Alto Pass
SHAWNEE HILLS RECOGNIZED FOR QUALITY WINES
Alto Vineyards Receives Gold Medals in National & International Competitions
Alto Pass, IL – The Shawnee Hills American Viticultural Area (AVA) is recognized for its distinctive wine-making qualities. Alto Vineyards continues to uphold that reputation with a Double Gold for their 2008 Chambourcin in this year’s American Wine Society Competition. They also received a Gold medal for the 2010 Porto Di Guido in the Women’s International Competition held in Sonoma, CA.
“The 2008 Chambourcin was all estate grown, right here in our vineyard. I believe this is an exceptional vintage, and it proves that we can grow the best Chambourcin in the world in the Shawnee Hills AVA. We’ve won many top awards with this particular grape and are continuing that tradition,” said Alto Vineyards owner and wine-maker, Paul Renzaglia.
Alto Vineyards was the only Illinois winery to receive recognition in the 2011 American Wine Society Competition with a total of five medals including three Silvers for the Dawg House Red, Chardonel, and Porto Di Guido.
The judges at the 2011 Women’s International Competition in Sonoma Valley felt differently about the 2010 Porto Di Guido, sending it home with an international Gold medal. The field of entries included wineries throughout the United States, including those in Illinois, Virginia, Texas, and New York plus international entries from Canada, Greece, New Zealand, and others. This year was the first time Alto Vineyards entered the Women’s International, and medaled with all three wines submitted including a Silver for the Chardonel.
LOCAL VINEYARD ADDRESSING ISSUE OF POVERTY
Alto Vineyards Supports Heifer International
Alto Pass, IL – Alto Vineyards hosted the first Heifer in the Vines event on May 22, 2011.
Heifer in the Vines is a fundraising event to heighten awareness of Heifer International’s work to end hunger and poverty in a sustainable way. The afternoon event includes local entertainment and food, as well as a silent auction to support the initiative to “Pass on the Gift”.
Heifer International’s “Pass on the Gift” offers people the opportunity to buy an animal as a gift for a family in need. Before that animal is gifted to a family —for milk or eggs or income opportunity—Heifer works with and educates the family about the animal’s welfare and utility.
“I personally embrace the concept of giving aid to needy families who are then able to "Pass on the Gift" to other needy families in their area. I think that the "Pass on the Gift" expectation is a phenomenal concept,” said Heifer in the Vines volunteer, Julie Sikorski.
In addition to Heifer’s “Pass on the Gift” approach, the organization emphasizes environmental awareness and sustainable development, animal well-being, and community involvement. Heifer International volunteer, Shirley Krienert, experienced the concepts in action last summer as part of a Heifer Study Tour to Honduras.
“I might say that the trip to Honduras with Heifer was life-changing for me,” said Krienert, “I learned first hand what a difference a cow can make in the life of not just a family, but a community.”
Local communities in Southern Illinois have joined the campaign to support the Heifer in the Vines, including General John A Logan Elementary School in Murphysboro where students have raised over one-thousand dollars for the Heifer organization.
“Southern Illinois is a rural area, and most Heifer communities are rural areas too. We have many things in common. We care greatly about our families. We are proud. We also help one another when the going gets tough. We have a sense of community. Supporting Heifer builds bridges between individuals, communities and countries,” said Krienert.
The battle against poverty is not isolated to developing countries, but is close to home. Sixteen counties in Southern Illinois have been placed on either the Poverty Watch or Poverty Warning lists in the 2010 Report of Illinois Poverty. This report is produced annually by the Chicago-based organization, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights.
According to the Heartland Alliance report, results indicate that counties all across Illinois struggle with poverty related issues, and that the 2010 Watch and Warning lists “must serve as a wake-up call for leaders to begin deliberate efforts to reverse these trends in their communities”.
“… I certainly believe that the education of the recipients is key to them being able to become self reliant. It is also important to me that sustainable/environmentally friendly farming techniques and climate appropriate livestock and plants are part of the education process. I believe that these values are shared by the folks at Alto Vineyards,” said Sikorski.
“It is important for the public to attend the Heifer in the Vines because individuals can make a difference. Giving someone hope and the ability to dream . . . I can't think of a greater gift,” said Krienert.
Alto Vineyards Brings Home the Gold
from 2011 State Fair Competition
Alto Pass, IL – For many, the annual state fair means cotton candy, corn dogs, candy apples, and marks the end of the season. For wine makers of Illinois, however, the Illinois State Fair Wine Competition is an opportunity to strut their stuff. Alto Vineyards, the oldest and most award-winning winery in Southern Illinois, brought home several awards including three Double Gold metals in this year’s competition. The 2010 Heartland White, 2010 Cherry Berry, and 2007 Porto di Guido were among the top rankings.
“We are really proud of the all the wines we submitted for competition this year,” said third generation owner, Kara Hopkins-Renzaglia. “The Chardonel and Villard are two particularly crisp and refreshing wines appropriate for the season, and both received Gold metals.” The 2006 Chambourcin and Dawg House Red were also among the four Gold ranking wines for Alto Vineyards.
Alto Vineyards Rocko Red, Heartland Red, and Heartland Blush were recipients of Silver medals, as well as the Traminette, and Chambourcin 2008. Of the Alto Vineyard wines entered into the 2011 Illinois State Fair Wine competition, 95 percent came home with a metal. The Double Gold wines will be on display at the state fair.
“Judges were blown away this year,” said Bradley Beam, Illinois State Enologist. “Most [judges] have been here for 5 years, and this year there were one or two new judges from the food industry.”
So how are wines evaluated? Judges use the Davis Scorecard at the Illinois State Fair Wine Competition, which gives each wine a numerical rating relative to its quality. Wines are judged on several characteristics including appearance, color, aroma, acidity, body, flavor, sweetness, and bitterness - just to name a few. Each category carries a numerical weight with a total ranking out of 20 points.
For additional information about Alto Vineyards award-winning wines, please visit www.altovineyards.net.
Alto Vineyards wins Double Gold
Local winery takes Double Gold and more at Great Lakes Wine Competition.
Farmington Hills, Michigan (May 21, 2010) – Alto Vineyards, Ltd., the leading provider of locally grown and produced wine in Southern Illinois, today announced that they have received a Double Gold at the Great Lakes Wine Competition for their 2009 Cherry Berry, fruit wine. At this competition, a double gold is difficult to earn because it requires two tables of judges (not one table) to give the wine unanimous support. Alto Vineyards garnered 3 other gold medals for wine made from Illinois soil and the list includes their 2005 Chambourcin, Heartland Blush and Rocko Red. The Great Lakes Great Wine Competition, staged by the culinary instructors and students at Oakland Community College in Farmington Hills, Mich. deliver an accurate snapshot of quality in a region ever challenged by climate and birth place of wine east of the Rocky Mountains. Seven states and one Canadian province bordering the Great Lakes comprised the competition's geographic boundaries.
Alto Vineyards, Ltd. has continually demarked itself by the quality of regional wine grown and produced from Illinois soil. After launching its first vintage in 1988, Alto Vineyards has inestimably contributed to improving the quality of wine grown throughout southern Illinois, being the first winery bonded in southern Illinois and one of the original 5 in the entire state. “We are very pleased that our 2009 Cherry Berry has been recognized as one of the best fruit wines in a wine competition that offers competition throughout the upper and eastern mid western US, eastern US and Canada.,” said Elissa Hopkins- Renzaglia, Marketing Director. “My dad, Paul Renzaglia, is a fine winemaker”.
Alto Vineyards, Ltd. now plans to capitalize on the recognition it has garnered by the award winning results and looks forward to participating in the Illinois State wine competition being held in Champaign, Illinois at the University of Illinois June, 7 – 9 .
About Alto Vineyards, Ltd.
Founded in 1981 by Guy Renzaglia, Alto Vineyards, Ltd. is the maker of the popular wines; Heartland White, Heartland Blush, Heartland Red and Shawnee Gold. The company’s mission is to produce the best possible product beginning in the vineyard and finishing at your table. Alto Vineyards, Ltd. currently serves over 300 clients in the Midwest and employs 12 people throughout central and southern Illinois. It has won hundreds of awards for its locally produced wine.
ISBDC nominates Alto Vineyards for state honor
By Christi Mathis Fri, 15 Jan 2010 19:14:52 GMT
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Illinois Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has nominated an Alto Pass vineyard for a statewide business award.
Alto Vineyards Ltd., with Paul A. Renzaglia as winemaker and general manager, is the nominee for the Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Small Business award from the Small Business Administration. The Butland award goes to a family owned business with ownership passing from one generation to another as the company logs at least 15 years of successful operation.
The Illinois SBA presents the Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Small Business award and other small business recognitions during ceremonies each spring in Chicago. In addition to a plaque and special recognition, statewide winners are eligible for national awards presented in Washington, D.C.
“Alto Vineyards Ltd. is one of the true business jewels of Southern Illinois,” said Lynn Andersen Lindberg, director of the Illinois Small Business Development Center and director of manufacturing enterprise development and business innovation at SIUC. “I have had the pleasure of knowing for many years the Renzaglia family, who are the heart of Alto Vineyards, and I’ve had the opportunity to watch the company grow from one man’s dream to the foundation business of a tourism industry that reaches across Southern Illinois and throughout the state of Illinois. The development and success of Alto Vineyards truly exemplifies the importance of family owned businesses in the spirit of former SBA New England regional administrator Jeffrey Butland, to the Illinois and U.S. economies.”
Guy Renzaglia, Paul’s father, founded the winery in 1984. Working in viticulture is a family tradition tracing its roots to a small seaside village in Italy. Alto Vineyards produced its first wine in 1988. The company sold out its first 1,200 gallons of wine in just one weekend. The vineyard now employs 14 with annual sales topping $1 million. It became a third-generation business in 2003 with the addition of Elissa Hopkins-Renzaglia to the management team. Alto Vineyards now bottles about 30,000 gallons of wine each year.
Current general manager, president and winemaker Paul Renzaglia has twice been Illinois Winemaker of the Year. He’s an alumnus of SIUC, earning a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice in 1980 and completing coursework but not his thesis for a master of science in special education as well.
Alto Vineyards currently produces 21 different types of wine. Located on a 50-acre plot along Illinois Route 127, the vineyard includes acres of grape vines along with bottling and production facilities, coolers and storage rooms, a retail sales and wine tasting room, company offices and a large, open air locale for special events. Planning is under way for a 7,000-square-foot event facility offering seating for up to 200 people during festivals, banquets and special events. Alto Vineyards anticipates opening the new facility later this year.
Alto Vineyards is the recipient of more than 750 national and international wine competition awards. In addition, Guy Renzaglia was in 2004 the first recipient of the Guy Renzaglia Industry Achievement Award from the Illinois Grape Grower’s and Vintner’s Association, an award created to recognize longtime service in the industry. Paul Renzaglia won the same award in 2009.
“What makes Alto Vineyards special is not just its success as a small, family owned business. It is the support that they have given to other businesses throughout Southern Illinois,” Andersen Lindberg said. She notes that the winery has loaned equipment, provided storage, and even sprayed crops for other vineyards while also giving generously to the community and the region’s people and organizations.
“I am hard-pressed to think of another family owned business in Illinois that has become such a vital member of a rural economy and is more deserving of this award than Paul Renzaglia and Alto Vineyards,” SIU President Glenn Poshard said in his letter of recommendation for the award.
- Don't Forget, Illinois has its very first A.V.A., right here in Southern Illinois. Please send us an email if you have questions about the Shawnee Hills A.V.A.
- Alto Vineyards now offers custom labels for various occasions. A personalized bottle makes the perfect gift for that special occasion!