Galena
Cellars shows
why it is
one of Midwest'
top wineries by Daniel Hines
Publisher
America's Seniors/TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com
My association with Galena Cellars began
nearly five years ago when I first sampled some of their outstanding wines
for another web site. Since then, I have had the opportunity to review
additional wines from Galena, but had never seen the
Winery itself.
On this trip to Galena, we determined that
we were going to visit the site that is fast gaining a reputation for
bringing some of the best wine-making expertise to the Illinois
market. And, as reviews that we are now preparing will indicate,
Galena Cellars, under the wine making leadership of Chris Lawlor, named the
state's top wine maker last year, is preparing to move Midwestern wineries
into a new strata.
Galena Cellars was started by the Lawlors
in 1976. From the beginning, they made a commitment, reflective of the
total attitude of the Galena hospitality community, to make only the best
wines.
Their
small vineyard sits in the rolling countryside approximately a 10 mile drive
from the heart of downtown Galena. Of course, while in Galena, the
beautiful Galena Cellars store and tasting center is a must-see and
must-taste stop on your visit.
The Lawlors also offer overnight
accommodations.
The one-bedroom suite is located above
the Vineyard Tasting Room, overlooking the vineyard and with a spectacular
view of rolling hills. It has a living room with a fireplace, TV, and VCR,
and a fully-equipped kitchen. The suite sleeps four, with a queen-size bed
in the bedroom and a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room. It has one
and a half bathrooms--one with a large, two-person whirlpool bathtub. And
it, too, has central air-conditioning.
Tours
are offered at the winery for a minimal fee. We have visited several
wineries, but this one impressed us with its obvious dedication to quality.
While Galena Cellars 'imports' many of its
juices from different states such as Oregon and Washington, it has made a
serious commitment to locally grown grapes. For example, its Illinois Seyval
Blanc, which is one of the wines we will be reviewing, was exceptional in
its beautiful, almost crystal-like color and lingering mouth feel of
full-bodied grapes without the overbearing sweetness or tartness that seems
to be characteristic of the two extremes of some Midwestern wine
makers.
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modations.
The one-bedroom suite is located above
the Vineyard Tasting Room, overlooking the vineyard and with a spectacular
view of rolling hills. It has a living room with a fireplace, TV, and VCR,
and a fully-equipped kitchen. The suite sleeps four, with a queen-size bed
in the bedroom and a queen-size sleeper sofa in the living room. It has one
and a half bathrooms--one with a large, two-person whirlpool bathtub. And
it, too, has central air-conditioning. 
Tours
are offered at the winery for a minimal fee. We have visited several
wineries, but this one impressed us with its obvious dedication to quality.