Shawnee Hills Wine Trail wineries bring home many honors

The results are in and the wineries of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail are adding a little more hardware to their trophy cases this year. 

“Each of the 11 wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail produce and sell award-winning wines for every palate and we are pleased to announce a great award season for our Southern Illinois wineries,” wine trail executive director Brandy Nance shared in a news release.

“The results from this year’s Illinois Wine Competition are in and the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail won big,” Nance said.

“Bringing home six double gold awards including three Governor’s Cups, we are proud to share our passion for quality with you,” she said.

For the second year in a row, Pomona Winery’s Strawberry Dessert Wine brought home a Governor’s Cup. 

Hickory Ridge Vineyard’s Norton and Blue Sky Vineyard’s Rosé also received the Governor’s Cup awards in their class.

Other awards include double gold medals for Alto Vineyard’s Vignoles and Blue Sky Vineyard’s Chambourcin Reserve.

Gold medals went to Blue Sky Vineyard’s Shawnee Cream Sherry and Cabernet Franc.

The wineries also received 21 silver medals and 14 bronze medals.

Blue Sky Vineyard recently competed in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and received the best in class award for its 2013 Estate Grown Chambourcin Reserve, a gold medal for its Vintner’s Select and a bronze medal for its dry Vignoles. 

“This competition is hailed as the largest competition of American wines in the world and featured over 7,000 entries from 28 states across the country,” Nance said.

This year’s Indy International Wine Competition featured over 2,000 entries from 11 countries and 40 U.S. states. 

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail wineries brought home eighteen awards from the competition.

Blue Sky Vineyard was awarded two double gold medals for its Chambourcin Reserve and Rosé and a silver medal for their dry white blend, Vintner’s Select. 

StarView Vineyards received silver medals for its Estate Grown Red Star and their dry Rosé wine with two bronze medals for its Chardonel and Super Nova. 

Kite Hill Vineyards received silver medals for its Chambourcin and Rosé wines.

Pomona Winery’s Golden Oak Aged Reserve, Orchard Harvest, Kir, Orchard Spice and Strawberry Dessert wines each received a silver medal, with four additional wines awarded bronze medals in the competition.

“It just goes to show: there’s no need to travel to Burgundy or Napa Valley to experience a truly authentic wine culture,” Nance said.

“The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is home to some of the finest wines, not only in Illinois, but the nation, and we invite you to sip and savor your way along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail where there is a wine for every palate.”

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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