasting, and Wine Appreciation Seminar are by appointment only.
Plan Your Wine Tour Around Illinois with Rioja Limo
A memorable wine tour is the perfect solution to rejuvenate and transform yourself. If you haven’t done a wine tour before or have any idea how to go about it, contact a professional wine tour planner who can help you make the most of the experience.
You might also want to look into the best limo services in Chicago as you wouldn’t want to drink and drive after the fun wine tour.
Trust Rioja Limo to help you get the best experience with our modern fleet. Our professional chauffeurs are familiar with all the hot wine spots in and around the Chicago surrounding areas. However, we suggest you plan and book the limousine well in advance.
