August Hill Winery was founded in 2000 by Sean Ginocchio and Mark and Teri Wenzel. Mark began studying wine making to capture his grandfather, Augie’s, passion for the land. Together Sean and Mark created the vision for August Hill Winery, a company with a passion for creation. The first 2½ acres of vines were planted in the spring of 2003; each hole was dug by hand, and each vine was planted by hand. August Hill’s 3-acre vineyard stands atop a bluff on the south side of the Illinois River on the same property the winery.
Wine-maker, Mark, and Teri Wenzel operate the vineyard, the winery and the Tasting Room in historic downtown Utica, IL. Sean and his family support August Hill Winery with corporate sales and special events. Sean’s wife, Tara, continues to create her paintings that are a part of the labels on each of August Hill’s bottles of wine.
The August Hill Tasting Room is located at 106 Mill Street in Utica, Illinois. It is open Friday-Saturday from 10am – 8pm; Sunday: 11am – 5pm; Monday-Thursday: 10am – 5pm. Weather permitting, you can enjoy your favorite AHW wines while relaxing on their outdoor patio. You’ll also find hand-blown glassware, abstract paintings woodworking, pottery, jewelry, artisan cheeses, gourmet chocolates and more.
Hieland Red – A medium bodied wine with pleasant aromas of black currant and raspberry. It is peppery, with a hint of chocolate and sweet vanilla and a nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. This wine is aged in American oak and pairs well with steak and grilled chicken.
Okoye - This light bodied wine is similar to a Pinot Noir and is fruit forward with the aroma and flavor of bing cherries. Pairs well with BBQ chicken and grilled chicken.
Marchel- Made with the Marchel grape.
Dry White
Chardonel - A full bodied white wine with a buttery and vanilla finish. Aged in oak for 7 months.
Semi-Dry / Off Dry White
Seyval Blanc – A light bodied wine with floral aromas and citrus flavors. This semi=dry, crisp wine is similar to a Pinot Grigio and is made from the seyval blank grapes and fermented in stainless steel tanks. Pairs well with pasta, salads and seafood.
Semi-Dry / Off Dry Red
Berlyn – A light bodied red wine made with a blend of Chancellor and Frontenac grapes. It has notes of cherry, strawberry and a hint of chocolate. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Pairs well with pasta, pork or beef.
Semi-Sweet and Sweet White
Sweet William – Semi-sweet and made from a blend of French-American hybrid grapes. Pairs well with salads, light pastas, pork or chicken.
Vignole - Semi-sweet and made with the Vignole grape.
Blush
Sweet Catawba - A sweet blush made with the Catawba grape. Excellent with cheese and crackers.
Fruit and Dessert Wines
Augie’s Blackberry – Port style wine made from blackberry juice and named after the grandfather of Mark Wenzel, winemaker. Great for sipping and pairs well with chocolate and desserts.
Sparkling
Brut Cuvee – Crisp and light with refreshing flavors and fine, persistent bubbles. The Seyval Blanc grapes contribute citrus aromas and flavors of grapefruit and lemon.
Muscato - A sweet, slightly sparkled dessert wine made from Muscat grapes. Fresh flavors and intense aromas of peach, guava, honey and citrus. Alcohol content only 8%.
Almond Infustion – A light, sweet sparkling wine infused with lively almond aromas and flavor. Pairs well with sugar cookies, wedding cakes and other light desserts.
Pomegranate Infusion – A light, sweet sparkling wine infused with the aroma and flavor of pomegranates. Pair with light desserts.
Apple Infusion – A light, green apple sparkling wine.
Mardi Gras – Sweet Catawba wine with the addition of bubbles. Pairs well with spicy Cajun foods, jambalaya and gumbo.
August Hill Winery
August Hill Winery was founded in 2000 by Sean Ginocchio and Mark and Teri Wenzel. Mark began studying wine making to capture his grandfather, Augie’s, passion for the land. Together Sean and Mark created the vision for August Hill Winery, a company with a passion for creation. The first 2½ acres of vines were planted in the spring of 2003; each hole was dug by hand, and each vine was planted by hand. August Hill’s 3-acre vineyard stands atop a bluff on the south side of the Illinois River on the same property the winery.
Wine-maker, Mark, and Teri Wenzel operate the vineyard, the winery and the Tasting Room in historic downtown Utica, IL. Sean and his family support August Hill Winery with corporate sales and special events. Sean’s wife, Tara, continues to create her paintings that are a part of the labels on each of August Hill’s bottles of wine.
The August Hill Tasting Room is located at 106 Mill Street in Utica, Illinois. It is open Friday-Saturday from 10am – 8pm; Sunday: 11am – 5pm; Monday-Thursday: 10am – 5pm. Weather permitting, you can enjoy your favorite AHW wines while relaxing on their outdoor patio. You’ll also find hand-blown glassware, abstract paintings woodworking, pottery, jewelry, artisan cheeses, gourmet chocolates and more.
For more information about August Hill Winery, call (815) 667-5211 or go to: https://www.augusthillwinery.com .
Inside Out carries these August Hill Wines:
Dry Red
Hieland Red – A medium bodied wine with pleasant aromas of black currant and raspberry. It is peppery, with a hint of chocolate and sweet vanilla and a nice balance of fruit, tannins and acidity. This wine is aged in American oak and pairs well with steak and grilled chicken.
Okoye - This light bodied wine is similar to a Pinot Noir and is fruit forward with the aroma and flavor of bing cherries. Pairs well with BBQ chicken and grilled chicken.
Marchel- Made with the Marchel grape.
Dry White
Chardonel - A full bodied white wine with a buttery and vanilla finish. Aged in oak for 7 months.
Semi-Dry / Off Dry White
Seyval Blanc – A light bodied wine with floral aromas and citrus flavors. This semi=dry, crisp wine is similar to a Pinot Grigio and is made from the seyval blank grapes and fermented in stainless steel tanks. Pairs well with pasta, salads and seafood.
Semi-Dry / Off Dry Red
Berlyn – A light bodied red wine made with a blend of Chancellor and Frontenac grapes. It has notes of cherry, strawberry and a hint of chocolate. Fermented in stainless steel tanks. Pairs well with pasta, pork or beef.
Semi-Sweet and Sweet White
Sweet William – Semi-sweet and made from a blend of French-American hybrid grapes. Pairs well with salads, light pastas, pork or chicken.
Vignole - Semi-sweet and made with the Vignole grape.
Blush
Sweet Catawba - A sweet blush made with the Catawba grape. Excellent with cheese and crackers.
Fruit and Dessert Wines
Augie’s Blackberry – Port style wine made from blackberry juice and named after the grandfather of Mark Wenzel, winemaker. Great for sipping and pairs well with chocolate and desserts.
Sparkling
Brut Cuvee – Crisp and light with refreshing flavors and fine, persistent bubbles. The Seyval Blanc grapes contribute citrus aromas and flavors of grapefruit and lemon.
Muscato - A sweet, slightly sparkled dessert wine made from Muscat grapes. Fresh flavors and intense aromas of peach, guava, honey and citrus. Alcohol content only 8%.
Almond Infustion – A light, sweet sparkling wine infused with lively almond aromas and flavor. Pairs well with sugar cookies, wedding cakes and other light desserts.
Pomegranate Infusion – A light, sweet sparkling wine infused with the aroma and flavor of pomegranates. Pair with light desserts.
Apple Infusion – A light, green apple sparkling wine.
Mardi Gras – Sweet Catawba wine with the addition of bubbles. Pairs well with spicy Cajun foods, jambalaya and gumbo.