Mississippi American Viticulture Areas Big River Magazine Wines & Vines Trade Journal 
Congrat's to the twenty-two Illinois medal winning entrants to the 2008 WineMaker International Amateur contest. Twelve of the 22 were from Northern Illinois, and two northerners were members of the Northern Illinois Wine Growers association (NIWG). Two contestants were from central, and 8 were from southern Illinois. Bill Shoemaker (St. Charles) took bronze medals for his Valvin Muscat ( a new Cornell release) and for his 2005 North Star Cherry. Jeff Pankow (Woodstock) won a bronze for his Cab/Merlot blend. Other winners (too numerous to list here) were from Chicago, Aurora, Darien, Dakota, Hanover Park, Lake-In-The-Hills, Oak Lawn, St. Charles, and West Chicago. From Central & South Illinois, there were representatives from Creal Springs, Granville, Highland, Murphysboro, Smithton, Stonefort and Warrensburg. Keep up the good work, winemakers! Ray Ruthenberg, Woodbine Twp, IL
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