Illinois' Shawnee Hills Region Becomes
the State's
First American Viticultural Area
Designation
Recognizes the Area's Unique Winemaking
Conditions
CHICAGO, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/
-- Southern Illinois' Shawnee Hills region
was recognized last week by the Alcohol
and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as an
American Viticultural Area (AVA), becoming
the state's first region acknowledged
for its distinctive winemaking properties.
The designation allows winemakers to include
the region's name on any wines with 85
percent or more of their volume derived
from area grapes, assuring consumers that
wines with Shawnee Hills on the label
are enriched by the region's characteristic
grape attributes. In addition, the designation
will let wineries within the AVA use the
term "Estate Bottled" for the
first time to describe area wines produced
on the same premises on which the grapes
are grown.
"The AVA designation earns Shawnee
Hills a place on the map along with the
nation's most respected wine regions,"
said Ted Wichmann, founder of Owl Creek
Vineyard in Cobden, who submitted the
application for the designation. "More
importantly, in a wine world that's becoming
increasingly homogenized, the AVA stamp
confirms the Shawnee Hills region's capability
for producing unique wines that are distinctly
Illinois."
An unglaciated ridge of land that runs
20 miles north to south, the Shawnee Hills
region spans 80 miles east to west and
is bordered by the Ohio and Mississippi
Rivers. The area earned AVA recognition
due to its proven distinguishing geographic
and climate characteristics that make
it well-suited for grape-growing.
The region's sandstone- and limestone-based
soil offers superior ground water drainage
in an area that can experience excessive
rainfall. Sitting 400 to 800 feet higher
than neighboring areas, the region's constant
summer breezes allow faster drying of
the vineyards, minimizing the risk of
fungal infection in an otherwise humid
climate. Significantly cooler than areas
to the south that can be too hot to grow
quality grapes in the summer, the region
is also notably warmer than areas to the
north, providing a longer growing season
to ripen grapes. These features combine
to produce a near-perfect environment
for grape varieties such as Chambourcin,
Seyval, Norton and Chardonel, among others.
Some consumers view an AVA designation
as a "quality tag" for wine
products. Vintners hope that the naming
of Shawnee Hills as an AVA will, over
time, add value to the region's wines
by creating a quality connotation similar
to that enjoyed by existing AVAs such
as Napa Valley and Russian River Valley
in California. Being named the first Illinois
AVA gives Shawnee Hills the opportunity
to become known as quintessential Illinois
wine country, in the process helping to
communicate the excellence of the Illinois
wine industry as a whole.
"Illinois has a rich winemaking tradition
that dates back to the 1800s, and a wine
industry that's seen exponential growth
over the past decade," said Brenda
Logan, secretary/treasurer for the Illinois
Grape Growers and Vintners Association.
"The AVA designation spotlights Shawnee
Hills' vitality as a winemaking region
-- a fact many visitors have discovered
already."
The new AVA encompasses 18 wineries and
55 vineyards covering approximately 300
acres. In recent years the area's Shawnee
Hills Wine Trail has grown to become a
tourist destination that entertains more
than 100,000 visitors each year, generating
gross annual revenues exceeding $2 million.
Comprising eight wineries set among the
rolling hills and picturesque vistas of
the Shawnee National Forest and dotted
with charming bed and breakfasts, the
trail introduces travelers to the sophisticated,
genuine experiences of Illinois wine country.
About Illinois Wine
Featuring more than 60 wineries and approximately
300 grape growers across the state, the
Illinois wine industry produces 500,000
gallons of wine per year and creates an
annual economic impact of $20 million.
From friendly vintners and affordable
prices to unique varietals and award-winning
wines, Illinois provides a sophisticated,
yet approachable, wine country experience.
For more information, please visit http://www.illinoiswine.com.
About Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners
Association
The Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners
Association (IGGVA) is a
non-profit organization dedicated to developing
the viticulture and enology interests
of Illinois through information exchange
and cooperation among Illinois grape producers
and vintners.
Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association
Contact: Emma Douglas
Edelman
312-240-2730
emma.douglas@edelman.com
Web site: http://www.illinoiswine.com