Illinois Winery Blog: Kite Hill Vineyards!

(CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS) — It’s been quite some time since we’ve done an Illinois winery blog! Happy to bring this back as part of our travels through Southern Illinois, specifically Carbondale, home of Southern Illinois University. We visited Kite Hill Vineyards, part of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. It was a beautiful mid-October day, with clearContinue reading “Illinois Winery Blog: Kite Hill Vineyards!”

8 things to do when visiting Southern Illinois

(MAKANDA, ILLINOIS) — Let’s be honest. There are two major things people think of when they think of Illinois. They both start with the letter C. 1: Chicago 2: Corn fields I’m a Midwesterner through and through. I grew up in St. Louis, lived my college years in Springfield, MO – and have been inContinue reading “8 things to do when visiting Southern Illinois”

Wine Review | Scout & Cellar

(DALLAS, TEXAS) — I’ve enjoyed a decent amount of wine over the years. I started out as a sweet tooth. Moscatos, fruit wines, you name it. And while the flavor was always plentiful, the sugar always gave me a headache if I had more than one glass. Luckily, my palate has changed, and now IContinue reading “Wine Review | Scout & Cellar”

Missouri Wine Tour: The Cave Vineyard

(STE. GENEVIEVE, MO) — If anyone tells you Missouri is completely flat, don’t listen to them. Home to The Ozarks, the southern half of Missouri provies to have beautiful views, back road drives, and be the perfect place for wine country. Missouri is sometimes called the “Napa Valley of the Midwest,” and there’s a reasonContinue reading “Missouri Wine Tour: The Cave Vineyard”

Illinois Wine Tour: Tres Rojas Winery launching new wines

(WASHINGTON, Ill.) — Every year, the owners of Tres Rojas Winery close down shop in the month of January for a little time off and relaxation. But February 1st, it’s back to the races. And the Washington-based winery is approaching 2024 with a lot of new options! For starters, the Heart of Illinois Wine TrailContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Tres Rojas Winery launching new wines”

Why 2023 was the best year of my life

(PEORIA, Ill.) — There’s no better feeling than equilibrium. Life flows up and down, in and out, but when you are fully aware of who you are and are joyful with how your life is going, you retain a sense of peace. The constant joy in my life is my wife and my son, handsContinue reading “Why 2023 was the best year of my life”

8 Illinois wineries to visit in 2024

(ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES) — Every year I do an evaluation of life. What’s going well? What goals do I have for the next year? What needs to be left in the past? Well, today, we’re not going to worry about those questions. We’re going to talk about good wine, and where you can go toContinue reading “8 Illinois wineries to visit in 2024”

Sunlight of Sonoma: Meet Sean Minor Wines

(SONOMA, CA.) — As snow laid across the fields behind our home, I received a package full of California sunshine at my front porch. After writing 10 Illinois Winery Tour articles in 2023, I decided it was time to spread my wings a bit and expand the tour. I was thrilled when I connected withContinue reading “Sunlight of Sonoma: Meet Sean Minor Wines”

Illinois Winery Tour: August Hill Tasting Room & Lounge

(UTICA, Ill.) — One of my favorite places to get away for a day trip is Utica, Illinois. Located in LaSalle County, just less than 10 minutes away from Starved Rock State Park, sits a beautiful town bustling with shops, restaurants, tourist activities and more. That leads us to our next Illinois Winery tour, atContinue reading “Illinois Winery Tour: August Hill Tasting Room & Lounge”

Illinois Wine Tour: Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery

(GALENA, Ill.) — Nestled in uppermost Northwest Illinois is the breathtaking town of Galena. The town has roughly 3,500 full-time residents, yet welcomes in over 1 million visitors each year. And it’s places like Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery that make it a perfect place to visit. There are two locations for Galena Cellars, theContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Galena Cellars Vineyard & Winery”