Blue Sky Vineyards

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Blue Sky Vineyards
Image:Blue Sky Winery.jpg
Location Makanda, IIllinois, USA
Appellation Shawnee Hills
Founded 2000
first Vintage 2003
Key people Barrett Rochman, Jim Ewers, Karen Hand
Known for Chambourcin Reserve
Varietals Cabernet Franc, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Concord (grape), Corot Noir, Niagara (grape), Noiret, Norton (grape), Traminette, Vignoles (grape)
Other product Olive Oil
Website http://www.blueskyvineyard.com
Distribution Regional, Restaurants
Tasting Open to Public

Blue Sky Vineyards is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Illinois, owned and operated by Barrett Rochman, Marilyn Rochman, and Jim Ewers. Blue Sky Vineyards is located in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest and anchors the eastern end of the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail [1]. Located within the Shawnee Hills American Viticultural Area, an area that is federally designated and recognized for its uniqueness in grape growing, Blue Sky Vineyard uses quality Illinois grapes to produce a number of award-winning wines. Karen Hand, Blue Sky Vineyards' winemaker, was the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association's Winemaker of the Year for 2006. [2] They currently produce 17 different kinds of Illinois wine and 5 American wines ranging from dry to sweet.

[edit] Competitions

Medals are earned by entering wines into regional, national and international competitions.

2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition[3] "The 2008 professional wine judging took place at the Cloverdale Citrus Fair during the week of January 7, 2008. Sixty professional wine judges representing trade, education, media, retail, and restaurants throughout the United States evaluated 4,235 wines entered by 1,500 wineries from across the country."[3] Blue Sky Vineyards won the following awards:

  1. 2006 Villard Blanc - Silver
  2. 2006 Traminette - Silver
  3. 2005 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze

2007 Mid-American Wine Competition[4]

  1. 2006 Vignoles - Best White of Show, Gold
  2. 2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Gold
  3. 2005 Infinity - Silver
  4. 2006 Riesling - Bronze
  5. 2005 Traminette - Bronze
  6. NV Framboise - Bronze

2007 Indy International Wine Competition[5]

  1. 2005 Infinity - Concordance Gold
  2. 2006 Seyval - Silver
  3. 2006 Chardonnay - Silver
  4. 2006 Vignoles - Silver
  5. 2006 Riesling - Bronze
  6. 2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze
  7. 2006 Chambourcin Blush - Bronze

2007 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition[6]

  1. 2006 Seyval - Silver
  2. 2005 Traminette - Silver
  3. 2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze
  4. 2006 Chambourcin Blush - Bronze
  5. 2005 Infinity - Bronze

2007 Illinois State Fair Wine Competition[7]

  1. 2006 Seyval - Silver

2007 International Eastern Wine Competition[7]

  1. 2006 Seyval - Silver
  2. 2006 Vignoles - Silver

World Wine Championship

  1. Niagara - Silver[8]
  2. Vignoles Light Port - Bronze[9]
  3. 2005 Traminette - Bronze[10]
  4. 2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze[11]

[edit] Showings on TV

Public broadcasting station WTTW's "Wild Chicago" traveled over 350 miles to do a "10-minute segment highlighting the Southern Illinois Wine Trail, specifically Blue Sky Vineyard." [12][13] This is the furthest south that the show has every traveled for one of its specials. Id.

In 2007, during an annual Tay-Sachs Benefit, a patron was caught on surveillance tape stealing a motorcycle helmet from a charity auction. After hearing of such an incident producers from Nancy Grace on CNN invited Tim Rochman, co-organizer of the event and father of an affected child to discuss the issue and show the surveillance tape.[14]

In July of 2006, Blue Sky Vineyards was featured in CBS 2's Illinois Getaway Guide. [15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (2008). "Shawnee Hills: Member Listing". Retrieved Jan. 13, 2008.
  2. ^ Appellation America (2008)"Blue Sky Vineyard". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  3. ^ a b 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Award Winners. "208 Medal Winners". Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.
  4. ^ Mid-American Wine Competition(2007). "2007 Compeition Reulsts". Retrieved Jan. 21, 2008.
  5. ^ Indy International Wine Competition(2007). "2007 Commercial Wine Awards by Brand". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  6. ^ Finger Lakes International Wine Competition (2007). "2007 Competition Results". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  7. ^ a b Illinois Awards."Illinois Wine Awards & Accolades ". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  8. ^ Beverage Tasting Institute [1]. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  9. ^ Beverage Tasting Institute [2]. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  10. ^ Beverage Tasting Institute [3]. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  11. ^ Beverage Tasting Institute [4]. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  12. ^ Southern Illinoisian (2005). "Lights, cameras, wine: Local vineyard, residents taped for television segment". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  13. ^ WTTW (2005). "Blue Sky Vineyard (Southern Show)". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  14. ^ Southern Illinoisian (2005). "Tape shows men stealing from charity auction". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.
  15. ^ CBS 2 Chicago (2006). "From Vineyards To BBQ Without Leaving The State". Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.


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