Best of Illinois: State Fair Wine Competition Winners Announced

The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance recently unveiled the crème de la crème of the state's wine industry. Over 250 exceptional red, white, rosé, sparkling, specialty, and dessert wines from commercial wineries across Illinois competed for top honors. This year’s winners represent the pinnacle of taste and craftsmanship, showcasing the vibrant and flourishing wine scene in Illinois. 

The winners are listed below in their respective categories:

The ISF Wine Competition is sponsored annually by IGGVA and supported by the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

BEST OF SHOW - COMMERCIAL DIVISION

Blue Sky Vineyard 2022 Chambourcin Reserve

Winemaker: Kaleb Wilson; Grower: Blue Sky Vineyard

GOVERNOR’S CUPS FOR ILLINOIS-GROWN FRUIT

Red Wine: Alto Vineyards, 2022 Dawg House Red

Winemaker: Paul Renzaglia; Grower: Alto Vineyards

White Wine: Alto Vineyards, 2022 Vignoles

Winemaker: Paul Renzaglia; Grower: Alto Vineyards

Rosé Wine: Kite Hill Vineyards, 2023 Flyaway Rosé

Winemaker: Scott Albert; Grower: Kite Hill Vineyards

Specialty Wine: West of Wise Winery, 2023 Blackberry Cider

Winemaker: Darrell Simmermaker; Grower: Broom Orchards

Sparkling Wine: August Hill Winery, 2022 ISC Demi Sec Rosé

Winemaker: Mark Wenzel; Grower: August Hill Winery

Dessert Wine: Blue Sky Vineyard, NV Shawnee Cream

Winemaker: Kaleb Wilson; Grower: Blue Sky Vineyard 

TOP AWARDS FOR WINES FROM ANY APPELLATION

Red Wine: Blue Sky Vineyard, 2022 Norton

Winemaker: Kaleb Wilson; Grower: Blue Sky Vineyard 

White Wine: West of Wise Winery, 2023 Strike The Gold

Winemaker: Darrell Simmermaker; Grower: Ratio Vineyards

Rosé Wine: Spoon River Junction, 2023  Junction Rosé

Winemaker: Bradley Beam; Grower: Bill Nayden

Specialty Wine: Honker Hill Winery, 2023 Southern Hunt

Winemaker: Scott Albert; Growers: Buzz'n on Vines and Wine Vineyard

AMATEUR DIVISION:

Best of Show – Lyn Kaufman/ LynKen Winery, 2023 Rock River White

Top Grape Wine – Laura Hale, Labrusca Blend

Top Non-Grape Wine – Troy Hensley,  Blackberry Bombshell 

Click here for Commercial Results by Producer

Click here for Commercial Results by Class

Click here for Amateur Results

Uncork the Magic of Illinois Wine!

Ready to discover the incredible flavors of award-winning Illinois wine? Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with a diverse range of wines, from crisp and refreshing whites to rich and robust reds.

Join us at one of our upcoming events to meet the passionate winemakers behind these exceptional bottles. You'll learn about the unique grapes thriving in our state and experience the incredible diversity of Illinois wines.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to savor the best of Illinois! Check out our events calendar and start planning your wine adventure today.

Christian County Fair

Grape news, everyone! 🍇 It's time to wine up and prepare for the Christian County Fair Wine Experience! We're about to embark on a cork-tastic adventure, and we couldn't be more excited to share this experience with you all. 🥳

Let's uncork the essential details:

🎟️ Event: Christian County Fair 2024 Wine Experience 📍 Location: Expo Building, Christian County Fairgrounds 1716 West Spresser Taylorville, IL 62568-2233 📅 Date(s): Thursday, July 18th & Friday, July 19th

 ⏰ Hours of Operation:

Thursday, July 20th: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday, July 21st: 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Participating wineries include: Arpeggio Winery, West of Wise Winery, Wyldewood Cellars Illinois and The Pour Vineyard. Savor award-winning wines and rock out to live music at the Christian County Fair!

Grape news, everyone! 🍇 It's time to wine up and prepare for the Christian County Fair Wine Experience! We're about to embark on a cork-tastic adventure, and we couldn't be more excited to share this experience with you all. 🥳

Let's uncork the essential details:

🎟️ Event: Christian County Fair 2024 Wine Experience 📍 Location: Expo Building, Christian County Fairgrounds 1716 West Spresser Taylorville, IL 62568-2233 📅 Date(s): Thursday, July 18th & Friday, July 19th

 ⏰ Hours of Operation:

Thursday, July 20th: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Friday, July 21st: 4:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Participating wineries include: Arpeggio Winery, West of Wise Winery, Wyldewood Cellars Illinois and The Pour Vineyard. Savor award-winning wines and rock out to live music at the Christian County Fair!

Raise a Glass! Join us at The Illinois State Fair August 8 - 18

We have three locations at the Illinois State Fair! The Illinois Wine Experience is open daily in the Artisan Building. Your $10 entry fee provides five tasting tickets and a complimentary wine tumbler Additional tasting tickets are available for purchase, enabling you to sample award-winning wines for all taste preferences (White, Red, Rosé, dry, sweet, semi-sweet). Cool off and relax with the winemakers while you sample, sip and stock up for home (purchase a case or more and your wine gets a ride to your vehicle on the fairgrounds).

The Illinois Wine booth in Village of Cultures (formerly Ethnic Village) will feature one winery per day selling glasses, bottles and our world-famous wine slushies!

The Illinois Wine booth in the Commodities Pavilion, across from the Grandstand, will feature one winery per day selling glasses, bottles and our world-famous wine slushies! 

And speaking of slushies, we’ve added a 4th location this year. You can find Illinois Wine and our famous State Fair Wine Slushies in the Illinois Department of Agriculture Tent, adjacent to Reisch Pavilion. 

Visit here for all the details of the Illinois Wine Experience at the Illinois State Fair. 

Buy tickets now: Vintage Illinois Wine Festival

Get ready to sip, savor, and uncork the fun at this year’s Vintage Illinois Weekend as we celebrate our 21st anniversary of hosting this wine festival! The state’s largest – and most highly anticipated – Illinois wine festival is returning to North Utica with more delectable wines and culinary delights than ever before. 

Since its inception, Vintage Illinois has become a treasured staple for locals and out-of-towners alike. It’s a unique opportunity for attendees to sample their way through a roster of distinctive vintners, enjoy live music, and plan an event-filled getaway. 

Save the dates Saturday, September 21st (11 AM – 6 PM) and Sunday, September 22nd (Noon – 5 PM). 

During the weekend, you’ll have the opportunity to shop local businesses and Canal Market vendors, as well as spoil your taste buds with bites from local restaurants and event food trucks.

Buy Tickets now!