As winter gets into full swing, so too does our cellar and office.  While the usual logic is to work all summer and spring in preparation for the winter, we do quite the opposite.  Having a good harvest this past fall, we are now getting a good idea of how well the quality of grapes will translate to the quality of wines we make from them.  Right now, all signs point to a great vintage of wines this season, and we are excited to get some above-average fruit after a few years of harvests with less-than-desired quality.  For one, we know our wine maker, Paul Renzaglia, will be happier about getting to start with a bit more quality than he is used to, and thus hopefully cutting down on some of the stress associated with his job.

In preparation for our busy season we are also unveiling new labels for our Southern Illinois University-themed Dawg House Red and our University of Illinois inspired Illini Rosso.  Both wines started as budget reds to help fill the demand of dry reds at a time when we tended to run out of wines each year, but have blossomed into truly excellent wines that have a unique identity all their own.  We are excited to be able to re-think the labels and presentation to better reflect the wine and character inside the bottles.

Both Alto Vineyards locations are also busy planning their event schedules.  Our Alto Pass site just broke ground on a new tasting room and banquet space and are hoping to have it finished and up and running by the end of summer.  In the meantime, they have scheduled their first ever vertical wine tasting.  The event will highlight past vintages of Porto di Guido, the award-winning traditional Portuguese-style port wine made from Chambourcin grapes.  This event is truly unique, as Alto Vineyards has never opened its library to its customers, and all attending will get the opportunity to buy past vintages that are no longer for sale.  This event is taking place on January 27th, and we are very excited!  Check out our website for more details (altovineyards.net/events.htm)!

In Champaign, our focus is our Music Among the Vines concert series, as it tends to be each year around this time.  We have begun booking bands and are extremely excited to get the summer schedule sorted (not to mention very anxious for the weather that comes along with our summer concert series) as it gives us something to look forward to through the gloom of the winter season!  We have many of our regular favorite bands returning as well as a few new faces.  We’re also working on possibly doing a local showcase of indie talent some time in July—more details will be forthcoming.

In general, winter here at Alto Vineyards is a time of hard work but joyful anticipation for the fruits of our labor to be realized.  Throughout this time we will also be open for tasting, grabbing a bottle, or for a great place to come and relax with some wine and cheese.  Our hours are extended (you can find them on our website, altovineyards.net) and we are currently working on small-scale renovations of our indoor space with hopes of hosting events over the colder months.  Be sure to stay connected with us via Facebook, Twitter (@AVChampaign), and our website, altovineyards.net .