Wineries for winter holidays

BY KATHRYN ALFISI ~ SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN

It may not be grape-harvesting season or warm enough for outdoor concerts and picnics, but there are still reasons to visit area wineries this Christmas season.

Like the open houses being offered by some Southern Illinois wineries or River Ridge Winery's Yule Log Cabin, which is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day until New Year's Day.

Walking into the Yule Log Cabin is like walking into a Christmas wonderland where you are totally surrounded by the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays. Not the best place for the Grinches among us, but for those who love Christmas, there is no better place to be.

Of course, you first have to find the cabin. Located off Route N in Commerce, Mo., the entrance would be easily missed were it not for a candy-cane-striped post with a snowman decoration dangling from it.

From there, you have to drive up a tree-lined road before you get to what are actually two rustic-looking cabins aglow with Christmas lights, along with several hundred balsam and Fraser fir Christmas trees available for sale.

For 17 years, Joannie Smith grew and sold pine trees for use as Christmas trees before she discovered the longevity of the firs she now gets from a grower in Wisconsin. She was also growing and selling the pine trees before she discovered the popularity of Christmas decorations.

"We built a small cabin to keep warm selling Christmas trees and decided to sell some Christmas decorations, and then the business just took off," said Smith, who also owns the winery along with her husband, Jerry Smith.

Fifteen years after the opening of the initial Yule Log Cabin, business is better than ever and now takes up the cabin where the Smiths once lived and a barn that until this year was used as a location to make Christmas wreaths.

"We've added on every year," Smith said.

Now the barn is home to five decorated Christmas trees, two of which rotate, and an assortment of ornaments and decorations. But it is nothing compared to the main cabin, the Smith's former residence, where every nook and cranny has some sort of Christmas item. There are candles, figurines, cookie jars, pictures, cards, candies and, most importantly, ornaments.

"I think we have the biggest selection of individual ornaments, at least in the area," Smith said.

Smith handpicks every item that comes into her store during an annual trip to Merchandise Mart wholesale showrooms in either Atlanta or Chicago to attend shows where merchants display their wares.

"I order from probably about 200 different companies," she said. "I kind of go on my passion. If I see something I love, I know someone else will love it."

There is not only an incredible number of ornaments, but an incredible variety -- Victorian and cartoon figures, pet-related, whimsical, ornaments that look just like candy, hand-blown glass and more.

"If I don't get a 'wow' from a customer, I'm disappointed," Smith said.

And Smith has seen a lot of customers since the Yule Log Cabin opened in September.

"This year I can't believe the numbers we're having. I've not seen sales this strong since we've been open," she said.

While the Yule Log Cabin will remain open the entire month of December, you have only this weekend to take advantage of the holiday open houses at several wineries on the Shawnee Wine Trail in Southern Illinois.

The Shawnee Wine Trail is made up of five wineries in Jackson and Union counties.

Owl Creek Vineyard will hold its annual open house from noon to 5 p.m. today through Sunday where there will be free wine tasting and snacks and pottery and gift baskets for sale. Owl Creek is located at 2655 Water Valley Road in Cobden, Ill. They can be reached at (618) 893-2557.

From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Von Jakob Vineyards, 1309 Sadler Road in Pomona, IIl., will hold an open house with more free wine and snacks and the opportunity to purchase wines and gift baskets.

Von Jakob Vineyard has more holiday activities going on in December with a murder mystery dinner theater presentation of "It's a Wonderful Death" on Dec. 11 and a five-course Christmas dinner on Dec. 17. For more information, call (618) 893-4500.

Alto Vineyards on Highway 127 just north of Alto Pass, Ill., will hold its open house from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday where there will be wine tasting, snacks and hot mulled wine. Alto Vineyards can be reached by calling (618) 893-4898.

kalfisi@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182