Blue Sky Vineyards

Infobox Winery
winery_name = Blue Sky Vineyards
winery_
location_city = Makanda, IIllinois
location_country = USA
appellation = Shawnee Hills
former_name =
other_labels=
year_founded = 2000
first_vintage = 2003
key_people = Barrett Rochman, Jim Ewers, Karen Hand
parent_company =
cases_per_year =
signature_wine = Chambourcin Reserve
varietal1 = Cabernet Franc
varietal2 = Chambourcin
varietal3 = Chardonnay
varietal4 = Concord (grape)
varietal5 = Corot Noir
varietal6 = Niagara (grape)
varietal7 = Noiret
varietal8 = Norton (grape)
varietal9 = Traminette
varietal10 = Vignoles (grape)

other_product1= Olive Oil
other_product2=
other_product3=
other_product4=
other_product5=
homepage=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 Shawnee Hills Wine Trail (2008). [http://www.shawneewinetrail.com/bluesky.htm "Shawnee Hills: Member Listing"] . Retrieved Jan. 13, 2008.] . 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. Appellation America (2008) [http://wine.appellationamerica.com/vineyard/Blue_Sky_Vineyard.html "Blue Sky Vineyard"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.] They currently produce 17 different kinds of Illinois wine and 5 American wines ranging from dry to sweet.

Competitions

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

2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Award Winners. [http://www.winejudging.com/medal_winners.htm "208 Medal Winners"] . Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.] "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."2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Award Winners. [http://www.winejudging.com/medal_winners.htm "208 Medal Winners"] . Retrieved Jan. 30, 2008.] Blue Sky Vineyards won the following awards:
#2006 Villard Blanc - Silver
#2006 Traminette - Silver
#2005 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze

2007 Mid-American Wine CompetitionMid-American Wine Competition(2007). [http://www.dmacc.edu/ici/winecompetition.asp "2007 Compeition Reulsts"] . Retrieved Jan. 21, 2008.]
#2006 Vignoles - Best White of Show, Gold
#2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Gold
#2005 Infinity - Silver
#2006 Riesling - Bronze
#2005 Traminette - Bronze
#NV Framboise - Bronze

2007 Indy International Wine CompetitionIndy International Wine Competition(2007). [http://www.indianawines.org/media/iwc/Commercial%20Wine%20Awards%20by%20Brand.pdf "2007 Commercial Wine Awards by Brand"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]
#2005 Infinity - Concordance Gold
#2006 Seyval - Silver
#2006 Chardonnay - Silver
#2006 Vignoles - Silver
#2006 Riesling - Bronze
#2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze
#2006 Chambourcin Blush - Bronze

2007 Finger Lakes International Wine CompetitionFinger Lakes International Wine Competition (2007). [http://www.fliwc.com/results/2007results.asp "2007 Competition Results"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]

#2006 Seyval - Silver
#2005 Traminette - Silver
#2004 Chambourcin Reserve - Bronze
#2006 Chambourcin Blush - Bronze
#2005 Infinity - Bronze

2007 Illinois State Fair Wine CompetitionIllinois Awards. [http://www.illinoiswine.com/awards.html "Illinois Wine Awards & Accolades "] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]

#2006 Seyval - Silver

2007 International Eastern Wine Competition

#2006 Seyval - Silver
#2006 Vignoles - Silver

World Wine Championship
#Niagara - SilverBeverage Tasting Institute [http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=179800] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]
#Vignoles Light Port - BronzeBeverage Tasting Institute [http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=179798] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]
#2005 Traminette - BronzeBeverage Tasting Institute [http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=179799] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]
#2004 Chambourcin Reserve - BronzeBeverage Tasting Institute [http://www.tastings.com/scout_wine.lasso?id=179801] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]

howings 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." Southern Illinoisian (2005). [http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2005/09/29/top/107629.txt "Lights, cameras, wine: Local vineyard, residents taped for television segment"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.] WTTW (2005). [http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?erube_fh=erblog&erblog.submit.PostDetail=true&erblog.blogid=14&erblog.BlogPostID=79 "Blue Sky Vineyard (Southern Show)"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.] 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.Southern Illinoisian (2005). [http://www.thesouthern.com/articles/2007/05/25/top/20386252.txt "Tape shows men stealing from charity auction"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]

In July of 2006, Blue Sky Vineyards was featured in CBS 2's Illinois Getaway Guide. CBS 2 Chicago (2006). [http://cbs2chicago.com/specialreports/Illinois.Getaway.Guide.2.329875.html "From Vineyards To BBQ Without Leaving The State"] . Retrieved Jan. 12, 2008.]

References