Spring Wine Tours in Illinois

Every spring, the wineries and vineyards in Illinois open to locals, tourists and wine enthusiasts for tours, tastings and festivals. There are several wineries and vineyard scattered across the state of Illinois, mostly along one river or the other. A spring wine tour in Illinois is a great way to see a different part of the state of Illinois and discover new wines and great food.

Here are a couple wine tours I have taken in Illinois, both as part of a wine tour trip or just traveling through.

Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery

The Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery in Galena, Illinois is the best spring wine tour choice because of the full package deal you get at this great location. Located in far northwestern Illinois, Galena is a great weekend getaway with an active historic district, great shopping, a diverse selection of restaurants and the Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery to keep you busy. Opening May 1st, vineyard tours are just minutes from the heart of town, in the breathtaking, countryside that sits along the Mississippi River.

Daily wine tours at the Galena Cellars Vineyard are daily at 2 p.m., perfect for grabbing lunch and then walking it off. Galena, being a three hour drive from the city of Chicago, is a great weekend destination, and the Galena Cellars has its own Country Farmhouse suites to accommodate guest right on site. If you can't wait till March, the Galena Wine Lovers Weekend takes place March 26th to the 29th, a wine event complete with tastings, winery tours and great food!

Galena Cellars Vineyard is located at 4826 North Ford Road, Galena, IL. There are two retail locations, one on Main Street in Galena and the second in Geneva at 477 South 3rd Street. The 40 wine varieties are stocked and sold in both stores, with bottles ranging from $10-$30. http://www.galenacellars.net

Ravissant Winery

The Ravissant Winery in Belleville, Illinois provides the perfect setting for a romantic weekend getaway, or a fun weekend with friends where you can visit Ravissant and other nearby wineries all on the same weekend. Unlike many of Illinois wineries, Ravissant is open for guided winery tours year round where you can taste the ten different wines that are aged on the premises. The best part, the winery tours are complimentary, so you have more to spend on good wine!

Because Ravissant Winery is just outside St. Louis it makes a great day trip option, but if you are visiting it and several of the other vineyards in the region that make up the Heartland Rivers Wine Trail, it also makes a great overnight stop. The nearby Swans Court Bed and Breakfast is a comfortable and affordable option for overnight guests. http://www.ravissantwinery.com

Prairie State Winery

Unlike the other two wineries mentioned, Prairie State does not grow all its own grapes, and the winery is not located on the vineyard. The vineyard does produce its own grapes, that are used in the wine, but the bulk of the grapes used are grown in other parts of Illinois. The winery itself gives tours every single week, as well as weekly tastings events both at the winery and at various locations around the state of Illinois. Closer to Chicago than other wineries, the Prairie State Winery is located in Genoa, Illinois.

Weekend winery tours include a look at the process of making wine at the Prairie State Winery, including a look at the sustainable practices that the vineyard and winery employ. After every tour there is a wine tasting with recommendations based on what you like and meals that can be served with your preferred wine. The wide variety of wines from the Prairie State Winery is large enough that there is something for every taste, making Prairie a winery that everyone should check out. www.prairiestatewinery.com