David E. Conner,
Kickapoo Creek Winery Inc.

Dr.David Conner, a local surgeon, has spent many years developing Conner
Nursery, and now Kickapoo Creek Winery. The nursery is home to over 400 varieties of hostas, these helped provide the inspiration in naming some of the wines. The winery is a great place in central Illinois to sample and purchase fine local wines, learn about how wine is made, and walk or hike along trails beside lakes, surrounded by vineyards and tall oak trees. It's a great place to have a party, corporate meeting, wedding, or reception. The winery is located right off I-74 (Exit 82), about 10 minutes west of Peoria and only minutes from local restaurants and hotels. Their web site is www.kickapoocreekwinery.com

Why so many wineries all of a sudden in Illinois?

Previously only grapes that would tolerate North American low temperature winters were Concord and Niagara. In the last 30 years, Cornell University, the University of Minnesota, along with others (Elmer Swenson of Wisconsin) hybridized vinifera grapes (California varieties) with cold hardy grapes from North America resulting in plats that could withstand our wold winters and also produce grapes that can be made into good wine. Varietal examples are: Chardonel, Frontenac, Foch and Marquette.

Do you still stomp grapes?

Once a year we have a grape stomp festival and Lucy & Ethel look-a-like contest. Otherwise we use a high tech device called a Stemmer-Crusher This machine separates the stems from the grapes and lightly crushes the grape; producing juice, skins, pulp and seeds. This material is call "Must" and is fermented to produce wine.

Do you use oak barrels?

In the future we plan on using oak barrels to some extent. A large number of wineries are now using oak additives to obtain much better control of the flavoring in selected white and most red wines. We do this because we can obtain much better control of the flavoring, by use of oak powder, chips or staves. Also, the oak barrels can only be used four or five times and they are very expensive at $400 to $600 per barrel. Despite this, we do plan on using some barrels in the future.

What makes dry wine dry?

In the winery the "Must" is fermented by yeast by its changing grape sugar to alcohol and carbon dioxide. Once the yeast metabolizes all the grape sugar the wine juice is at 0%, or as we call it, "dry". Dry means no more sugar is left in the wine.

Do you raise your own grapes?

Kickapoo Creek Winery presently has 13 acres of grapes. These are cold hardy hybrids of the vinifera varieties. The harvesting and processing is all done at our winery.

Is it all right for a bottle of wine to fizz when it is opened?

No, gas bubbles coming from a bottle means that the wine is not microbial stable. A second unintended fermentation has occurred, spoiling the wine. Champagne, of course, produces bubbles when opened, and this is desired.

Do you raise your own grapes?

Kickapoo Creek Winery presently has 13 acres of grapes. These are cold hardy hybrids of the vinifera varieties. The harvesting and processing is all done at our winery.

How many bottles does a gallon of wine produce?

One gallon produces five 750ML bottles.

Do you ship wine?

We are presently in the process of developing a wine shipping program. We will announce shipping capability in the near future.

Do you use natural cork?

Yes, at this time we fell the traditional cork is more satisfactory for our customers.

Do you have a wine club?

Presently, we have an amateur wine club that meets each month. Call the winery for details. In addition, we are forming a club that's main function will be shipping wine to an individual's residence. With this membership, we will also offer special activities for the members.

Experts Online is a general information source only. Always consult a professional about your particular situation before following the advice given here. WEEK-TV and Granite Broadcasting Corporation take no responsibility for the opinions expressed here nor do they represent the opinions of WEEK-TV and Granite Broadcasting. Experts have paid a promotional fee.