STORY BY
Charlyn Fargo Jeff Adkins
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
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ooking for a weekend getaway? Just past Marion sits a rolling landscape that rivals Wisconsin for its hills, sunshine, wildlife and meandering roads that wind through the impressive Shawnee National Forest. It’s home to the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the state’s most established wine region, made up of 12 wineries, cozy bed and breakfasts, and artisan shops. “All the other wine trails in the state are modeled after the huge success of the Shawnee Hills,” says Megan Pressnall of the Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Association. Wine trails, where vineyards connect with other wineries along a specified route, have become as popular as summer festivals. There currently are more than 70 wineries throughout Illinois and five total wine trails, including the Shawnee Hills. “I think visitors are looking for more information to link and make a weekend excursion,” Pressnall says. “The wine trails do that with a regional focus. My husband and I did the Shawnee Trail recently. It’s marked so well with signage, and all the wineries are close.” While the winding roads may link wineries together, their
K@G Here’s a general rule to follow: the sweeter the wine, the sweeter the food to serve; the drier the wine, the more savory the food. So a sweet red complements a slice of chocolate cake, and a drier Chardonnay prefers a more savory onion tart. Salty foods also pair well with wine, since the salts cancel the acid on the palate.
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1/16/09 4:14:26 PM