Illinois Wineries Coming to the Decatur Celebration

The Decatur Celebration is partnering with the Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Association (IGGVA) to bring Illinois wineries to the Wine Garden this year. For the first time, you’ll be able to purchase their wines by the glass, bottle and case during the three days of Decatur’s street festival August 5 – 7.

“We are very excited to be a part of Decatur Celebration. Events like this help our association raise funds to continue our efforts on behalf of the wineries,” said Cindi Fleischli, Executive Director of the IGGVA. This also gives wine garden patrons the chance to meet several Illinois vintners and taste the fruits of their labor.

“When the IGGVA started there were only 14 wineries in Illinois, and now there are 106. Their economic impact on tourism is over $700 million annually,” said Fleschli. As we went to press, five wineries are confirmed for the Wine Garden:

Niemerg Family Winery (Findlay, IL) – facebook.com/niemergfamilywinery/
West of Wise Winery (Petersburg, IL) – westofwise.com/
Sleepy Creek (Fairmount, IL) – sleepycreekvineyards.com/
White Oak Vineyards (Carlock, IL) – whiteoakvineyardsinc.com/
Alto Vineyards (Champaign, IL) – altovineyards.net/

The Celebration Wine Garden is located on Merchant Street, with the entrance off Prairie Street adjacent to the Cabaret Stage, where blues bands are performing all weekend. It will be the perfect place to relax in the shade, sip some wine and listen to the blues.

Decatur Magazine is proud to partner with Hickory Point Bank, Events Plus and Brinkoetter & Co. Realtors to bring you the Celebration Wine Garden this year. Be sure to find the Hickory Point Bank staff – they’ll be handing out wine charms!