If planners are looking for a spot to bring their group together away from the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago, consider heading west to host an event at one of several wineries and vineyards along the mighty Mississippi River. From Nauvoo down to Quincy, the river valley area is a hot spot for groups to gather and sip amid sprawling fields of grapevines.
Open year-round, Baxter’s Vineyards & Winery in Nauvoo offers a few different event spaces on-site. Gather in the Wine Barrel Bar or out on its patio (weather permitting), both of which seat up to 25 attendees. For an event of up to 50, planners can choose to host in the main winery building as well. “We offer tastings of all our wines, short self-guided tours of our winery, and a lot of history of our area,” adds Brenda Logan, co-owner of the property with Kelly Logan. There is also a bed-and-breakfast across the street for overnight stays of up to 20 people.
Also in Nauvoo, Press House Winery opened in 2019 and has a tasting room capacity of up to 50 attendees. With its rural locale, the property also boasts stunning outdoor space for larger events up to 200 people, and though the property closes from mid-December through mid-March, it will reopen for an event with advanced notice. Attendees can enjoy Press House’s fan-favorite wines including its sweeter Harvest Concord, the semidry Cherry Reserve, or the semisweet Cranberry Blush.
Farther south is Spirit Knob Winery in Ursa, run by Matt Schulte and his wife, Karen. The property offers venue rentals for events from fundraisers to company parties. And just south of downtown Quincy, Pointe D’Vine Vineyard & Venue is home to a tasting room, The Hilltop Reception Room, its Ancestral Barn, and the vineyard. Gather groups of 20 to 300 people for team building, seminars, corporate picnics, and everything in between.
