Wine – Page 2 – Matt Sheehan Official

Illinois Wine Tour: Grafton Winery

(GRAFTON, Ill.) — Southwestern Illinois is a beautiful place to visit in the fall. The clear blue skies, crisp air and a healthy mix of indoor & outdoor activities are easy to find. Less than one hour outside of St. Louis, Missouri lays Grafton, Illinois. A town with a population of 650 that welcomes countlessContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Grafton Winery”

Illinois Wine Tour: Lynfred Winery (Wheeling)

(Wheeling, Illinois) — During an adventure to Lake County, Illinois, about an hour north of Chicago, I researched the area’s winery scene and found Lynfred Winery! They didn’t have one… two… or three wineries. They had FIVE locations! The most logistical stop for our drive up to the Illinois Beach Hotel was the Wheeling location,Continue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Lynfred Winery (Wheeling)”

Illinois Wine Tour: Old Mill Vineyard

(METAMORA, Ill.) — They say you can never get back a first impression, and at wineries, I believe there are two first impressions to be made. 1: The outdoor ambience 2: The indoor vibe Well, at Old Mill Vineyard in Metamora, Illinois, I was greatly impressed by both. A gravel road and a sign orContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Old Mill Vineyard”

From Vineyard to Cave: Illinois Wine Tour meets August Hill Winery

(PERU, Ill.) — Producing roughly 100,000 bottles of wine a year, August Hill Winery opened up shop in 2002. The inspiration of the winery comes from August (Augie) Engelhaupt, a farmer who tended to his land, teaching great life lessons to his grandson Mark Wenzel. Over two decades and a mechanical engineering degree later, MarkContinue reading “From Vineyard to Cave: Illinois Wine Tour meets August Hill Winery”

Illinois Wine Tour: Hidden Hills Winery

(KNOXVILLE, ILL.) — From sweet and dry wines to wine slushies and raspberry cider, Hidden Hills Vineyard and Winery has it all. Located in Knox County, Illinois, Hidden Hills was a retirement dream of David Poland. Now his dream is a reality, and I’m glad I was able to visit his great establishment with myContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Hidden Hills Winery”

Illinois Wine Tour: Water’s Edge Winery & Bistro

(PEORIA HEIGHTS, Ill.) — One of my go-to places on a weekend or when I have friends in town is Peoria Heights. Specifically, Heritage Square! In this area, you have any kind of food and drink option you’d need; plus it’s walkable! One of the newer tenants of Heritage Square is Water’s Edge Winery &Continue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Water’s Edge Winery & Bistro”

Illinois Wine Tour: Mackinaw Valley Vineyard

(MACKINAW, Ill.) — Surrounded by scenic central Illinois countryside sits the beautiful Mackinaw Valley Vineyard. The vineyards were planted in 1997 and the Hahn family opened the winery in 2003. Mackinaw Valley Vineyard is well-known across central Illinois for anything from good wine, hosting live music and weddings, to stunning views. The winery has aContinue reading “Illinois Wine Tour: Mackinaw Valley Vineyard”

From Ireland to Illinois: Introducing Sheehan Cider Co.

I’ve always been a cider fan. Whether it was the kiddy kind I’d have at orchards growing up like Eckert’s (Belleville, Grafton & Millstadt, Illinois) to the hard cider I enjoy now. Ciders come in all different kinds and flavors. At first, I’d try the fruity kinds like Angry Orchard, Redd’s and Ciderboys, which IContinue reading “From Ireland to Illinois: Introducing Sheehan Cider Co.”