Hidden Lake Winery
Encyclopedia
Hidden Lake Winery is one of the largest wineries
in Southern Illinois and was opened to the public in 2005. It is owned by Dale Holbrook and stretches across 92 acres of forest.
Hidden Lake Winery is located in Aviston, Illinois
, although its address can be entered as any of three towns: Aviston, Germantown, or Trenton. It is one of the largest wineries in the state, both in area and in the number of people visiting. It is a major employer for the people of the local area, and is also a large source of commerce for the town.
produced whiskey in the area in the early 1900's. It is also known by local people as a good hunting area, for both game and mushrooms. It is illegal to hunt on private property without express permission of the owner.
When the winery opened on June 1st, 2005, It began with 82 acres of land, and the two story cedar building along with the original lake were already on the property. Within a month, over 40 weddings were already booked at the sprouting business. However, the winery still had to import grapes, as its vineyards were not mature enough to produce them on their own. Dale was very nervous about the winery's opening year, being an experienced etepreneur. "If it doesn't work out, this building will make a great church," Holbrook said, quite tongue-in-cheek. "There's plenty of wine right downstairs."
In 2007, many major wineries in Southern Illinois formed a "wine trail", a group of wineries working together and advertising for each other in order to promote business for the area, called the Heartland Rivers Wine Trail. Hidden Lake Winery joined the wine trail that same year. "It's good for the local economy," said Holbrook, who added that other businesses are welcome to join the wine trail as associate members. In late August of that year, Hidden Lake Winery hosted the first Illinois Wine Festival. The two day long event featured vendors from businesses across the area, such as wineries, photographers and musicians. The event was a success, as the winery continued it, and it is now an annual event, although the winery is no longer a member of the trail.
Illinois wine
Illinois wine refers to any wine that is made from grapes grown in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 2006, Shawnee Hills, in southern Illinois, was named the state's first American Viticultural Area. As of 2008, there were 79 wineries in Illinois, utilizing approximately of vines.-History:Grapes...
in Southern Illinois and was opened to the public in 2005. It is owned by Dale Holbrook and stretches across 92 acres of forest.
Hidden Lake Winery is located in Aviston, Illinois
Aviston, Illinois
Aviston is a village in Clinton County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the village had a population of 1,945 with a 58.0% increase from the 2000 census.-Geography:Aviston is located at ....
, although its address can be entered as any of three towns: Aviston, Germantown, or Trenton. It is one of the largest wineries in the state, both in area and in the number of people visiting. It is a major employer for the people of the local area, and is also a large source of commerce for the town.
Parts of the Winery
Hidden Lake Winery is home to a small vineyard, a winery, two lakes, a banquet hall, a wine tasting, a resturaunt, ten cabins, a pavilion, a private residence, a sculpture garden, and a forest. The winery's owner and creates the sculptures, including a fountain called The Wine Goddess, and more coming out later this year . The Cabins are listed as a "Bed and Breakfast", and include 8 deluxe cabins, and 2 honeymoon Cabins.The Original Lake
When the winery opened in mid 2005, there was the two-story main building, a road leading to it, a small parking lot, the owner's family house (not part of the winery), and a 5 acre manmade lake in the middle. The lake had a large fountain in the middle of it, a trail going around it, and a waterfall which there was a bridge to cross over on the trail. Hidden from sight when looking from the Winery, there was also a pavilion on the other side of the lake. It was built before the winery opened, as a camping ground. The pavilion is there today, with a garden behind it, although it has been refurbished many times since.
Wines
Hidden Lake winery ferments some wines on-site, and imports some from major wineries in California, as well as other placesPre-2004
The area that the winery is built on, called "Silent Forest", is known by by a popular story that a bootleggerRum-running
Rum-running, also known as bootlegging, is the illegal business of transporting alcoholic beverages where such transportation is forbidden by law...
produced whiskey in the area in the early 1900's. It is also known by local people as a good hunting area, for both game and mushrooms. It is illegal to hunt on private property without express permission of the owner.
2004-2005
Dale Holbrook, the Winery's founder, purchased 92 acres of forest, on which was built a private residence and a small warehouse. Dale purchased an alcohol distribution license, and started Hidden Lake winery in mid 2004, making wine out of his warehouse. It was during this time that he also began building onto the warehouse. The winery was added onto it on June 1st, 2005, and ever since it has been adding on to itself.When the winery opened on June 1st, 2005, It began with 82 acres of land, and the two story cedar building along with the original lake were already on the property. Within a month, over 40 weddings were already booked at the sprouting business. However, the winery still had to import grapes, as its vineyards were not mature enough to produce them on their own. Dale was very nervous about the winery's opening year, being an experienced etepreneur. "If it doesn't work out, this building will make a great church," Holbrook said, quite tongue-in-cheek. "There's plenty of wine right downstairs."
2006-2007
In 2007, Hidden Lake Winery participated in the ART in the Park Festival in Belleville, IL.In 2007, many major wineries in Southern Illinois formed a "wine trail", a group of wineries working together and advertising for each other in order to promote business for the area, called the Heartland Rivers Wine Trail. Hidden Lake Winery joined the wine trail that same year. "It's good for the local economy," said Holbrook, who added that other businesses are welcome to join the wine trail as associate members. In late August of that year, Hidden Lake Winery hosted the first Illinois Wine Festival. The two day long event featured vendors from businesses across the area, such as wineries, photographers and musicians. The event was a success, as the winery continued it, and it is now an annual event, although the winery is no longer a member of the trail.