So True. So True.

The Southern, an Illinois newspaper, posted an article on Friday called ‘Ups & Downs’ mentioning some of the good vs. evil in Illinois this year. What caught my eye was this quote:

“Thumbs down – to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for putting state support for the burgeoning Illinois wine industry on the chopping block. It is now, as the industry is experiencing phenomenal growth, that it needs expert guidance for grape growing and winemaking if it is to produce quality wines. What's a near $400,000 state investment in return for an estimated $60 million direct economic impact that includes state taxes and state license fees? We know the state budget is strained, but this expense looks more than justified by the return on investment.”

Kudos to the Southern! Finally someone has it right! Before prohibition Illinois was the fourth largest wine producing state in the US (New York, Ohio and Missouri being the top three). If Illinois wine is going to continue to grow we need the help of our state and local governments.

Well said Southern, well said. . .

Quality Assurance Program

Canada is doing it; so is Pennsylvania; why not Illinois? At the last meeting of the IWA members discussed the prospect of submitting Illinois wines, from member wineries, for analysis. The analysis doesn’t award the wines with bronze, silver and gold but with a stamp of approval.

There is such a plethora of wines available to consumers that having a ‘stamp of approval’ could give assurance to buyers that the wine has been tested and is well worth their money. It’s a project that IWA is doing research on and was just delighted to see someone else trying it out.

Member News: Blue Sky Winemaker Dinner

April 12, 2008 – 1:00pm – 3:00pm

Save the date for an opportunity to enjoy award-winning Illinois wines and 4-star quality food at Blue Sky Vineyard. Learn the basics of wine tasting and the rules of wine and food pairing. Meet our winemaker Karen Hand, "Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Associations" - Vintner of the Year 2006, and enjoy a delicious, catered 5-course meal.

After the class join our winemaker for a tour of our cellar. Each person that attends the course will receive a 10% off coupon good towards a purchase made that day at the vineyard.

Read what some of our guests said about our first "Wine & Food" course:

"I enjoyed this very much. This was my first wine class. I would like to repeat it someday, just to refresh. Thank You!" - Wine Drinker for 7 years

"This class was very well presented and easy to understand and best of all, a lot of fun. Great wine, great food, and great information!" - Deb Browning

"Great workshop! Very informative. - A nice way to spend an afternoon! - Wine Drinker for 20 years

Caterer and Menu Information Will Be Available March 5, 2008

For More Information Contact:

Blue Sky Vineyard

3150 S. Rocky Comfort Rd. Makanda, IL 62958
Phone: 618-995-9463 Fax: 618-995-9763

1st Quarter Meeting Summary

Thanks to IWA members, our First Quarter 2008 General Membership Meeting was a great success. We have three great challenges ahead of us:

. to influence Illinois legislators to pass laws governing winemakers that protect our right to growand prosper while preserving reasonable access andcosts for consumers, and

. to introduce consumers to Illinois wines and wineries through various cooperative promotional programs, and

. to improve the quality and reputation of Illinois wines by establishing quality standards according tothe tenets of the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI).

The Second Quarter General Membership Meeting will beheld in May on a date and in a location to be determined. We will hear the reports of the Marketing and Legislative Action Committees and the BTI StudyTeam at that time.

Be Informed

The passing of House Bill 0429 in 2007 has left the Illinois Winemakers’ Alliance with a battle on their hands. Our battle will begin with first informing our consumers of what HB0429 will do. Here is the letter we will be sending out to our mailing lists:


Dear Illinois Wine Consumer,

I am writing to you in regards to current wine legislation that will affect Illinois wine consumers. Recently House Bill 0429 was signed by Governor Blagojevich and will become law July 1, 2008. The media has portrayed this bill as beneficial to all Illinois wine consumers and Illinois wineries, while it actually strips the rights of the consumer and stunts the growth of the Illinois wine industry.

We want to inform you of how the bill will affect you as a consumer:

HB0429 Ignores you, the Illinois wine consumer
HB0429 Strips your rights as Illinois citizens to buy wine from out-of-state retailers
HB0429 Increases the cost of wine to you, the consumer
HB0429 Stops the function of the free market
HB0429 Is an Illegal restraint of trade and commerce
HB0429 Prevents industry competition
HB0429 Limits fair access of Illinois wines to the retail market
HB0429 Creates an Imbalance of distribution among state wineries
.
While the private interest of the commercial entities in the industry is artificially protected from the challenges of dealing with the changes in the market place, there is no noticeable advancement of the public welfare.

We will be contacting Illinois Senators and Representatives to review the Illinois Alcoholic Beverage Laws and Regulations. The Federal Trade Commission, the federal agency in charge of consumer protection and anti-trust enforcement, will be looking into wine distribution in various states.

We urge you, the Illinois Wine Consumer, to contact your state representative and senator. Further information can be found at www.illinoiswinemakersalliance.com as well as links to contact your local and state representatives.

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us at 630.529.9463 or at wineinfo@lynfredwinery.com. In the meantime we, as Illinois Winemakers, will be planning our next move.

Sincerely,

Fred Koehler
President
IWA

Scott Lawlor
Vice President
IWA

Tom Stone
Executive Director
IWA

This letter will be followed by similar letters to our state representatives, senators and the members of the press. We urge you to share this letter with fellow wine lovers anyway you can, email, blog, anything! Help us fight the fight!

Back with a Force

After a long holiday season we are back to blog! The holidays are a busy time for wineries and wine retailers and I apologize for the lack of blogs but now we’re back in force.

The Illinois Winemakers’ Alliance is still fighting the effects of HB 0429 in Illinois and today the newspapers and media outlets are abuzz with the revelation of wholesaler’s political donations.

The SWRA has released monetary donation charts of the wholesaler’s political contributions and Wines & Vines printed the article today. The Sun Times and The Chicagoist also picked up on outrageous donations. Take a moment to read for yourselves and you’ll realize how hard it is for the Illinois Wineries to fight these battles, the wholesaler’s just have the money.

Stay tuned for upcoming political action by the IWA.

Kansas Governor Needs Some Wine Education

Today we were sent an article about the Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, who probably, nonchalantly said “If you ever see Kansas wine, don’t drink it”. Naturally we were compelled to post it.

As seen in our recent post on favorite bloggers, we mention how our favorites have an open mind to wine. For many years the general perception was that only good wine came from France. About a decade ago, wine lovers realized there were also great wines from California and eventually the entire west coast. What many people do not realize is that there are wineries in every single state of the US. Great wines are being created all over our great nation and it is quite disheartening when the head of state doesn’t even realize there are wineries there.

In the past we have not followed the politics of Governor Sebelius so this is not a political bash, however this would be a great opportunity for some wine education.

Sebelius makes quip about Kansas wine


It might not be a good idea to serve Kansas wine to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

At a fundraiser Tuesday for Gov. Chris Gregoire of Washington state, Gregoire praised her state’s wine, says the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

“You should be thankful we don’t make wine in Kansas,” Sebelius said. “If you ever see Kansas wine, don’t drink it.”

Norm Jennings, manager of a Salina, Kan., winery, didn’t find the joke funny: “It hurts.”

Spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said Sebelius was making the point that Washington produced more wine than Kansas. “She then made a poor attempt at humor but says she won’t do that again!” she said.

White Owl Winery to Speak at National Wine Conference

WHITE OWL WINERY FOUNDER TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL WINE CONFERENCE THIS WEEKEND IN NORTH CAROLINA

(For Immediate Release from Birds, Illinois)

It’s amazing where your hobby can take you! So begins the presentation by one of the founders of White Owl Winery, near Birds, Illinois.

Joy Neighbors will be presenting two one-hour-and-15 minute seminars entitled: White Owl Winery, From a Wine-Kit to a Winery this Friday and Saturday, November 2 and 3 during the 40th Annual Conference of the American Wine Society in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Neighbors is the Marketing Director of the winery and has been the originator and coordinator for the successful Murder Mystery and Comedy Improv Dinners held at White Owl for the past six years. She will speak on how the winery began, the obstacles encountered in growing a small winery in Illinois and the successful outlook for the future. She will also discuss the growth of wineries and vineyards throughout the state and the benefits of being an Illinois winery.

Neighbors was invited to speak by Gene Spaziani, National Program Chairperson for the American Wine Society. She will be the first person ever to speak from the state of Illinois. Over 6,000 attendees are expected to attend this weekend.

Before opening the winery in 2000 with her husband Brian, Neighbors spent 20 years in the broadcasting industry as a writer, producer/director and talent. She began her radio career at WAOV in Vincennes, Indiana and then moved to WTAY in Robinson, Illinois before moving to Ohio to begin a career in television.

Neighbors speaks regularly to groups and associations about the winery, marketing and agri-tourism.

IWA's Thoughts of Current Legislation

chicagotribune.com Editorial October 8, 2007

Corking the wine trade

When the Supreme Court struck down state laws barring individuals from buying wine directly from out-of-state wineries, one lawyer called it "the best day for wine lovers since the invention of the corkscrew."
The 2005 decision was a victory for consumers, an advance for open trade and a boon to vineyards with something special to sell. It turns out, though, that the celebrations may have been just a bit premature.
You see, one of the states that imposed limits on interstate wine sales was Illinois -- and it turns out some people here are not that keen on all-out, interstate competition. So they joined together to place new shackles on the wine trade. Last week, Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed a bill that limits significantly the freedom to buy and sell pinot noirs and chardonnays.
The bill allows all winemakers to ship directly to consumers who are of legal age. In the past, in-state vineyards could sell unlimited supplies to residents, but out-of-state competitors could ship no more than two cases per year to any one person. Now, the limit will be 12 cases, regardless of where the company is located.
That may not sound so bad, but there are worse provisions. Though they enjoy a new liberty to buy from out-of-state vineyards, Illinois oenophiles will no longer be able to order directly from out-of-state wine shops and other retail merchants -- something they have been doing for the last 16 years.
It looks as though about 500 California vineyards that are not officially registered as wineries won't be able to sell to individual buyers here either.
Meanwhile, Illinois' largest vineyards, unlike their smaller counterparts, won't be able to sell directly to stores and restaurants: They will have to go through wholesale distributors. That rule is bound to increase the price of a drink.
What gives? The governor's office proclaims that the bill "represents an agreement between Illinois wineries and liquor distributors." State Sen. Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), a sponsor, boasted that it will "advance our growing wine industry."
Notice anything missing from those pronouncements? Only the needs of ordinary wine drinkers. The clear intent is to protect the profits of favored businesses -- and never mind if consumers, and the state's most successful wine producers, lose out.
Even some of the retailers who are being protected from out-of-state competition have spoken out against the new barriers, fearing they will provoke retaliation from other states.
"Bills like these are bad for consumers," Brian Rosen, the president and CEO of Chicago-based Sam's Wines & Spirits, told Crain's Chicago Business. "If every state's borders were open to wine sales, we could sell $50 million in wine a year outside Illinois."
For years, Illinois laws have interfered with the wine market in ways that do nothing to benefit the average tippler. It's time for the state to get out of the way and let buyers and sellers work out the arrangements that suit them best.

Copyright © 2007, Chicago Tribune
Illinois Winemaker’s Alliance Reply to be Posted in October 13, 2007 Tribune:

On behalf of Illinois winemakers, I would like to thank the Tribune editors for recognizing the untold story and inequities of the bill recently signed by Governor Blagojevich, limiting the direct shipment of wine by winemakers to consumers in Illinois. (“Corking the Wine Trade,” October 8, 2007)

What is lost here, in addition to the right of the consumer to purchase the wines of his choice and have them shipped direct to him, is the right most successful wineries in the state to provide a wanted and needed service to that consumer and to profit from that transaction, and the right of all Illinois winemakers to continue to grow without being penalized by a law that unreasonably limits their profit margins.

Under the terms of this bill, Illinois wineries that produce more than 25,000 gallons of wine must conduct all wine shipments through a distributor. What this means is that, not only can they not ship direct to their customers, but they are also restrained from shipping to their own satellite retail outlets. The result is an additional cost to the consumer of up to 20% on all wine purchases—a penalty to both producer and consumer that benefits only the middleman!

The Illinois Winemakers Alliance is a coalition of wineries whose legislative mission is to eliminate this penalty for the state’s most successful winemakers, for those winemakers who will soon achieve production levels that will earn this penalty for them, and for the Illinois wine consumer who bears the ultimate cost of this unfair legislation.

Governor Signs the Bill

Free the Grapes!: New Illinois Law to Expand Consumer Choice for Winery-to-Consumer Shipments from 5 to 50 States, But Corks Out-of-State Retailers

NAPA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich yesterday signed House Bill 429 which goes into effect June 1, 2008. The new law dramatically expands consumer choice for winery-to-consumer purchases made by Illinois wine consumers. Under the new law, wineries in all 50 states may purchase a permit to ship. Under the old law, wineries in just five states, including Illinois, were allowed to direct ship to Illinois consumers. The trading network of states with so-called ‘reciprocal’ wine shipping arrangements has decreased from a dozen to just five: New Mexico, Wisconsin, Iowa, Oregon (changes to permit law in January 2008) and Illinois (changes to permit law in June 2008).

Next year, Illinois will join the majority of U.S. states (34) who have either replaced reciprocity language, or replaced an outright shipping ban, with the successful model direct shipping bill.

“The new law is a boon for winery-to-consumer shipments, and long overdue, but unfortunately it corks out-of-state retailers. An amendment, widely supported by Illinois consumers and Free the Grapes! would have allowed out-of-state retailers the same privileges as wineries. It was defeated by powerful Illinois retailers and wholesalers,” said Jeremy Benson, executive director, Free the Grapes!, a winery-consumer grassroots coalition.

Under the new law, wineries from every state will have the option of purchasing a permit from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission that allows them to ship up to 12 cases per individual per year, among other provisions.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on direct shipping in May 2005, winery-to-consumer shipping has become legal in 34 states, which collectively represent 78% of wine consumption in the U.S. Most states have successfully implemented the model direct shipping bill, which allows wineries to purchase a permit, pay taxes, mark boxes, and consent to the jurisdiction of the state, among other provisions. Free the Grapes! is a national consumer grassroots coalition of more than 300,000 members and supports legal, regulated direct-to-consumer wine shipments.

Illinois' Grape Expectations

A look at this season's grape expectations

September 19, 2007
Naperville Sun Times

Autumn is the time of year when grape growers all over the world lovingly harvest their crops and celebrate their bounty.

However, the recent adverse weather could put a damper on much of the merriment. Our world's shifting weather patterns have made it challenging for grape growers across the globe. Locally, with the recent rainstorms and flooding, I was concerned about its impact on Illinois wine production.

Harvest forecast

Overseas, it has been very difficult for grape growers. France experienced a cold, wet summer and had widespread attacks of vine mildew, translating into lower production this year. South Africa and Argentina also have repeated poor harvests. Parts of Australia have suffered from a very hot, dry growing season and fires. The resultant ash will dominate their grape juice with notes of smoke and bacon.

On the other hand, California experienced ideal growing conditions. Grapes love warm, sunny summer days, cool nights and light rain. Winemakers check the grapes pH, acidity and brix (the amount of sugar, which is available to convert to alcohol) levels. When right, the growers rush to pick the crops before any heavy fall rains occur. Grape growers prefer a drier, warm summer as it creates some vine stress (resulting in better wine) and allows a grower to add, through irrigation, the amount of water the crop needs. You can always add water, but cannot take it away.

Locally, our Illinois winemakers had a more challenging year. Kori Faltz of the Fox Valley Winery reported the early summer provided weather the grapes love. The heavy rains in August adversely affected the grape pH, acidity and brix, so more time was needed on the vine to hopefully restore the grapes to the proper levels. The recent Labor Day sun helped. Assuming some fall sunshine, our wet August will delay the harvest and only affect the winemaker's production schedule.

Andres Basso, the Director of Winemaking at Lynfred Winery of Roselle informed me they source some grapes in Illinois and Michigan, but the majority of grapes come from California and Washington. Given the West Coast's good harvest conditions, they are confident in the quality of their 2007 vintage.

Wine festivals

This past weekend, there were three separate festivals celebrating the fall harvest. The Naperville Wine festival was held at the Naper Settlement. Your entrance ticket included a souvenir wine glass and 10 tastings from more than 200 wine selections. Geneva celebrated the 25th anniversary of their Festival of the Vine. Twenty local restaurants offered their signature dishes along with 14 wines to sample. Local merchants offered Festival specials and horse drawn carriage rides were available. The Fox Valley Winery offered grapes in large vats for stomping, and participants received a complimentary shirt with space for their grape stained footprints. One of the state's largest wine festivals was held at Starved Rock State Park. This festival featured wines from 20 award-winning Illinois wineries. Both days featured Illinois grape seminars.

There's still time to enjoy this fall tradition. Coming up, there are two local wine festivals that are well worth checking out:

• Harvest Fest When: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday
Where: Held at the Faltz Family Vineyards, 2714 N. 4251st Road, Sheridan.
Who: Fox Valley Winery
What: This fun day includes vineyard tours, wine tastings, a vintage baseball game, grape stomp and grape spitting contests and musical entertainment.
For more information: www.foxvalleywinery.com.

• Lynfred's Annual Oktoberfest, Pig Roast and Grape Stomp
When: 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 29 and noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 30
Where: 15 S. Roselle Road, Roselle.
Who: Lynfred Winery.
What: Lots of wine, food and fun are guaranteed at this annual event. Activities for the whole family with German sing-a-longs, grape spitting, grape stomping, cork tossing and barrel races! Plentiful food with roasted pig, warm German potato salad and all the fixings plus bratwurst and "heavenly" sweet corn. Tasty desserts are also available.
For more information: www.lynfredwinery.com.

Bill Garlough is a Level One Master Sommelier. He also is an owner of My Chef Catering of Naperville, the 2007 Recipient of the US Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year Award. He can be reached at www.mychef.com or winepairings@mychef.com.

September is Illinois Wine Month

Illinois Wine Month events

BY SUZANNE BOYLE

News-Democrat

Forget the West Coast. September marks the third annual Illinois Wine Month, when wineries across the state go all-out to offer travelers festivals, tastings, grape stomps and the chance to meet with and learn from Illinois vintners.

Midwest wines may not have the same cache as the big vineyards of California, but Illinois isn't about to let that get in the way of a tourism concept that will draw visitors and their dollars to more than 60 wineries statewide -- more than half of which are located downstate.

"Over the past few years, wine tourism has become popular across the country, but travelers don't need to go to the coasts for an authentic wine country getaway," said Paul Renzaglia, president of The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association "With new and bigger events across the state and more people visiting our wineries than ever before, this year's Illinois Wine Month is positioned to be our most successful yet."

Late August and September is the traditional grape harvesting season, when Illinois vintners begin the winemaking process. With the recent heatwave, winemakers already are picking grapes because the sugar is up in many varietals due to the hotter than usual temperatures.

Illinois Wine Month events include the following events in the Southern and Southwestern regions, which includes the metro-east. For more information about wine events in other parts of the state, visit www.illinoiswine.com:

Illinois Wine Festival, Aug. 25-26, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.-- Hidden Lake Winery, Aviston. Kicking off Illinois Wine Month is the annual Illinois Wine Festival. The Heartland Rivers Wine Trail wineries will be exhibiting at this special festival, along with other Illinois wineries. Wine seminars, arts and crafts treasures, gourmet cuisine and music throughout the two days. For more information visit www.illinoiswinefestival.org.

Shawnee Hills Wine Festival, Sept. 1, 2 (noon-6 p.m.)-- Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass. Shawnee Hills Wine Festival: Join all nine wineries from the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail for a weekend-long celebration in the heart of Illinois Wine Country. The event will feature great wines, Cajun and Southern-style barbecue and the sounds of the blues. The $15 entrance fee includes a souvenir glass and $5 towards purchase of a bottle of wine at the festival. 893-4898, www.shawneewinetrail.com.

Vintage Illinois at Starved Rock 2007 September 15 (11 am-6 pm) & 16 (noon - 5 pm)
An Extraordinary Wine Tasting Event! Taste the wines of over 20 wineries at the beautiful Starved Rock Park. Tickets are $10 and additional $1 tasting tickets may be purchased. www.vintageillinois.com Call Starved Rock Lodge 1-800-868-7625 or Prairie State Winery 1-815-784-4540.

Grape Stomp, Sept. 15 (registration for stompers, 11 a.m.; stomping competition, 1 p.m.) -- Black Diamond Vineyards, Nashville. The third annual Grape Stomp will raise funds for the Illinois Brain Injury Association. The sounds of bluegrass will play as stompers compete for the most juice produced, best "stomping style," "I Love Lucy" look-a-like contest and the "Grand Stomp-Off." Tours of the winery are included in the admission. 336-5700,

www.blackdiamondvineyards.com

Art & Wine Festival, Sept. 15 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Sept. 16 (noon-6 p.m.) -- Carlyle Lake Visitors Center, Carlyle. Festivalgoers will enjoy a wide variety of activities, with more than 50 local artisans, a world-renowned sand sculpture, varietals from up to 13 wineries, live music and gourmet food. 594-2484, www.carlyleartandwine.org.

Harvest Festival, Sept. 15 (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.) -- Ravissant Winery, Belleville. Harvest Festival. Celebrate the grape-harvesting season at the winery's largest annual event. Enjoy live entertainment, a grape-stomp competition and food. Free admission. 233-WINE, www.ravissantwinery.com

Heartland Rivers Wine Trail, Sept. 22-23 and Sept. 29-30 -- This is the trail's grand opening kickoff. Participating trail wineries will offer a variety of entertainment, culinary treats and tasting of fine wines in the relaxed country atmosphere of Southwest Illinois. For more information visit www.heartlandrivers.org or 234-9463.

Crab & BBQ Festival, Sept. 22 (2-7 p.m.) -- Alto Vineyards, Alto Pass. Alto's award-winning varietals are paired with delectable tastes of two-time world barbecue champion 17th Street Bar and Grill. Live Cajun music performed by Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp will keep the crowd dancing. A $3 admission fee includes wine samplings. Wine is sold by the glass for $5, with refills for $3. 893-4898, www.altovineyards.net

Lynfred Winery Oktoberfest, Pig Roast & Grape Stomp, Sept. 29 (3 p.m. – 9 p.m.) and Sept. 30 (noon – 7 p.m.) When the grapes begin to arrive at Lynfred and the crush begins we all know what’s right around the corner. . . Lynfred’s annual Oktoberfest! The celebration of Oktoberfest at Lynfred began over two decades ago and continues to be a festival that is remembered by all. Two days of German sing-a-longs, grape spitting, grape stomping, cork tossing and barrel races! Bring your friends, bring your family and bring your appetite! Free admission and entertainment. Tickets may be purchased for food and wine. www.lynfredwinery.com

Illinois Wine & Art Festival, Sept. 29 (11 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Sept. 30 (noon-6 p.m.), Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center at Rend Lake, Whittington. With presentations by more than 50 of Illinois' best-known artists, live musical entertainment, local food vendors and varietals from more than a dozen Illinois wineries. Free admission; open-tasting tickets for $10, which includes a complimentary festival glass. 629-2220, www.wineandartfestival.com

Illinois Wine Festival This Weekend at Hidden Lake Winery

Kick off Illinois Wine Month in style at picturesque Hidden Lake Winery in the pristine ‘Silent Forest’ of Aviston, Illinois.

Enjoy a veritable treasure trove of award winning Illinois Wines (14 wineries in all), delectable food, arts and crafts and fabulous music. Picnic to the sounds of Garrison Starr, The Veltz Family, and more with concerts all day, both days.

The festival is this Saturday and Sunday, August 25 & 26, from 11 am to 6 pm each day. For more information visit the official festival website at www.illinoiswinefestival.org

Grape Harvest Begins

Grape Harvest in Southern Illinois

Cobden -- Grape harvest is in full swing right now at vineyards across Southern Illinois. But yields are expected to be much lower than last year because of harsh weather more than 4 months ago.

Grape Growers are blaming lower yields this year on the Easter Freeze. Brad Ganung, general manager at Owl Creek Vineyard said, it "took out a lot of our primary buds, so we're mostly on the secondary buds as far as the fruit goes, so its been very challenging for grape growers." This group of pickers is harvesting nearly 2 tons of grapes at Owl Creek Vineyard this week.Ganung says his vineyard is producing at only 50 to 60 percent. He says, "we're going to get good fruit out of this whole thing. The grape sugar is right where they need to be, we're getting nice acidity, so their will be a good structure to the wine."

Ganung says other than the Easter Freeze, the growing season has been exceptional-- and a bumper crop would have been possible.He says, "at least the weather the rest of the summer has been fantastic. We had rain at the right time, a lot of sun, a lot of heat. So it seems Mother Nature is trying to make up for the freeze." As the grapes make their way through the crusher and the de-stemmer, and is pumped into the press. Ganung is just happy to see a grape crop at all.

Now he's just hoping the rain will stay away. He explains, "the grapevine would push up a lot of water into the berries, which would dilute the juice. Sugars would come way down, Ph would go sideways and our acids would go off. It would delay our ability to harvest." A harvest that Mother Nature has been toying with from April till now. Owl Creek Vineyard harvested 50 tons of grapes last year producing nearly 12 thousand gallons of wine.

IWA Meeting Today

Lynfred GM / Director of Winemaking, Andres Basso,
and Lynfred Winery President/CEO & IWA Founder,
Fred Koehler heading out to the IWA Meeting this morning.


Another meeting of the IWA is today at the Northern Tourism Development Office in Belvidere, Illinois. Just to keep you informed, today’s agenda is:

Illinois Winemaker’s Alliance (IWA)
Agenda
I. Call to Order (Fred Koehler)

II. Report of Executive Director (Tom Stone)

A. Progress Report May 3, 2007 Meeting
B. Current Member List
C. Treasurer’s Report (Fred Koehler, Acting Treasurer)
D. Legislative Update

III. Selection of Committee Chairs
A. Budget Committee (Treasurer)
B. Marketing Committee
C. By-Laws Committee
D. Legislative Committee

IV. Review / Discuss IWA Web Site

V. Marketing Plan Ideas
A. “Friends of Illinois Wineries” Discount Card
B. Wine Discount Card (Percentage?)
- Sample Letter of Agreement
C. Vanity License Plates
D. Regional Wine Trails
E. IWA Standards
F. Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) Stamp of Approval
G. Other Ideas
VI. New Member Recruitment

VII. Executive Director Compensation (Executive Session)

VIII. Other Business

IX. Adjournment

Today's Tribune Article

Winemakers vow to fight shipping bill

Bill Daley

August 15, 2007

Some sour grapes are fermenting over a new Illinois bill governing the direct shipment of wine to retailers and consumers. The state's largest wineries claim the legislation, which was passed by both the House and Senate, discriminates against them. And they vow to fight.

"We're surviving a bitter defeat," said Fred Koehler, president and chief executive officer of Lynfred Winery in Roselle. "You can bet your last dollar we'll be back in Springfield."

The new law, which was passed by the Senate last week and now awaits the governor's signature, would allow smaller wineries making under 25,000 gallons of wine -- that's 98 percent of all the state's wineries -- to sell up to 5,000 gallons (about 2,100 cases) directly to stores and restaurants. Larger wineries that make more than 25,000 gallons have to sell via wholesalers. Currently, they can sell up to 10,000 gallons to retailers and restaurants.

For Illinois consumers, though, one of the biggest changes will be that they can now buy up to 12 cases of wine per person per year directly from any Illinois winery; same holds for buying from out-of-state wineries that obtain the necessary permits. The old law allowed unlimited shipping of wine by Illinois wineries to state residents but limited to two cases the wine that could be sold directly to Illinois consumers from wineries in states that had so-called reciprocal shipping privileges with Illinois.
Ted Penesis, industry education manager for the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, said that most out-of-state wineries doing business in Illinois are expected to apply for a direct shippers license. Buying wine directly from the winery should ultimately result in a cost savings for consumers, he said.

Retailers in Illinois can continue to ship wine to customers across the state. But Illinois residents won't be able to purchase wine from out-of-state stores (including online businesses), brokers or auction houses as before.
The impact could limit consumer choice, said Tom Wark, executive director of the Specialty Wine Retailers Association. He said only allowing out-of-state wineries to ship wine to Illinois consumers could possibly trip up at least 500 California wine operations selling here that aren't officially licensed as wineries. Winemakers who lease space elsewhere or use facilities they do not own are licensed in California as "retailers" or "distributors," he said.
"They are locked out of Illinois," Wark claimed.
Paul Kronenberg, president of the Family Winemakers of California, wouldn't comment on whether Wark's numbers are correct.
"His point is valid in the sense innumerable wine producers are not considered wineries by Illinois and other states because they're not licensed as wineries in California," he said. "Choices will be limited."

Stay calm, Penesis advised.
"No rules have been drafted yet," he said. "To say specific wine operations in California would be locked out of Illinois would be incorrect."
Hector Cardinez, the governor's press secretary, wouldn't say whether Gov. Rod Blagojevich will sign the bill. "We need to review it first," he said.
If the bill is signed into law, its provisions would go into effect on July 1, 2008.

The impetus for changing Illinois law was a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Granholm v. Heald, involving the states of Michigan and New York. The justices ruled a state could not discriminate against out-of-state wineries when it came to direct shipping. In the wake of the ruling, states across the country have rushed to re-write their laws.

"We think this is a good result for the vast majority of Illinois wineries and consumers," said David Stricklin, lobbyist for the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association. "We had to make sure we could ship directly to our customers and make sure the smallest, newest wineries could self-distribute in order to enter the market."

But Scott Lawlor, general manager of Galena Cellars Vineyard and Winery, said the new law is discriminating against him and other large wineries in the state. He said being forced to sell via a distributor will mean higher prices.

"It's going to cost restaurants 27.5 percent more," he said. "They probably won't buy from me anymore."
Lawlor said direct sales to retailers accounts for 20 percent of his business.

"This will really hurt us," he added. "We built our businesses up. Our families worked hard and now they're taking it away from us."

Roughly 40 percent of all wine produced in Illinois is made by Galena Cellars and Lynfred, Lawlor said.

Illinois' wine industry has experienced strong growth in recent years. There are now more than 68 wineries producing 500,000 gallons of wine per year, with an annual economic impact of $250 million, according to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association.


The non-profit organization supports the new legislation because it allows small wineries to continue with direct sales to retailers, said Nathan Kraft, an association spokesman. Small winery owners had feared they would be "locked out" because of their size if forced to go through the state's established three-tier distribution system, he said.
Koehler and Lawlor have now formed a group, the Illinois Winemakers Alliance, to fight the legislation. About a dozen wineries are listed as members on the alliance's Web site, illinoiswinemakersalliance.com.

"This is so unfair, we got buried," Koehler said.
"I understand their point of view," Stricklin said of the larger wineries. "I understand their disappointment and why they opposed the bill."

"With any membership-based organization you won't see 100 percent consensus," Kraft said. "This [bill] supports 98 percent of the wineries in Illinois. The [association] supports whatever benefits the majority."
But the two winemakers insist smaller wineries will eventually feel a pinch because they claim the bill punishes success. And Koehler vows to put heat on legislators who backed the bill.
"It's very plain who is for Illinois wineries," he said.

August Hill Winery Wins in Competitions

August Hill Winery has had a successful summer at three wine competitions. The La Salle County winery earned eight medals in the 2007 Illinois State Fair commercial wine competition, including a gold medal for its Niagara, also named the best white wine in Illinois.

Competing against 339 entries from 37 Illinois wineries, August Hill also won a silver medal for its Okoye and bronze medals for its Chambourcin, Chardonel, Sweet Catawba, Traminette, Trapolino and Vignoles.

August Hill earned gold medals for its Ginocchino and Augies' Blackberry wines at the 2007 Indy Internation Wine Competition. This is one of the largest wine competitions in the United States, with nearly 3,300 wines from 17 countries. The Ginocchio was in competition with wines from France, Australia, Spain and California. The Chardonel also won a silver medal at this competition.

August Hill WInery received a gold medal in the Wine Label Series competition, silver medals for its Ginocchio, Muscato and Traminette, and bronze medals for its Chardonel, Chambourcin, Okoye, Sweet William and Trapolino at the 2007 Mid-American Wine Competition.

August Hill's three-acre vineyard stands stop a bluff overlooking the Illinois River in Peru. The first grape vines were planted in 2003, with each hole dug by hand and each vine hand-planted.

The vineyard includes a wide variety of grapes and a large experimental section. This year will be the first year August Hill will be harvesting its grapes, as workers have been busy netting grapes to protect them from birds and preparing them for harvesting and crushing.

The August Hill Winery is adjacent to the vineyard and was built in 2004. All phases of wine-making from harvesting, crushing and fermentation to barrel aging and bottling are monitored by the winemaker, Mark Wenzel. Wenzel holds an engineering degree from the University of Florida and has developed his winemaking experience by taking viticulture and winemaking courses and working closely with people in the wine industry.

The August Hill Winery Tasting Room is in Utica. In addition to the handcrafted wines, the Tasting Room offers artwork by Tara Ginocchio and other artists, gourmet chocolates, artisan cheeses and more.

For more information, call the August Hill Winery at 815-667-5211 or visit www.augusthillwinery.com .

Not Saying Cheers.

Not all saying Cheers! to wine deal

Lynfred Winery, Galena Cellars oppose state plan

By John PattersonDaily Herald State Government Editor jopatterson@dailyherald.comPosted Wednesday, August 08, 2007
SPRINGFIELD – How wine is bought and sold in Illinois could change under a proposal lawmakers approved Tuesday and sent to Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

And while most Illinois wine makers appear to welcome the changes, some suburban wineries fear the changes could price them out of business.

The proposed law would limit to 12 cases a year the amount of wine someone could buy directly from a winery, whether the winery is in Illinois, California or anywhere else. The limit had been two cases per person per year.

And the law would prohibit wine purchases from out-of-state wine retailers, something critics said will restrict what wines Illinoisans have access to and likely result in higher prices.

Tom Wark, executive director of the California-based Specialty Wine Retailers Association, predicted the law will ultimately be declared unconstitutional and struck down.

The proposal is in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said states must treat out-of-state and in-state wineries the same.

The deal that cleared the Senate on Tuesday was viewed as preserving Illinois’ unique system of wine maker, distributor and retailer.

Some supporters said Illinois could ultimately see more wine business if out-of-state wine retailers decide to set up shop in Illinois to avoid the proposed law’s restrictions.

But some lawmakers said successful Illinois wineries would suffer as well and the new regulations would punish them for growing. As proposed, the largest Illinois wine producers would lose the ability to sell directly to restaurants and retailers and instead would have to enter into agreements with distributors.

Local wineries such as Galena Cellars in Geneva and Lynfred Winery in Roselle have said signing agreements with distributors could make their wines too expensive for the common connoisseur.

Distributors want a piece of the profit in exchange for carrying the relatively few bottles of wine small wineries create. That could ratchet wine prices up to $30 a bottle for companies like Galena Cellars and Lynfred Winery.

Both companies have about a year to strike a deal with a distributor to continue direct sales of their wines.

Fred Koehler, owner of Lynfred Winery, could not be reached for comment Tuesday, but he previously decried such severe direct shipping limits on his business as a possible kiss of death.

“It’d put us out of business,” Koehler said when such changes were first proposed in 2005. “That’s how serious it is. Why does the state want to put up more challenges for businesses when we’re an industry that’s trying to grow?”

Supporters said such provisions were necessary to show the proposed law didn’t unfairly target only out-of-state wineries.

There are nearly 70 wineries in Illinois. Most are represented by the Illinois Grape Growers and Vinters Association, which called the new law a victory for 95 percent of Illinois’ grape gurus.

David Stricklin, a consultant for the organization, said the vast majority of wineries in the state are much smaller than the Galena Cellars or Lynfred Winery operations. While those companies produce in excess of 85,000 gallons of wine a year, most other local growers fall below the 25,000-gallon mark.

That is now the threshold that triggers mandatory agreements with distributors to continue direct shipments of wine.

“This is a good bill for consumers, and will be a bill that furthers the dynamic growth in our industry,” Stricklin said. “For the bulk of wineries in Illinois, this is an extremely good result.”

Sadly It Effects the Growth

Unfortunately a battle has been lost that we have been fighting for quite some time now. The Illinois Wine Industry has grown from nothing to 70 wineries in the past 30 years and sadly a defeat upon its growth has occurred. We sincerely thank you for your letters to senators and all your efforts! Don’t worry, we’ll prevail!!!


State senate OKs wine sales proposal

By Kurt Ericksonkurt.erickson@lee.net

SPRINGFIELD -- The state Senate approved legislation Tuesday that would change how wine can be bought and sold in Illinois.

The measure, which was sent to the governor’s desk a 49-5 vote, would place a 12-case limit on how much wine a consumer can purchase directly from any winery. The current limit is two cases.

At the same time, it would bar consumers from buying wine directly from a wine distributor. Instead, they would have to buy the product from either a winery or a retailer.

The measure, in negotiations for more than two years, was triggered by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires states to treat in-state and out-of-state wineries the same.

The legislation is viewed as positive for about 95 percent of the industry in Illinois, which is comprised of 70 mostly small wineries.

Alexa Tuntland, owner of the Waterman Winery and Vineyards in northern Illinois, said the legislation has been a ’’big concern’’ among her colleagues in the industry.

’’We don’t want to lose the ability to be able to distribute our wine,’’ said Tuntland.

"It’s a good deal for me," added Rick Mamoser, owner of Prairie State Winery in Genoa. "It helps the vast majority in our industry."

Under the proposal, a small winery will be limited to distributing 5,000 gallons directly to retail stores and restaurants.

’’It’s good for consumers, we believe,’’ said Robert Myers of the Associated Beer Distributors Association of Illinois.

But larger wineries say the measure could hurt their business because it forces them to use a distributor to sell their product.

Fred Koehler, president of Lynfred Winery in Roselle, said the legislation could cost his company $150,000 to $200,000 a year.

’’It just isn’t fair,’’ said Koehler.

Scott Lawler, president of Galena Cellars in northwest Illinois, said the legislation will hurt Illinois’ fledgling wine industry.

’’This is going to shut the door on what we’ve accomplished,’’ said Lawler, whose winery also is considered among the largest in Illinois.

The legislation is House Bill 429.



Always fighting the fight. . .



Christina Anderson-Heller, with the Illinois Winemakers’ Alliance

Illinois Wine Trails Getting Attention

Northern Illinois wineries received some nice press today as the food section’s lead story in the Chicago Sun-Times.

Illinois uncorked
Considering a trip to wine country? Skip the flight and head to one of our area's wineries

August 1, 2007

BY CHUCK SUDO

When people talk about planning a daytrip to a vineyard, the regions that come to mind first are obvious: Napa, Sonoma, Oregon, Washington, even Michigan and New York.
What about Illinois?

It isn't so far-fetched. According to the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, the state's grape growing and wine industry is growing by leaps and bounds. A January study by the association and MKF Research, a valuation firm specializing in wine business, counted 68 wineries and 450 grape growers in Illinois. Of the wineries, 10 have opened in the last two years. Two-thirds of Illinois' 450 counties have at least one vineyard.



Last November, the Downstate Shawnee Hills region was designated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms as an American Viticultural Area for the distinctive climate and geographic characteristics that make it suitable for grape growing. Wineries in the region can list the Shawnee Hills designation on their labels when 85 percent or more of the wine they produce comes from grapes grown in that region.

But wine snobs, fans of the movie "Sideways" and folks just looking for a quick day trip to a winery don't need to pack up the car and head Downstate. For Chicago area residents, getting to a winery can be as simple as hopping on a Metra train -- or even a bus to the South Side.

Roselle, about 25 miles northwest of Chicago, is home to the Lynfred Winery, the oldest and largest operating winery in Illinois. Situated on one acre, Lynfred produces more than 50 varietals and 25,000 cases of wine a year, according to marketing director Christina Anderson-Heller, who works closely with founder and president Fred Koehler to raise awareness of Lynfred Winery and Illinois wine in general.

"We ship all of our grapes to the winery, with about 90 percent coming from the West Coast -- California, Oregon and Washington state," Anderson-Heller says. "We also bring in some grapes from Michigan, New York and Downstate Benton and Ava."

Lynfred Winery's winemaker, Chilean-born Andres Basso, is a veteran of Concha y Toro, Napa Valley's Merryvale Vineyards, and Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards in Washington. Basso's wines have clean, prominent fruit flavors and tangy finishes. Lynfred's wines were recently awarded two double golds at the Amanti del Vino festival in Mystic, Conn., and a "best in show" award for its rich, jammy Cabernet/Shiraz blend. Lynfred's Petite Verdot recently earned a double gold from the prestigious Tasters Guild.

Lynfred Winery has two "Tasting deVine" tasting rooms in Naperville and Wheaton. A four-suite bed-and-breakfast is located at the winery. Each room pays homage to the world's classic wine regions -- France, Italy, Germany and America. Guests are treated to elegant meals prepared by Elk Grove Village native Chris Smith. His fresh-baked bread from a wood-burning oven is not to be missed.

Lynfred wines can be found at Shaw's Crab House, Tin Fish in Tinley Park and Oakbrook Terrace, Rooster's Barn and Grill in Bloomingdale and Pilot Pete's at the Schaumburg airport.

The seven-year-old, family-owned Fox Valley Winery has three tasting rooms in Geneva, Oswego, and Sandwich. The winery cultivates 27 acres of grapes at the Faltz Family Vineyard in Sheridan, near the Sandwich tasting room. The grapes are harvested and shipped in refrigerated trucks to the Oswego location for venting.

"The grapes grown at our vineyard are in varying stages of maturity," says general manager Kori Faltz, "so we bring in different grapes from the Shawnee Hills region to compensate."

Fox Valley's wines have hearty fruit overtones made from chambourcin and chardonel grapes. Folks interested in pairing food with Fox Valley's wines can do that at Emmett's Ale House in Downers Grove and Oswego, Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora and Stockholm's Vardshus in Geneva.

Tours of the Faltz Family Vineyard are held throughout the year. A harvest festival is held every September, complete with grape stomping and re-enactments of baseball as it was played in the 1800s. This year's festival is Sept. 22.

Urban dwellers who prefer to stay within the city limits can head to the Wild Blossom Meadery & Winery in the Beverly neighborhood on the South Side.

Located in a wine- and beer-making supply store on the dry side of Western Avenue, owner Greg Fischer and vintner/meadmaker Kazys Ozelis, produce an amazing array of fruit wines and meads. Meads are fermented wines traditionally made from honey, but may also be made from some fruits.

The selections at Wild Blossom range from the light and dry blanc de fleur, a wildflower wine; "Sweet Desire," a traditional mead aged in bourbon barrels and teeming with dark fruit flavors, and a very dry sparkling cran-nectar.

Wild Blossom also offers winemaking classes. Classes range in price from $95-$185 and yield up to two cases of wine or mead. The winery also sells supplies for making wine or mead at home.

Chuck Sudo is a Chicago freelance writer.