Wine Festival Season is upon us! I cannot believe how fast it snuck up on us this spring but I am so excited to welcome it in. Most people look forward to the summer BBQ’s and family picnics, I look forward to having wine events every other weekend.

Here are some of my go-to wine festivals that I think you should check out this year.

Wine on the Fox – May 7 & 8
Taste wine from over 15 Illinois wineries while enjoying the atmosphere created from the Fox River. This was one of the first wine festivals I ever attended.
$15 – 5 Tastings, 1 Souvenir Wine Glass
$25 – Advanced Two Day Pass: 20 Tastings (10 per day), 1 Souvenir Wine Glass

Hudson Crossing Park, 65 N. Harrison Street, Oswego
Website – Facebook Event Page

Uncorked in the Garden –May 20
Uncorked is Anderson Japanese Gardens’ signature wine event.  Guests mingle from table-to-table to sample wines, artisan spirits and craft beers. Light appetizers are provided. All wines are available for purchase. Proceeds from wine sales help support the on-going maintenance of Anderson Japanese Gardens.
$35 Tickets

Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford
5:30-8:00pm
Facebook Event – Tickets

Ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Festival – June 10-12
Wine- Lobster – Jazz
Happy 6th Annual Ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Festival! Enjoy wine from 20 vintners from across Illinois, jazz musicians, fresh lobster, botanical market and so much more!
$21.99 Wine/Beer Weekend Pass – 9 Tasting Tickets and Souvenir Glass
$32.49 Lobster Dinner

Website – Facebook Page – Tickets

Lisle Wine Extravaganza – June 18
Wine aficionados will experience ten 1 ounce tastes of wine from a vast selection of over 80 different varieties of wine. The fest will also feature live music and food from some of the local area restaurants.
$35 Ticket – 10 Tastings of 1 oz Pour, Commemorative Wine Glass
$60 VIP Ticket – 15 Tastings, 1 Food Ticket, 1 Commemorative Wine Glass and MORE!

The Museums at Lisle Station Park, 921 School Street, Lisle
4:00-8:00pm
Facebook Event – Tickets

Corkless in Galena – June 25
Enjoy Northern Illinois wines while listening to live music and light snacks. I have never been to this event but I have it on my schedule of festivals to try this year. Artists will have booths for attendees to enjoy local work.
$20 Ticket – 1 Festival Wine Glass, 7 Tasting Tickets (good for wine or food)

Depot Park, Galena
Noon-7:00pm
Website – Facebook

Naperville Wine Festival – August 12 & 13
The Naperville Wine Festival returns to CityGate Centre on Friday, August 12 and Saturday, August 13. The festival provides an opportunity to sample from more than 300 wines from around the world and enjoy live music!
$32 in advance – 1 Souveneir Wine Glass, 12 Tasting Tickets, 1 Pint of Beer

CityGate Centre, 2155 City Gate Lane, Naperville
Friday 5pm-10:30pm and Saturday 5pm-10:30pm
Website – Facebook – Tickets

Festival of the Vine – September 9-11
Taste wines from around the world while exploring the culinary scene of Third Street in Geneva. Put on your comfortable shoes and enjoy walking through the craft and art vendors.
Tickets not yet available

8 S. Third Street, Geneva
Website

Vintage Illinois Wine Festival – September 17-18
Now this is hands down my favorite wine festival. We attend every year with friends and every year we leave with a trunk full of Illinois Wine. This festival brings in 28-30 Illinois wineries. Take your time to ask the ask the person pouring your wine a question because almost all of them are the owner of the winery or a tasting room worker. So grab you chairs and bring a cooler full of food (no alcohol allowed to be brought in).
$20 Ticket- Souvenir Glass, 7 Wine Tasting Tickets

Matthiessen State Park, Oglesby
Saturday 11am-6pm and Sunday Noon-5pm
Website – Facebook

There are so many great opportunities and excuses to try some of the best wine from Illinois. Do you have a favorite wine festival that you go to every year? Let me know and I can add it to the list!