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STATE'S FIRST
AMERICAN VITICULTURAL AREA
Designation Recognizes the Area's Unique Winemaking Conditions
CHICAGO - Southern Illinois' Shawnee Hills region was recognized 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 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.
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