Illinois wine trails
- The Shawnee Hills AVA in Southern Illinois became the state's first American Viticultural Area on December 27, 2006; it covers 2,139 square miles.
- Northwestern Illinois lies in the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA, the state's second wine-growing region, which the Northern Illinois Wine Trail runs through.
- Illinois grows cold-hardy grapes; the state grape and wine association lists Chambourcin, Norton, Vignoles, Traminette, Chardonel, Frontenac, Marechal Foch, Seyval Blanc and Vidal Blanc among them.
- Enjoy Illinois, the state tourism office, says northern Illinois is known for Vignoles, Chambourcin and Frontenac.
Our full trail guides
All wine trails in Illinois
| Trail | Region | Wineries | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlyle Lake Wine Trail | Carlyle Lake, southwestern Illinois | 5 | Official site |
| Heart of Illinois Wine Trail | Central Illinois | 9 | Official site |
| Mississippi Valley Wine Trail | Western Illinois (Quincy and Nauvoo area, Mississippi River) | – | Official site |
| Northern Illinois Wine Trail unconfirmed | Northern Illinois, Chicago suburbs to Galena (Chicagoland, Fox River Valley and Northwest loops) | – | Official site |
| Shawnee Hills Wine Trail | Southern Illinois (Shawnee National Forest, Shawnee Hills AVA) | 11 | Official site |
| Wabash Valley Wine Trail | Southeastern Illinois and southwestern Indiana (Wabash River) | 6 | Official site |
Frequently asked questions
How many wine trails are in Illinois?
We list 6 wine trails in Illinois (5 confirmed active). A trail counts only if it has its own website or an official tourism page.
Sources
- https://illinoiswine.com/page/Illinois-Wine-Trails
- https://illinoiswine.com/page/IllinoisGrapes
- https://www.enjoyillinois.com/things-to-do/food-and-drink/wineries-and-vineyards/
- https://www.enjoyillinois.com/plan-your-trip/travel-inspiration/wine-country-weekends/
- https://www.enjoyillinois.com/explore/listing/mississippi-valley-wine-trail/
- https://shawneewinetrail.com/
- https://shawneewinetrail.com/about/
- https://shawneewinetrail.com/shawnee-hills-ava/
- http://carlylelakewinetrail.com/
- https://wvwinetrail.wixsite.com/home
- https://www.greatriverroad-illinois.org/Northern-Illinois-Wine-Trail-Northwest-Loop