The Shawnee Hills was the first grape growing area in Illinois to be officially designated as an AVA by the TTB, effective December 27, 2006. Grape growing in the Shawnee Hills area dates to the 1860s and toward the end of the 19th century, there were 1,250 acres of vineyards. At the time of AVA approval, the region was home to 18 wineries with 55 vineyards covering about 300 acres.

Located at the southern end of the state, the Shawnee Hills sit at a higher elevation than the areas to the north which were leveled by Ice Age glaciers. The topography of the AVA is marked by hilly ridges ranging from 800 to 1,000 feet elevation. This hilly terrain and its porous sandstone and limestone soils afford the vineyards good water drainage, which is of great benefit in a region that is prone to high rainfall.

The landform that defines the appellation is a ridge that runs 20 miles north to south and spans 80 miles east to west, with its boundaries defined by the Ohio River to the east, the Mississippi to the west, and the lowland floodplains at the convergence of these two rivers to the south.

French-American hybrid varieties dominate the plantings with popular choices being Seyval Blanc, Chardonel, Traminette and Vidal Blanc for the whites and Chambourcin, Norton and Chancellor for the reds. There is also optimism about vinifera varieties like Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.

It is hoped that the new AVA designation on labels will distinguish the region’s wines with a strong regional identity, and with effective marketing, the region’s winemakers hope to build consumer recognition that Shawnee Hills on a wine label assures a level of quality and a distinctive style.