Many states have selected a state grape to promote, but Illinois has taken a different approach to that. Given the wide north to south geographic range, there isn’t one grape cultivar that is grown throughout the state. Due to this Illinois has focused on a wine style to promote, dry rosé.

In this episode we speak with 3 members of the Illinois wine industry to chat about the Illinois Signature Rosé series of wines.

• Lisa Ellis, Executive Director of the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Alliance
• Peggy Harmston, Massbach Ridge Winery of Elizabeth, Illinois
• Scott Albert, Kite Hill Vineyards and The Holotype Wine Co, Shawnee Hills AVA, Illinois

Episode Notes

• 4:05 Illinois rosé in blind tastings with Whispering Angel
• 10:06 Background of the Illinois rosé project
• 15:18 Kite Hill Vineyards and The Holotype Wine Co. participation in the Illinois rosé project, making a name for Illinois wine, and friendly competition, varieties being used at rosé
• 19:53 How white Zinfandel has impacted the perception of rosé
• 23:00 Coroner elections in Illinois
• 26:50 How Massbach Ridge Winery began in NW Illinois
• 29:13 How rosé can be done successfully in variable weather, and it has a diversity of consumers
• 35:41 More talk about county coroner elections
• 37:09 Marketing the Illinois Signature Rosé project