The Rhythm of the Vineyard

Winter pruning, spring’s first green shoots, the summer sun ripening clusters of fruit; each season plays its part. By the time September arrives, the air is alive with the promise of harvest. Grapes swell with flavor, and the vineyard hums with anticipation.

Harvest Magic

There’s a special kind of joy in harvest. The cool morning air, the snap of grape clusters falling into bins, the sweet perfume of ripened fruit all around. Timing is everything. We wait for that perfect moment when sugar, acidity, and flavor are in harmony.

Turning Fruit into Wine

Back at the winery, the transformation begins. Whites are pressed to release their golden juice; reds rest with their skins, deepening in color and character. Some red grapes are gently pressed right away to create delicate rosés, capturing just a whisper of color and fruit. For sparkling wines, we press with extra care, drawing out only the premium juice — the purest expression of the grape — to ensure finesse and elegance in every bubble.

Nurturing Each Wine

Some wines are crisp and lively, nurtured in stainless steel to preserve their freshness. Others are given time to rest in oak barrels, where gentle aging weaves in notes of vanilla, spice, or toast. And for our traditional method sparkling wines, the bottles quietly work their magic in the cool, dark stillness of our winery caves, developing their delicate bubbles and refined character over time. Our winemakers guide each step with care, coaxing out the personality hidden in every grape.

The Story in Your Glass

After months (or even years) of care, the wine is ready to share with you. Every sip carries the story of our vineyards, the passion of our winemaking and vineyard team, and the spirit of Illinois wine.

Raise a glass with us this September and celebrate Illinois Wine Month. From vine to glass, every bottle is a labor of love.

The post Behind the Bottle: From Vine to Glass appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

Pairing Ideas

Start your party/the toast: Brut, Extra Brut, or any of our sparkling or bubbly wines. Early Bird sparkling grape juice for a non-alcohol option.

Mimosas: Pick up a 4-pack of our canned mimosas or make your own with one our ISC sparkling wines or AHW infusion wines.

Shrimp Cocktail: Brut, Extra Brut, Brut Ombré Rosé, Seyval Blanc

Oysters: Ensemble, Brut, Extra Brut, or Blend 795

Stuffed Mushrooms: Red Letter, Chambourcin, Ruby Red

Charcuterie Board: All our wines pair deliciously with items found on charcuterie boards

Matzo Ball Soup: Vignoles, Sec

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes: Chardonel, Berlyn, Nouveau, Brut Ombré Rosé, Cranberry Infusion, Chambourcin Rosé

Lobster: ISC Brut, Blend 795, Ensemble, Chardonel

Ham: Sec, Illnatic, Vignoles, Mardi Gras, Niagara, Apple Infusion

Roast Beef/Prime Rib: Ginocchio, Chambourcin Reserve, Norton, Marquette, Pét Nat Rosé, Ruby Red, Brut Rosé de Saignée

Lamb: Chambourcin Reserve, Ginocchio, Norton, Chambourcin, Red Letter, Brut Rosé de Saignée 

Pork loin: Brut Ombré Rosé, Illnatic, or Pét Nat Rosé, Chambourcin Reserve

Brisket: Ginocchio, Chambourcin Reserve, Ruby Red, Brut Rosé de Saignée

Goose: Brut Rosé de Saignée, La Belle Rosé, Nouveau

Baked Ziti/Lasagna: Brut Ombré Rosé, Ruby Red, Ginocchio, Chambourcin, Norton, Chambourcin Rosé

Vegetarian Lasagna: La Belle Rosé, Chardonel, Red Letter

Tamales: Chambourcin, Nouveau for pork; Sec, Chardonel, or Illnatic for chicken; Almond Infusion, Caramel Apple, Raspberry Infusion for sweet tamales

Spiced Fish: Red Letter, Norton

Collard greens: Pét Nat Rosé, Chardonel

Pumpkin pie: ISC Brut, Almond Infusion, Sec

Sugar cookies/Christmas cookies: Moscato, Almond Infusion, Augie’s Blackberry, Sweet Catawba, Sweet William, Niagara, Demi Sec Rosé 

Pecan pie: ISC Brut, Trapolino, Augie’s Blackberry

Fudge: Berlyn, Augie’s Blackberry, Red Letter, Almond Infusion, Ruby Red, Mardi Gras, Moscato, Caramel Apple, Demi Sec Rosé or Brut Ombré Rosé

Panettone (sweet bread): Demi Sec Rosé

Latkes (potato pancake): ISC Brut, Illnatic, La Belle Rosé, or Sec

Sufganiyot (jelly doughnut): Demi Sec Rosé, Raspberry Infusion

Fried Plantains: Sweet William, Emerald Apple

Sweet Potato Pie: Caramel Apple, Almond Infusion

Banana Pudding: Moscato, Indigo

Cheesecake: Raspberry Infusion, Almond Infusion

New Year’s Cake: Mardi Gras, Indigo

Order Online or Pick Up at our Tasting Room!

• Order for pick up at the Tasting Room or ship wines, gifts, or AHW gift cards to AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, MT, TN, TX, or WI – Order Here
• Ship wines to AK, CT, GA, HI, ID, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, OK, PA, SC, VT, WY, WA, or WV- Order Here

Drink What You Like

While these wine pairings are thoughtfully crafted to complement the flavors of your favorite holiday treats, they’re just suggestions to inspire your celebrations. The beauty of wine is its versatility, and the best pairing is always the one you and your guests enjoy most. Whether you’re savoring a classic sugar cookie with a crisp Brut or a rich chocolate fudge with a sweet fruit-forward wine, what matters most is creating moments of joy and connection. So, sip, savor, and feel free to explore—there are no rules when it comes to pairing wine with the holidays!

The post Holiday Pairings appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

• ISC Sparkling Wines: Sparklers are versatile with food; try ISC’s Brut Ombré Rosé for the main meal & Brut for your pecan pie. Ruby Red pairs well with turkey, ham, and savory sides, adding a festive and fruity twist. Demi Sec Rosé is an awesome pairing with most desserts. Our Pét Nat Rosé is a fun choice for toasting your Thanksgiving chefs.
  
  
• White Wines: August Hill Vignoles and Sweet William all pair nicely with turkey. Niagara is a good pairing for those who enjoy sweeter wines.
  
  
• Infusions: August Hill Cranberry Infusion pairs nicely with your meal and Almond Infusion is popular with dessert.
  
  
• Still Rosé Wines: August Hill La Belle Rosé and Chambourcin Rosé are food-friendly options. 
  
  
• Red Wines: Our August Hill Nouveau is always a hit! Chambourcin Reserve, Chambourcin, Berlyn, and Trapolino are also good choices.  

We Ship to These Places!

Can’t get together with extended family this year? Send a bottle or two and share some holiday cheer. We currently ship to these states:

Click here to ship to AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, MT, TN, TX, WI.

Click here to ship to AK, CT, GA, HI, ID, KS, KY, LA, MD, MA, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, OK, PA, SC, VT, WY, WA, or WV.

Order by Dates

If you want to receive your wine by Thanksgiving, we recommend ordering by these dates:

 November 22, if shipping within IL

 November 20, if shipping to other states

Need Help?

Our Tasting Room staff is always happy to help you select the right wine for you. Feel free to call us or stop by if you have any questions on Thanksgiving Wine Pairings.

The post Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving Wine Pairings appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

This recipe pairs wonderfully with our ISC Brut, ISC Brut Ombré Rosé, AHW La Belle Rosé, and AHW Chambourcin Rosé!

Salad Ingredients:

2 ears of sweet corn, shaved off the cob
3 strips of bacon, diced
1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled with tails on or off
4  cups chopped Romaine lettuce
1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced
Cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
1/3 cup grated Fontina cheese (optional)
Buttermilk Pesto Dressing (see below)

Buttermilk Pesto Dressing Ingredients:

1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup mayo or Greek yogurt
1/4 cup pesto, homemade or store bought
1 small shallot, minced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
pinch of sale & pepper, to taste

To make the salad, heat a skillet over high heat.  Add the corn kernels and let them dry-roast for about 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until their edges begin to brown and caramelize.  Transfer the corn to a plate to set aside.  Reduce the heat to medium-high.  In the same skillet, add the bacon.  Fry for about 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until crispy.  Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon, leaving the grease in the skillet.  Add the shrimp & sauté until cooked and pink, about 2 minutes per side (depending on the size of your shrimp).  Remove shrimp and set aside.

To make the dressing:  Whisk together all ingredients until blended. Season with salt & pepper.

Assemble your salad by tossing together the Romaine, corn, bacon, shrimp, avocado, tomato and cheese.  Drizzle with dressing and serve.

The post Try this Recipe with an ISC or AHW Wine appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

ISC Demi Sec Rosé won the Governor’s Cup Sparkling Wine trophy, Best of Class, and a Double Gold medal. This wine is a traditional method sparkling wine, which means the bubbles come from a second fermentation within the bottle. The wine is made with Frontenac grapes from August Hill Winery’s vineyard in Peru, IL, and pairs well with a wide variety of foods including BBQ ribs, garlic chicken, and even s’mores.

August Hill Winery and ISC submitted 12 wines to the competition, and all 12 wines received medals. Here is a summary of the results:

• ISC Demi Sec Rosé – Governor’s Cup Sparkling Wine trophy, Best of Class, and a Double Gold Medal.
• AHW La Belle Rosé – Double Gold Medal
• AHW Chambourcin Rosé – Double Gold Medal
• AHW Chambourcin Reserve – Gold Medal
• ISC Brut Ombré Rosé – Gold Medal
• ISC Sec – Gold Medal
• ISC Brut – Silver Medal
• ISC Blend 795 – Silver Medal
• ISC Ruby Red – Silver Medal
• AHW Apple Infusion – Silver Medal
• AHW Chardonel – Bronze Medal
• ISC Extra Brut – Bronze Medal

The post 2024 Wine Competition Winners appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

Illinois Sparkling Co.

• Brut Ombré Rosé has bright, fresh, fruity aromas and flavors and is a wonderful pairing for a meal.
• Pét Nat Rosé, like most rosé wines is a fruit friendly wine. It has a mouth-watering freshness, making you crave another sip.
• Sec is a mouth-watering fruity sparkler. With a hint of sweetness, Sec is an amazing companion with food but is also delightful to sip on its own.
• Demi Sec Rosé This sparkler pairs well with your chocolate bunny and cut-out cookies.

August Hill Winery

• Vignoles is a semi-dry, light-bodied white wine that pairs wonderfully with ham.
• Niagara is a favorite to pair with ham for those who prefer a sweet white.
• Moscato pairs well with light desserts such as your lamb or bunny cake. It also pairs nicely with most flavors of jelly beans.
• For those who only drink red wines, we recommend Berlyn (semi-dry), Chambourcin Reserve (dry), or Red Letter (semi-dry & wine club members only).
• Rosés are fun and incredibly food friendly. Try LaBelle Rosé (dry) or Chambourcin Rosé (semi-dry).
• Our Mimosa in 200 mL cans is a fun and convenient pairing for Easter brunch.

How many bottles do I need?
A 750 mL bottle of wine holds about five glasses of wine (5 ounce servings). We recommend having at least two wine choices for your guests.

Happy Easter to all!

The post Pairings for Easter Dinner appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

Here are some of our favorite selections to pair with your next holiday meal.

Start your party – the toast: Choose your favorite ISC bubbly as they all are up for the task of the opening toast. For a large crowd, the Guardian Magnum is the way to go!

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes: Brut Ombré Rosé or Pét Nat Rosé

Lobster: ISC Brut or Blend 795 or Ensemble

Oysters:  ISC Brut orEnsemble

Ham: Sec or Blend 795

Pumpkin pie: ISC Brut or Blend 795

Roast Beef/Prime Rib: Guardian Magnum or Brut Rosé de Saignée

Sugar cookies/Christmas cookies: Demi Sec Rosé & Sec

Lamb: Brut Rosé de Saignée or Pét Nat Rosé

Pecan pie: ISC Brut 

Fudge: Demi Sec Rosé or Brut Ombré Rosé

Pork loin: Brut Ombré Rosé, Pét Nat Rosé, or Back to Back

Cheeses: All of the above

Oysters: ISC Brut, Blend 795, or Illnatic

Goose: Brut Rosé de Saignée or Pét Nat Rosé

Tamales: Sec or Back to Back

Antipasti: ISC Brut or Blend 795

Baked Ziti/Lasagna: Brut Ombré Rosé, Demi Sec Rosé

Panettone (sweet bread):Demi Sec Rosé

Collard greens: Brut Rosé de Saignée, Pét Nat Rosé or Illnatic

Brisket: Guardian Magnum or Brut Rosé de Saignée

Latkes (potato pancake): ISC Brut, Blend 795, or Sec

Sufganiyot (jelly doughnut): Demi Sec Rosé

Stop by the Tasting Room today to pick up a bottle or two. Of course, we deliver too!

• Shipping to AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, MT, TN, TX, or WI: Order here.

• Shipping to AK, GA, HI, ID, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, OK, PA, SC, VT, VA, WY, WA, or WV: Order here. 

Here’s hoping that you and yours have a splendid and memorable meal together.
Cheers!

The post Sparkling Pairings for the Holidays appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

A local sparkling wine made by Illinois Sparkling Co., will be served at a key celebration during commissioning weekend. This traditional method sparkling wine, named Blend 795 after the ship’s number, was created specifically for the christening of the submarine, which occurred in July, 2021. This wine was served on Friday, October 13, at the unveiling of the Admiral Hyman Rickover exhibit at the Submarine Force Museum.  

“We were honored and excited when the USS Hyman G Rickover commissioning committee asked us to be a part of these memorable celebrations,” said Mark Wenzel. Mark is the winemaker, and he and his wife Teri are owners of Illinois Sparkling Co. (ISC).

Blend 795 is made from 100% Illinois-grown grapes and is a traditional method sparkling wine  with notes of lemon, marmite, brioche & hazelnut and plenty of Prairie State pride. For each bottle sold, $5 is donated to the USS Hyman G Rickover commissioning committee, who organized the commissioning weekend ceremonies and continues to provide support for submarine crew members in times of need.

While ISC Blend 795 is only available online or at the August Hill Winery Tasting Room in Utica, IL, you can find other Illinois Sparkling Co. wines throughout the state including Publican O’Hare, The Gwen Hotel, Avec, Pops for Champagne, and Patina Wine Bar. The wines are also available at retail locations like Binny’s.

For more information on Illinois Sparkling Co., visit iscbubbly.com. For further information on the USS Hyman G Rickover submarine and to see the commissioning ceremony, visit https://ussrickover.org/.

The post USS Hyman G Rickover Commissioning appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

January

• January 10: International Champagne and French Fry Day
• Pair today with: Pét Nat Rosé

February

• February 18: National Drink Wine Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC wines!

March

• March 3: National Mulled Wine Day
• Pair today with: Spice Mix Bundles

• March 13: National Riesling Day
• Pair today with: Vignoles, Sweet William, or Indigo – These light and refreshing wines share similarities with Riesling.

• March 24: National Cocktail Day
• Pair today with: Indigo or Emerald Apple – These two specialty wines can each make a colorful and delicious cocktail!

April

• April 7: National Beer Day
• Pair today with: Pét Nats – Beer-lovers typically love our Pét Nat wines because of their yeast notes.

• April 17: National Malbec Day
• Pair today with: Chambourcin Reserve – With its soft tannins and smooth finish, this dry red wine is similar to Malbec.

May

• May 6: National Beverage Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC wines!

• May 6: National Sauvignon Blanc Day
• Pair today with: Seyval Blanc – Like Sauvignon Blanc, this pick is a light and crisp white wine made from a single varietal.

• May 9: National Moscato Day
• Pair today with: Moscato

• May 16: National Mimosa Day
• Pair today with: M.Y.O. Mimosas

• May 17: National Juice Slush Day
• Pair today with: Chill Mix Bundles

• May 25: National Wine Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC wines!

• May 25: National Chardonnay Day
• Pair today with: Chardonel – Chardonnay is Chardonel’s parent grape.

June

• June 3: National Bubbly Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC bubbly!

• June 10: National Rosé Day
• Pair today with Rosé August Hill or ISC wines

July

• July 1-7: Sparkling Wine Week
• Pair this week with: Any ISC sparkling wine!

• July 25: National Wine and Cheese Day
• Pair today with: Sweet Catawba or Pét Nat Rosé – Both of these Rosés pair nicely with cheeses.

• July 27: National Shiraz Day (also called Syrah in different parts of the world)
• Pair today with: Berlyn, Red Letter, Chambourcin Reserve, Ginocchio, or Triplicity (both Ginocchio and Triplicity contain Syrah grapes) – Between heavy, semi-dry, and off-dry, these red wines are similar to various types of Shiraz.

August

• August 4: National White Wine Day
• Pair today with: White August Hill or ISC wines

• August 5: National Mead Day
• Pair today with: Chardonel, Moscato, or ISC Sec – All of these wines have notes of honey, which is the main ingredient in Mead.

• August 13: National Prosecco Day
• Pair today with: Sec or Demi Sec Rosé – While “Sec” means “dry,” all of these wines contain a hint of sweetness.

• August 18: National Pinot Noir Day
• Pair today with: Chambourcin Reserve – These smooth, dry reds share similar characteristics.

• August 28: National Red Wine Day
• Pair today with: Red August Hill Wines

• August 30: National Cabernet Sauvignon Day
• Pair today with: Norton, Ginocchio, or Triplicity (both Ginocchio and Triplicity contain Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) – While these dry reds are similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, Norton has a brighter acidity and Ginocchio is less intense than huge Cabernets.

September

• September 1: National Chianti Day
• Pair today with: Ginocchio – Both of these wines are premium, dry red blends.

• September 30: National Hot Mulled Cider Day
• Pair today with: Limited Edition ISC Spirit Cider or Spice Mix Bundles

October

• October 31: National Caramel Apple Day
• Pair today with: Caramel Apple (what else?!)

November

• November 7: National Merlot Day
• Pair today with: Ginocchio (contains Merlot grapes) or Triplicity – These are all medium-bodied, dry red wines.

• November 12: National Happy Hour Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC wines!

• November 16: Beaujolais Nouveau Day
• Pair today with: 2022 Nouveau

• November 17: National Zinfandel Day
• Pair today with: Chambourcin Rosé or Sweet William – These two bright and refreshing picks share similarities with Zinfandel wines.

December

• December 4: National Cabernet Franc Day
• Pair today with: Norton or Ginocchio – When our AHW Cabernet Franc is not available, these two dry reds are great substitutes.

• December 5: National Repeal Day
• Pair today with: Any August Hill or ISC wines!

• December 20: National Sangria Day
• Pair today with: Trapolino (and your favorite fruits!)

• December 31: National Champagne Day
• Pair today with: Any ISC Traditional Method Sparkling Wine – Champagne is also produced using the Traditional Method!

The post 2023 Wine Holidays appeared first on Illinois Sparkling Co..

The 2022 Harvest occurred on August 15-16 at our August Hill / ISC Winery & Vineyard in Peru, IL. Our workers arrived to the vineyard at 5:50 a.m. for two mornings in a row, ready to harvest some heavenly grapes with Bubbly Wenzel. We gathered our Frontenac Gris grapes on Monday and our La Crescent grapes on Tuesday.

The early mornings were crisp and cool, as the dew dried from the vines and grass. We could see the steam rising off of the Illinois River from the top of the hill. It was a beautiful, peaceful sight.

Bubbly Wenzel made sure to start gathering his grapes at the absolute perfect time. We harvested quickly as each crate of grapes traveled down to the winery for pressing. We made ‘grape’ timing, as it was a bountiful Harvest!

So, why does Bubbly Wenzel choose a specific time to collect his grapes? Well, he has his ‘raisins’! We all wait patiently for Veraison to occur in the summer – the crucial onset of grape ripening. During this process, the grapes undergo many changes: the berries turn color, soften and grow; the seeds turn brown and harden; the natural sugars increase and the acidity decreases, and the flavors and aromas develop.

Throughout this time, we have to make sure to keep hungry critters away from our fruit! However, it’s nice to see some wildlife build a home with us in the vineyard every now and then.

One thing about Wine Harvest: we don’t necessarily plan; we just do. Nothing is ever perfect, and things go awry.

But rest assured… there will be wine. And it will be amazing.

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