There’s something pretty special about opening the local newspaper and seeing the Illinois Valley Wine Trail looking back at you.
The August 19 edition of the Illinois Valley News featured Blackberry Nights with the headline “Blackberries and wine,” sharing a moment from an evening that brought representatives from all four Illinois Valley wineries together under one roof.
Blackberry Nights, held August 8 at Pappy T’s in Cave Junction, featured wines from Augustino Estate & Vineyards, Bridgeview Vineyards & Winery, Deer Creek Vineyards, and Foris Vineyards, alongside food pairings and live music from George and Anwyn Leverett.
But the part of the article that means the most to us is what that gathering represented.
For the first time, all four Illinois Valley wineries were together not simply as four separate businesses, but as part of one destination.
That is exactly what the Illinois Valley Wine Trail was created to do.
Read more Wine Trail news in our Newsroom
From Four Wineries to One Wine Destination
The Illinois Valley has been producing remarkable wine for decades. Each of our wineries has its own history, wines, setting, and personality.
The Wine Trail isn’t about making those individual identities disappear.
It’s about connecting them.
When visitors discover one winery, we want them to know there are three more waiting down the road. And while they’re here, we want them to discover the restaurants, lodging, shops, artists, outdoor experiences, and people that make the Illinois Valley worth staying for.
Blackberry Nights gave us a glimpse of what that can look like.
One evening. Four wineries. Local food. Local music. A room full of people experiencing the Illinois Valley together.
A Story Worth Sharing
We’re grateful to the Illinois Valley News for documenting this early chapter of the Trail, and to photographer Rebecca Gunther for capturing the photograph featured with the article.
We’re also grateful to every winery representative, artist, musician, local business, volunteer, and guest who helped make Blackberry Nights possible.
And one newspaper photograph only tells a tiny piece of the story.
Our Blackberry Nights Photo Library captures more of the people, pours, food, music, and moments that made the evening what it was.
Explore the Blackberry Nights Photo Library
The Wine Trail is still very young. There is much more to build, more people to bring into the story, and plenty more wine to pour.
But seeing this moment in our hometown newspaper feels like one worth stopping to celebrate.
Because sometimes a photograph isn’t simply a record of what happened.
Sometimes it shows you what is beginning.
Wine is the invitation. The Illinois Valley is the experience.
No responses yet