Visit Illinois wine country where more than 60 wineries and vineyards await. Many are nestled in the scenic vistas along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, located in beautiful Shawnee National Forest and in the rolling hills of Southwest Illinois.

Begin your Illinois tasting tour on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail downstate.
The Trail is made up of eight award-winning wineries located along a 25-mile scenic drive through Jackson and Union counties in the Shawnee National Forest. Stop for lunch at the Tuscan-themed Blue Sky Vineyard in Makanda. Then visit the newest addition to the Wine Trail, StarView Vineyards in Cobden. Afterwards, lace up your hiking shoes and make tracks to Giant City State Park, named for its sheer sandstone walls that create the appearance of soaring city streets. Enjoy dinner at Giant City Lodge. Catch a live concert or theatrical performance in the evening at Southern Illinois University's Shryock Auditorium.

Stroll along East Main Street and discover the Grafton Antiques District, made up of a charming collection of more than 20 antique and craft shops. From April through October (on the fourth weekend of the month) you can browse the unique wares for sale at the Riverside Flea Market, located in the old Boatworks building. Then head to the Alton Antiques District, overlooking the Mississippi River where more than 60 antique stores offer everything from furniture to vintage clothing.

Next, head to Red Bud at Lau-Nae Winery, where you can sample a glass of award-winning fruit wine in the charming garden. The wines are produced from fruit orchards located on site at the winery. For lunch, indulge in authentic German fare at Dreamland Palace German Restaurant in Foster Pond, just outside Waterloo. Next, stop by the Waterloo Winery, housed in a historic 1800s log-and-fieldstone mansion. While in Waterloo, visit the 1830s Peterstown House, the only intact stagecoach stop on the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, which now serves as a museum. Nearby, Schorr Lake Vineyard and Winery produces estate table and fruit wines from its six-acre vineyard located on the edge of picturesque Schorr Lake. Travel to Grafton for dinner at the Ruebel Hotel's Saloon, which serves up locally caught catfish and live music.

Grafton is home to several notable wineries. Stop in at Piasa Winery, located on the banks of the Mississippi River. The British-style Piasa Pub next door serves up microbrews and glasses of Piasa Winery selections. Tastings of small batch wines are offered at Chateau Ra-Ha Winery, built into a bluff along East Main Street. Catch a panoramic view of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers at Aerie's Riverview Winery. Enjoy free wine tasting and live musical acts on the outdoor deck in the summer. Next, travel to historic Elsah, dotted with 19th century stone cottages and eat at My Just Desserts, known for its delicious lunches and homemade pies. Afterwards, take a scenic drive through Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton. Pere Marquette is the largest state park in Illinois, offering everything from hiking and biking to eagle watching in the winter.