Welcome! The Northern Illinois Wine Growers association website is a communication, training and informational support tool for its members. However, whether you're a member or not, please feel free to browse. We believe you will be amazed, as we are, by the vigor of the wine industry in Illinois. The growing variety of wines, the many vineyards and the increasing acreage of land focused on viticulture is breathtaking! Further information can be obtained using our contact page or navigation bar at left.

There is a revolution in grape growing and wine making in Illinois. Ten years ago, seven or eight wineries dotted the state and maybe 100 acres were devoted to grapes. Today, those numbers have ballooned to about 80 wineries and more than 2,000 acres of vines. Those who are involved in wine making here like to think that Illinois is where California was in the 1970s – producing great wines that have only to be recognized.

To help spread the word, the Northern Illinois Wine Growers (NIWG) is sponsoring a “Top of Illinois Wine Festival” at Depot Park on the riverfront in Galena , on Saturday, June 19. Co-sponsors are the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association and Galena Jo Daviess County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Info Links

 www.visitnorthernillinois.com/wineTrailWineries.html

www.vesta-usa.org

Upcoming NIWG Meetings & Events

Join Us at the First Top of Illinois Wine Fest

Depot Park on the Riverfront, Galena, IL

Saturday, June 19, 2010 --- 11:00a till 6:00p

For More Information: www.topofilwinefest.info

Seminar: Cotes du Rhone -

"Great Wines of the Rhone Valley"

Speaker: Megan Wiig CSW, Masters OIV,  Speaker Profile

Three hour seminar and tasting discussing the

diversity wine from the Rhone Valley, with tasting.

Saturday, July 17, 2010 --- 1:00p till 4:00p

The Barrel Room, Galena Cellars Winery, Ford Road

Limited to 50 Registrants - Registration Form

The Northern Illinois Wine Growers has scheduled a special event for July 17, 2010, of direct interest to owners of vineyards/wineries located within the Upper Mississippi River Valley AVA (Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin). Ms. Megan Wiig, graduate of the prestigious Universite Paris X, O.I.V. Masters in Wine Business, will deliver an orientation to the history, organization and administration of the Cotes du Rhone Appellation, North/South (Crus, Village, and General), evaluation and supervision of member vineyards/wineries, and required practice standards in viticulture and enology. She will discuss examples of terrior and describe cultivars. Intermittent throughout the seminar, participants will sample and evaluate representative (4-6) Cotes du Rhone wines, white/red. For further info contact: ghpodraza@yahoo.com