Illinois vineyards and wineries pour passion, skill, and flavor into every glass, and a warm welcome into every visit.
From the sun-soaked vineyards of Southern Illinois to family-run operations up north, our state's wine scene is buzzing with flavor.
Ever tasted a Chambourcin or Norton? These grapes love Illinois soil, and our winemakers know just how to bring out their best. Many vineyards open their doors year-round, inviting you to see how they work their magic.
Make a day of it - or a whole weekend. Hop between tasting rooms, nibble on local cheeses, and chat with the folks who tend the vines. You'll hear new stories and see wine in a different way at every location.
Come taste what makes Illinois wine special. You might just find a new favorite sip.
Explore Illinois' wine regions
Central Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
You'll get a taste of heartland hospitality here. It's a region rich in history, and each bottle contains a little of that story. Here the winemakers harness the temperate climate to craft a variety of wines, rich in depth and flavor.
Central Illinois Wineries
Northern Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
Northern Illinois' cooler climate makes for a longer growing season, yielding wines with deep, complex flavors and robust acidity. The region is celebrated for its Vignoles, Chambourcin, and Frotenac grapes.
Northern Illinois Wineries
Southern Illinois Wineries & Vineyards
Here, you'll find diverse wineries making the most of the region's warmer climate, fertile soils, and agricultural heritage. Enjoy a range of tastes at historic family-run wineries, innovative new vineyards, and everything in-between.
Southern Illinois Wineries
Illinois Wine Trails
Wine trails offer a fresh way to explore Illinois, linking local wineries into unique tasting adventures. (Ever sipped a Chambourcin while chatting with the person who grew the grapes? That's the kind of experience you're in for.)
Of course, it's about more than just the sipping. You'll meet friendly winemakers, and glimpse corners of Illinois you might never see otherwise.
These five distinct trails invite you to slow down and savor the moment - as well as the wine. So grab your friends, pick a trail, and set out on a flavorsome adventure.
-
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (Southern Illinois)
Follow this 40-mile trail through the lush Shawnee National Forest. You'll find 11 wineries, each with its own style, including some of Illinois' oldest and most celebrated vineyards. While you're there, check out the local art, unique shops, and tasty food too. It's a feast for all your senses!
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (Southern Illinois) -
Heart of Illinois Wine Trail (Central Illinois)
New to the scene, this trail links nine wineries in a heart shape across Central Illinois, with each stop giving you a taste of great wines. The wineries here are deeply rooted in their communities, so along with those wines, you'll also get a true flavor of small-town Illinois.
Heart of Illinois Wine Trail (Central Illinois) -
Mississippi Valley Wine Trail (Western Illinois)
Seven family-owned wineries sit on this trail along the Mississippi River on Illinois' western edge. Enjoy stunning river views while sipping local wines. It's a great place to relax with friends and taste what the Midwest has to offer, all with a backdrop of rolling hills and riverscapes.
Mississippi Valley Wine Trail (Western Illinois) -
Carlyle Lake Wine Trail
Five wineries near Carlyle Lake make up this young trail, which started in 2017. Each family-run spot offers something new, from fruit wines to classic reds. They're all tucked away on back roads and among farm fields, giving you a real taste of rural Illinois charm.
Carlyle Lake Wine Trail -
Wabash Valley Wine Trail
Millennia of hard work by the Wabash River has made this area the perfect grape-growing environment for its six wineries. Take your time to enjoy the wines and the scenery of southeast Illinois. With its mix of flavors and landscapes, this trail shows how special border country can be.
Wabash Valley Wine Trail
-
Countryside Tours Galena
Short on time? Countryside Tours Galena packs a lot into four hours. You'll visit three vineyards and enjoy up to seven tastings at each. Tours run twice daily, all year round, so you can easily fit one into your Galena trip.
-
Galena Wine Tours
Want a tried-and-true experience? Galena Wine Tours has been showing off local wines for 19 years. They'll pick you up from your hotel and take you on a tasty tour of the Upper Mississippi Valley Wine Region. Try their Wine, Food & Brew Tour for a full flavor of what Galena offers.
-
Winery Tours of Southern Illinois
Want to plan your own wine adventure? Winery Tours of Southern Illinois lets you do just that, driving you around the Shawnee Hills and Southern Illinois wineries of your choice. With more than 20 of those to choose from, you can sip award-winning wines and enjoy local food at your own pace.
-
Shawnee Shuttle
Love a personal touch? Shawnee Shuttle creates custom tours just for you and up to five friends. For seven hours, you'll explore southern Illinois wineries and more. They'll pick you up from your hotel and show you not just wine, but also local food, art, and history. Their friendly drivers know all the best spots.
-
Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Tours
Looking for a mix of wine and scenery? Wrightway Transportation's Shawnee Hills Wine Trail Tours takes you through the beautiful Shawnee National Forest to the wineries of the region. They suggest visiting 3-5 wineries so you have time to really enjoy each stop.
Find wineries near you with the Illinois Wine App
On the trail for wine? Plan your next stops with the Illinois Wine App. It's full of information about every winery in Illinois. Plus, it shows you which wineries won Gold or Double Gold medals in the most recent Illinois State Fair Wine Competition, so you can try the wines the experts have judged the best in the state.
Meet Illinois winemakers
-
Show more in category of Wineries
Illinois Made Sparkling Wine
Welcome an independent craft wine maker obsessed with creating exceptional sparkling wine using the traditional method and grapes that are 100% Illinois grown. Read more about Illinois Made Sparkling Wine -
Show more in category of Wineries
Galena Cellars
When Robert and Joyce Lawlor followed their gut to a winemaking class in the early 1970s, they had no idea that their passion would eventually add something special to the... Read more about Galena Cellars -
Show more in category of Wineries
Alto Vineyards
After retiring from Southern Illinois University in 1978, Guy Renzaglia decided it was his civic duty as an Italian to start growing grapes. Read more about Alto Vineyards -
Show more in category of Farms & Orchards
New Berlin's Family Vineyard
Ripping through a handful of trees and original farming structures, a tornado turned most of the farm to rubble. But buried under the disaster, Susan saw her opportunity to transform... Read more about New Berlin's Family Vineyard -
Show more in category of Wineries
Sleepy Creek Vineyards
Some people once believed it was impossible to start a winery and vineyard in East Central Illinois, but Joe and Dawn Taylor overcame every obstacle and made it possible. Read more about Sleepy Creek Vineyards -
Show more in category of Eat & Drink
The Galena Wine Experience
Roll up your pant legs and be prepared for purple feet while stomping grapes. Wine adventures such as this abound in the rolling countryside around this Mississippi River town. Read more about The Galena Wine Experience
Pomona Winery | Illinois Made
Alto Vineyards | Illinois Made
Galena Cellars | Illinois Made