“It has been a ‘winederfully’, rewarding experience,” smiles Jennifer Mital, co-owner of Creekside Vineyards Winery, standing next to her husband and winemaker John Mital. Five years ago their small scale Illinois winery released its first three vintages to Quad Cities, and their reputation for quality continues to grow.
“Growing grapes ourselves and partnering with local vineyards allows us to offer some of the best wines in region” explains John Mital, who oversees Creekside Vineyards’ four acre Coal Valley vineyard and five thousand gallon winery in Preemption, Illinois. “Not every winery chooses to work with whole grapes; it’s incredibly labor intensive, but our goal has always been to produce a selection of Illinois wines that can compete with wines from other regions, and our customers, accolades, and reputation tell us we are succeeding.” Mital explains, “Our customers are long term; they have an appreciation for fine, balanced wines, tending toward dry to semi sweet; it’s incredibly rewarding to hear our customers say their favorite vintages are ours, made right here in Illinois.”
“Our signature experience for Creekside Vineyards guests is the seasonal outdoor Wine Terrace,” comments Beverly Mital, co-owner of Creekside Vineyards Inn, “but people often couple that day trip with an overnight at the Inn.” Both the Inn and Wine Terrace are located in rural Rock Island County on what one Inn guest tagged in a Trip Advisor review as “a little slice of heaven right in Coal Valley.” In celebration of its five years, a stay at the Inn during the month of May includes a bottle of wine. “It’s important for our customers to know how much we celebrate and appreciate them.”
The Wine Terrace will kick off its 5th season with a Mother’s Day Indulgence, a 6 flight food & wine pairing on May 8th. The rest of their Wine Terrace season, including music, vineyard experiences, and fundraisers, is available on their online calendar, complete with advanced registration, for events such as their Wine and Wellness Series, body painting sessions, and Art & Wine painting classes.
In addition to the Wine Terrace and Inn, guests can enjoy the quaint Tasting Room in Preemption, open year round, adjunct the Winery. New in June will be outdoor seating and a Wednesday afternoon Roadside Farmer’s Market, offering a selection local produce and goods. “We’ve also added a few Friday night events this year,” comments Jennifer, “a Firefly Festival at the vineyard in June and two Friday night concerts in Preemption later this summer.”
Wine enthusiasts can also find Creekside Vineyards at a variety of Illinois retail locations, order online (and ship to 22 states), or stop by their booth at one of the Illinois Wine Festivals this year, including Uncork Illinois in Oak Park this May and Corkless in Galena in June.
Learn more at creeksidevineyards.com or call 309-787-9463 (Winery & Terrace) or 309-787-6919 (Inn).
