Some friends and I recently decided to go on the Shawnee Wine Trail for an afternoon of relaxation and wine tasting. We never made it past Blue Sky.
Blue Sky Winery has a big, majestic building reminiscent of an old Italian winery with rustic and rugged accent pieces, like wrought Iron pillars and light fixtures. Everything is deep colored wood and earth toned plaster, with an extensive bar and large patio. the first thing you notice upon entering is the bar, with shelves and crates full of wines with colorful labels. the people are friendly and knowledgeable and all you really need to say is "I like this type of wine..." and they will tell you the best sellers as well as their favorites and what most people with similar likes drink. There's a whole top shelf with a bottle of each wine on it, and each bottle has medal upon medal placed on it, showing the various awards each has won.
Once you get your glass or bottle or even pitcher of wine or sangria, you can sit indoors or head out onto their gorgeous patio and drink the day away. umbrella covered tables look out onto their pond, waterfall, and gazebo the day we were there a man brought his dog to swim in the pond and there was also a wedding on the gazebo.
They have pizzas and appetizers as well as wonderful smelling breads with dipping sauces and cheeses. we brought out own cooler full of breads and chips,and no one seemed to mind that we had done so. The entire place is just so laid back.
It isn't hard to find, and you can go to http://www.blueskyvineyard.com/ and click on the directions link, and it will have you enter your address or starting point and give you tailored directions on how to get there. As a tip, don't use cell phone navigational systems, it will not get you where you need to go! You will still be several miles off from the winery.
I ended up coming home with a sweet red wine called Concorde, their best seller. My fiends took home Mysterioso, which is #2 on their sellers list. both are sweet wines, and have that deep glossy red color. Hopefully next time we do the Shawnee Wine Trail, we will make it to more than one winery, but I have to say I would not mind spending another day relaxing at blue sky.
Blue Sky Vinyard/Winery
3150 S. Rocky Comfort Rd.,
Anna (Makanda), IL 62906
618) 995-WINE
