A toast to relaxation: Following the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Across the Mighty Mississippi, you'll find a perfect trail of relaxation dotting the rolling hills of Southern Illinois. With 12 wineries on the trail, you can make it a "daycation" by starting with the farthest and tasting your way back to home base.

I started with Blue Sky Vineyards in Makanda. (I should add that if you're directionally challenged, print out directions before you go. It's easy to get lost, even though you are never truly lost: You always find something new you wouldn't have seen otherwise, and eventually you come out somewhere. Besides, half the fun of the wine trail is the leisurely drive through the countryside.)

Blue Sky's winemaker, Karen Hand, gave me the 411 on Blue Sky and the art and science behind good wine. "You need good grapes to make good wine," she explained.

Alto Vineyards (Laura Simon)

Below the tasting room, vats filled with chambourcin grapes sit while they are fermenting. The skins of the grapes float on top of the liquid -- that's called the cap. Two to three times a day, for five to seven days, the grapes are "punched" to extract more color from the grape skins. This is only done with red grapes, giving red wine its rich color.

Rustle Hill Winery (Laura Simon)

Next up: Rustle Hill Winery. A gravel road takes you through the vineyard, then wraps around the amphitheater and ends at the tasting room. As I exited my car, I met a puppy, and his owner told me his name was Wilbur. I gave him a good pet and walked away to take photos, and then I felt a tug on my dress. It was Wilbur! He followed me the entire time I was shooting the beautiful scenery and glass sculptures at Rustle Hill.

Blue Sky Vineyards (Laura Simon)

Von Jakob Vineyards (Laura Simon)

My next stop was Von Jakob Vineyards. I chatted with Dalice in the tasting room, and the chef suggested I try the smoked sausage for lunch. It was delicious, and the potatoes that came with it were a little bit of heaven. Outside, a deck overlooks the beautiful vineyard and apple orchard.

A few days later, I returned to visit Alto Vineyards. The tasting room sits atop a hill overlooking the vineyards and a pond. Bald Knob Cross is visible in the distance. The inside features local artwork and a wooden bar made from an old barn. There are patios upstairs and downstairs, and the views are spectacular. I also met Riley, a large black and white dog that came running across the vineyards for some love. Once again I got to enjoy the company of a dog and the beauty of a vineyard.

A day on the wine trail can be as short or as long as you like. I wish I had made it to all 12 wineries, but with fall approaching, I cannot imagine a better way to spend my weekends. For now, I raise my glass in a toast to you and your day on the wine trail. Cheers!

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Alto Vineyards

8515 State Route 127, Alto Pass

618-893-4898

www.altovineyards.net

Blue Sky Vineyards

3150 S. Rocky Comfort Road, Makanda

618-995-9463

www.blueskyvineyard.com

Hedman Vineyards

560 Chestnut St., Alto Pass

618-893-4923

www.peachbarn.com

Hickory Ridge Vineyards

1598 Hickory Ridge Road, Pomona

618-893-1700

www.hickoryridgevineyard.com

Honker Hill Winery

4861 Spillway Road, Carbondale

618-549-5517

www.honkerhillwinery.com

Kite Hill Vineyards

83 Kite Hill Road, Carbondale

618-684-5072

www.kitehillvineyards.com

Orlandini Vineyard

410 Thorn Lane, Makanda

618-995-2307

www.orlandinivineyard.com

Owl Creek Vineyards

2655 Water Valley Road, Cobden

618-893-2557

www.owlcreekvineyard.com

Pomona Winery

2865 Hickory Ridge Road, Pomona

618-893-2623

www.pomonawinery.com

Rustle Hill Winery

8595 U.S. Highway 51, Cobden

618-893-2700

www.rustlehillwinery.com

Starview Vineyards

5100 Wing Hill Road, Cobden

618-893-9463

www.starviewvineyards.com

Von Jakob Vineyards

230 Highway 127, Alto Pass

618-893-4600

www.vonjakob.com