Southern success

~ Sixty percent of the state's wine industry is near the Shawnee National Forest.

Not many wineries existed in Illinois 10 years ago -- 14 to be exact -- and approximately 100 growers were harvesting grapes. Now the state has more than 60 wineries and approximately 300 grape growers who combine to produce half a million gallons of wine per year.

Sixty percent of the state's wine-producing industry is in Southern Illinois, the prime grape-growing region in the state because its rolling hills provide the crop with good drainage.

Winemaking now is a $20 million industry in Illinois.

Last September, Illinois celebrated its first annual wine month, and the state gave $550,000 to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vinters Association to expand development and awareness of the state's wine industry.

This weekend the Illinois Department of Agriculture will feature food and wine from dozens of Illinois-based companies at the eighth annual Illinois Products Expo in Springfield, Ill. More than half of the Illinois wineries attending the expo are from Southern Illinois.

"This is a great opportunity not only for food and wine companies to market their products directly to consumers but also for the Illinois Department of Agriculture to raise awareness about the economic importance of the industry," said Chuck Hartke, the state's agriculture director.

Bill McCartney, executive director of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, thinks the number of wineries in the state has increased dramatically because of their attractiveness to tourists. "People enjoy going to wineries to drink wine and eat cheese," he said.

He said Southern Illinois wineries also have another attraction -- proximity to the Shawnee National Forest.

"In the last five years, the business has absolutely exploded," said Brad Genung, owner of Owl Creek Vineyard in Cobden, Ill. "Most of these wineries are in small rural areas, so it's definitely an economic impact for the region."

Owl Creek Vineyard is a small winery and vineyard operation that opened in December 1995. The owners of Owl Creek have attended the Illinois Products Expo since its inception eight years ago. He said expo has helped raise awareness of his winery. The state has been promoting wine production for the past five years, which has helped recharge an almost dead industry, he said.

Genung said winemakers plan on attracting more Missouri visitors to cross the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge to visit Southern Illinois wineries. He said the group plans to start marketing a wine trail, featuring eight local wineries, by placing signs near the bridge.

Alto Vineyards and Winery in Alto Pass, Ill., began its wine production in December 1988. The following February, Alto Vineyards sold out its inventory of 1,200 gallons of wine in a matter of days. Over the past decade it has increased its wine production by more than 20 percent, said owner Paul Renzaglia, whose father began the winery.

Renzaglia has attended the expo since it originated and has seen attendance to the event grow drastically in the last eight years.

"We've had wonderful results from attending and participating in this," Renzaglia said. "We've got great follow-ups from people who attended the event that come to visit us."

Approximately 6,000 people, including food buyers and the public, attend the Illinois Products Expo. Last year 56 food and wine companies sold more than $47,000 worth of goods at the expo. This year more than 70 companies offering wine, fresh meat products, gourmet seasonings and sauces, homemade jams and jellies and specialty dressings are expected to attend.

This will be the first expo for Shawnee Winery in Vienna, Ill., said Tiffany Korte, manager of the nearly 2-year-old winery.

"We're hoping it will increase awareness that we're here," she said. "Any time someone can go in and taste our wine -- it's always good publicity."

Many of these wineries have produced prize-winning wines. The Alto Pass Vineyard and Winery has received more than 375 medals in regional, national and international competitions over the years. Its customer base spans Illinois and a number of surrounding states.

In the past 10 years, Owl Creek Winery has won almost 70 state and national wine competitions. "There is a skepticism about wine products in Illinois," Genung said. "But we actually have wine that impresses people. Our wines hold up fairly well across the world."

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 246