ILLINOIS WELCOMES FIRST AVA DESIGNATION

There’s a new AVA to add to the ever-growing list. Southern Illinois’ Shawnee Hills region was recognized last week 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.

Winemakers in the area will now be able to include the region’s name on any wines with 85% or more of their volume derived from area gapes. 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 new AVA encompasses 18 wineries and 55 vineyards covering approximately 300 acres.