Spend a quick and easy weekend touring wine country in Central Illinois.
“Viagara” wine, whose name is a play on the prescription medication Viagra, comes in blue bottles for men and pink for women at Illinois River Winery in Utica.
(Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
A flight of wine at August Hill’s sophisticated tasting lounge in Utica. (Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
People attending the International Music, Wine and Craft Beer Festival at Mackinaw Valley Vineyard this spring take the party to the lawn. ( Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
Mary Hofmann, of Sunset Lake Vineyards and Winery, with her beloved dog, Moritz. Her golden retriever, Maxl, died this year, but she said Maxl’s successor is expected to be on-site at the winery soon.
(Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
Customers do a tasting at the bar at August Hill Winery & Illinois Sparkling Co. Tasting Room in Utica. (Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
Donna Grohsmeyer, along with her husband, designed and built the new Bent Tree tasting room at Old Mill Vineyard in Metamora, Ill. (Karen Torme Olson/Chicago Tribune )
