Alto Vineyards was the area's first modern, commercial winery in southern Illinois, founded in 1984 by Guy Renzagglia. Located on fifty acres along Illinois Route 127 in Alto Pass, IL, Alto Vineyards was a dream that most people thought was impossible. Today, Alto Vineyards is a thriving family-owned and operated endeavor, producing more than 30,000 gallons of wine each year. Alto Vineyards was a founding member of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in 1995, and is now the 6th largest winery in Illinois.

At Alto Vineyards, the wine selection is extensive and ranges from classic Illinois reds like Chambourcin and Norton, to bright blends like Wiener Dog White and even complex Port wines, Heartland Port and Porto di Guido. Alto Vineyards requests that guests limit free tastings to six wines.

At Alto Vineyards the warm and friendly staff will make you will feel as if you are a part of the family. Alto Vineyards does not serve food, but does allow outside picnic baskets. The gift shop shelves are stocked with adorable wine accessories of all shapes and sizes, local products and cook-books, handmade jewelery and more.

Alto Vineyards has begun costruction on a new tasting room facility providing additional indoor seating, with hopes of completion during the 2010 season. Alto Vineyards expanded to include a second retail location in Champaign, IL.

Alto Vineyards Wine Selection:

• Chardonel - A dry white wine made in a Chardonnay style. Barrel fermented and aged for a crisp, rich and complex flavor.
• Villard Blanc - A light & fruity dry white wine with delightful lemon & green apple flavors with a touch of French oak.
• Vidal Blanc - A well-balanced semi-dry white wine, medium bodied with pears and pineapple flavors, made from 100% Vidal Blanc grapes.
  
• Traminette - A semi-dry wine with floral aroma and flavors of spice and key lime. Refreshing vintage for sipping on a summer day.
• Heartland White (Semi-sweet White) - A semi-sweet, light bodied white wine. Hints of apple and grapefruit for a crisp finish.
• Wiener Dog White - A semi-sweet proprietors blend of Vignoles, Villard, and Chardonel with melon aromas and mango/ pear flavors.
  
• Shawnee Gold - A sweet white wine derived from later harvest Vidal Blanc grapes. Balanced & Complex German style wine.
  
• Late Harvest Vidal - A sweet white wine made from late-harvest Vidal Blanc grapes. An intensely flavorful after dinner wine.

• Chancellor - A dry red wine with good fruit taste, subtle smoky oak and firm tannins.
• Chambourcin - Premium, rich, full-bodied dry red wine, with a black cherry and plum finish.
• Rosso Classico - A dry red blend of Chambourcin and Chancellor grapes create a rich complex flavor.
  
• Norton - A dry red wine with an almost blackish red color. Aromas of coffee and cassis flavors are detectable, similar to some of the Bordeaux wines in France.
  
• Rocko Red - A semi-dry red wine for those who want the full flavor of a red wine but not the extra-dry taste.
• Heartland Red -A sweet, light red with a berry nose, and flavors of strawberry and cherry.
• Dawg House Red - A semi-dry blend of Corot Noir and Chambourcin grapes, making a very complex red wine.
  * One of Jillian's favorite vintages and most-purchased wine of 2009!

• Alto Festa (Semi-dry Rose') - A semi-dry rosé. Light & fruity, Alto's version of White Zinfandel.
  
• Heartland Blush - A sweet rosé, delicate & fruity. Reminiscent of grandma's grape jelly.
  
• Cherry (Semi-Sweet) - A semi-sweet wine specially crafted by St. Julian Winery.
• Cherry Berry - A sweet dessert wine made from a 50/ 50 blend of cherries and raspberries. A "berry" popular vintage at Alto.

Port Wines

• Heartland Port - A full-bodied, sweet, fortified port wine made from Concord grapes.
• Porto Di Guido - A rich, distinctive sweet fortified port wine from Chambourcin grapes, wood aged 8 months. Set it off with a piece of fudge or dark chocolate.