


Home to five AVAs, each with their own terroir, plus more than 13,000 vineyard acres and access to the Great Lakes, Michigan is a premier Midwestern wine destination. Oliver produces sweet, dry and sparkling wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Chambourcin, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Doré. It’s home to Oliver Winery, one of the state’s best-known wineries. In the south-central part of the state is Indiana Uplands, an AVA that encompasses 17 wineries and 19 vineyards, for a total of nearly 200 acres under cultivation. It’s the second-largest wine appellation of origin in the U.S., and it spreads across Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. He began to harvest the region’s first grapes in the early 18th century.ĭufour’s success had a lot to do with the fertility of the Ohio River Valley. However, its wine history began when Swiss immigrant Jean Jacques Dufour arrived in the U.S. In 2018, the state produced 2.4 million gallons of wine. The “Hoosier State” is home to more than 110 wineries. “We believe great soil produces great grapes, and that makes great wine.” Indiana “Prior to planting the vineyard, soil samples were taken and tested, and nutrients were added to meet the nutritional needs that grapevines need to thrive. “Our six acres of vineyard is now the centerpiece of bringing people together,” says Travis Pour, son of owners Mike and Judy Pour, who also works in the cellar and on the vineyard. Before it became a vineyard, the plot was used as a pasture, sawmill and farm. The 150-year-old Pour Vineyard in Red Bud is located less than an hour from St. They contribute almost $3 billion to the state’s economy. Today, there are more than 100 wineries that make their own bottlings, offer tours and host events. In 1997, there were just 14 wineries statewide. Grape varieties common in Southern Illinois also include Chambourcin and Vignoles, both which can be made into quality dry or sweet wine. Known as Vitis labrusca and Vitis aestivalis, respectively, these grapes had an earthy aroma and were used primarily for red table wine. In the 1830s, German immigrants settled in what’s now Belleville and made wines from Isabella and Norton grapes.

Illinoisīefore Prohibition, Illinois was one of the largest wine producers in the U.S. With 20 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) across six states, here’s your guide to some of the most notable wine regions of the Midwest. Vintners and winemakers create unique, noteworthy wines on breathtaking vineyards. But for generations, farmland has also been cultivated to grow table and wine grapes. “America’s Heartland” is better known for its endless corn and wheat fields, abundant dairy farms and brutal winters. When many think of the Midwest, its diverse wine industry doesn’t always come to mind. Decorative Wine Racks & Modular Systems.
