Illinois State Guide

Discover 12 Unique Wineries Along The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, By Leroy Worley

The best way to experience the heart of America is to travel along it's back roads and explore the country side. It's along these rolling hills you'll discover some of the friendliest people, who live in charming communities, where time seems to stand still as we found out on our travels through Southern Most Illinois.

Travel through the heart of the Shawnee National Forest and you'll find the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. This is Illinois` first and most award-winning trail, featuring 12 unique, family owned and operated, wineries. As my wife and I realized along our trip each winery offers a exciting of wines for you to sample. And, not only are there wines; many of the wineries host festive events.

We found that traveling along the 30-mile loop through the rolling hills and sandstone bluffs in Jackson and Union Counties is most enjoyable with a group of family or friends. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail takes you along country roads where you could spot wildlife, and talk to local folks who are always willing to help in case you get turned around. Although, traveling along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is easier than you think; there are these nice big blue signs that point the way to the different wineries.

If you prefer to let someone else do the driving there are several shuttle and limousine services in the area. They'll pick you up and drive you along the trail, which is easier if you break it down into section since there are 12 wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. We did one set on one day, then the other set, which gave us plenty of opportunities to spot at local sights along the way instead of feeling rushed.

The winery owners along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail are very helpful when it comes to explaining how the wine is grown. We could have spent all our time just sipping wine and listening to their stories. When it came time for lunch we stopped in at the Hedman Vineyards, and the Peach Barn Café, where we tried the Swedish meatballs that were delicious. The Hedman Vineyards has many other selections for lunch or dinner, and is  popular on the weekends. Many of the wineries offer picnic areas for you to bring along picnic baskets and enjoy your lunch or snacks with an award-winning southern Illinois wine and several wineries offer a delicious menu for you to indulge.

If you visit in the Fall, on the first weekend in September, you can join the Shawnee Hills Wine Festival in Downtown Cobden for a festive day of food and wine, rain or shine! Fall is a beautiful time to visit Southern Illinois, and view the colorful foliage as you travel along the rolling countryside. During the festival you'll enjoy music by great bands, sample wines from all twelve wineries, visit the unique shops, and enjoy a great meal at one of the local restaurants.

On the same weekend in September is the Pepper Fest at Darn Hot Peppers, Rancho Bella Vista, located at 827 Vines Rd Cobden. The festival is held from 11am to 5pm, and is a favorite gathering for all chile heads and hot pepper fans. Walk the pepper field, sample the salsa's, and see many varieties of hot peppers in bloom, meet the vendors and see who makes the best hot/spicy food.

Don't forget to visit the Pepper Farm Store and select your favorite salsa, jellies, spices and pepper products. We samples several of the salsa's and picked the hottest one because of its spicy flavor. Yes, it's hot, but you can always add in another of you favorite salsa to suit your taste. Call 618-893-1443 or visit www.darnhotpeppers.com  to learn more about the Pepper Fest at Darn Hot Pepper.

These are just a sample of the festive events you'll find along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail. When it comes to picking our favorite wineries it can be a bit tricky. Each is so different from the other and we loved all the wines we sampled. We both enjoyed the reds and sangrias, and then there are the fruit wines at that were amazing at the Pomona Winery. And, nearby is the Pomona Natural Bridge that makes a great stop over along your trip as well.

The twelve wineries offer their own special touches to create a memorable experience for their guests. Whether you enjoy red or white, or a refreshing, ice cold sangria, you'll find a wine for every occasion and taste along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail!