The red flight is Merlot, Shiraz, Dawg House Red and Rocko Red. My daughter brought to the Illinois Wine trail for Mother's Day! Such a fun treat. The charcuterie board was perfection and the staff is most knowledgeable and welcoming. Ambiance and service is 5 star. Such a gorgeous vineyard. read more

See all

We stopped here on a Saturday as part of a Ladies Shawnee Hills Spring wine tour. There is lots of parking right out in front. When we got inside, it was extremely crowded and loud inside. (There was a baby shower in progress.) We were still able to find a table. There are outdoor seating options but it was too cold. The service was quick and efficient. Their wine flights are organized in a cute carrier, and it was only $10 for a flight. You do have to check your empty flight back in to get your deposit back. It was not the best wine on the trail, in my opinion. There was some cute wine merchandise, similar to what is sold at other wineries. The women's bathroom was spacious and clean. I would return, especially on a warm day when the patio is open. read more

See all

Amazing location for a public fundraising event with great food & drink available. Both indoor and outdoor spaces to handle the crowd and see the scenery surrounding the winery. read more

We tryed the Sangria and Alto Buzz. Excellent of course, I'm no wine snob so my opinion wouldn't matter anyway. So relaxing and lovely terrain surrounding the area, even for winter. read more

Alto Vineyards - Dee James - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

Garlic white sauce and sausage pizza is phenomenal. Black and blush, Cherry Berry and fresh made sangria's are award winning. Fav winery!!! Been coming for a few years! read more

What a wonderful vineyard. My husband, sister in law, and I discovered this gem while visiting in Murphysboro IL. We throughly enjoyed the wine selection and tastings served to us by a great host. We also had their chicken salad sandwiches for a yummy lunch, which were delicious. They have a very nice gift area with great and fun "wine" related items and some very pretty pieces of jewelry too. The indoor area is open, inviting and fun to sit in. When we return for another trip to see family, this vineyard is definitely on our list to revisit. read more

See all

Oh my gosh! Of all the wineries I was blown away by the wine here! Great ambiance! Fun place with bocce ball and other games to enjoy!

Alto Vineyards is often considered the first stop on the Illinois wine trail. This was true as our first stop. There is one Tesla non Supercharger which I assume helps to make this a vineyard which people may stay at a bit longer at. A huge space that hosts events such as live music which we were there for. The bar space is long and can accommodate a small army. A space in the corner sold t-shirts, hoodies, and other fun items. The bartender was friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. We didn't make it outside so I can't speak too much about the patio, I saw it but didn't get a better look. This vineyard had a solid selection of wines a few that I did take with me. I would not hesitate to come back especially to see an open mic night. The turnout and crowd was plentiful and engaging. read more

Alto Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

I really love the vineyard! Also love the wines from their Australian winery! However, we didn't care for the bar tenders vaping at the bar indoors while they weren't serving patrons. Food and wine are always divine! read more

My wife and I really do enjoy visiting this place. The location is nice and peaceful. They always have some sort of entertainment going on. There is a decent amount of seating inside and out with a balcony looking over the place. In the Fall they have a big event that ends with a great fireworks display. I will caution you though that the food selection is not good at all. I'm about 100% positive that the pizzas are frozen Tombstone pizzas and the toasted Raviolis are the frozen box brand Louisa that you buy from the frozen food section. All in all this location is great, the service is great, the wine and beverage selection is great, but definitely eat before you come by. read more

Food was great and the wines are really good. The service is a little sketchy as I had to really pry to get the story of the wines and winery. The atmosphere is great. We sat upstairs and admired the views. The people were friendly, just not overly helpful. So set your expectations and be prepared to ask questions. read more

Was just ok. Some of the wines were ok and some were not to my liking. Prefer some of the other wineries nearby

The staff was very rude. They acted like we were an inconvenience. While sitting outside one of the wines turned into chunks, and when we approached the staff about this they seemed nonchalant about it and stated that it happens all of the time. Wine is not supposed to do that. The ambiance of the building was very plain and very lace luster. read more

Enjoyed the mid week winery visit, no samplings due to the pandemic, samples will return soon. Tried a glass and enjoyed it on the grounds. Grass was in need of mowing, perhaps waiting till weekend. Helpful staff helped me make choices with no samples, kinda fun flying blind when wine was so enjoyably refreshing. There are plenty of spots to sip and enjoy the time outside with friends and your pet. read more

Alto Vineyards - a glass of white wine on a table - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

Driving through town, enjoying the countryside, we passed by this Vineyard among several others. Of all the Vineyards in the area, this one caught our attention being more modern and we were able to see a rooftop patio from the road. We were also exploring with a local who highly recommended we stop here if we like sweet wine. That is all I needed to here as the only wines I truly like are on the sweeter side. After sampling a few, I decided on Heartland Red and it was delicious. A nice treat to end our day. The patio was pleasant to sit out and enjoy the vineyard view and sunset. The inside was set up with long rows of tables (they may have had an event earlier in the day) which was very different than what I was use to. They also had a live 3-piece band playing. Overall a wonderful experience and I would love to go back here when i'm in town. read more

See all

Have stopped at this winery quite a few times while in southern Illinois. It's probably the biggest in the area operations wise, with the largest wine menu as well featuring a mix of local varietals and more common grocery store ones (in contrast to most other So Ill wineries, which largely solely feature our region's unique varietals). They were busy the most recent saturday we were there, with a long line at the tasting bar, but the bartender still took time to explain a little about the wine to me. In the past service here has been hit or miss, some wine tasters barely know anything about what they're selling. The more intimate wineries are more interesting imo but Alto is one of the first in the area, and brings its own unique flavor regardless of how commercial it is. read more

Came here on an unseasonably warm afternoon for a bite and some wine with my dog. I was visiting from out of town and this was the first in my stop on the Shawnee Wine Trail. First, it's a beautiful property that is very easy to find from the road. The outdoor patio is partially covered with a gazebo and is pet friendly for leashed dogs, which was perfect for us. We were the only customers around noon on a Monday, and I got some wine and a meat/cheese plate, taking a bunch of recs from the bartender for my flight. First, I think the wines here are generally a bit sweet for my taste, but the bartender gave a heads up on that and I really appreciated some of the wines I tasted. I ended up leaving with a bottle of their Vidal bland. The meat/cheese plate was a little lackluster/average (emphasis on quantity over quality in this dish). It was a bit hot to sit too long on the patio, so I wish they had some better options for shade in their shaded area. All in all, a pleasant trip made better by great service, and awesome laid back view, and ability to take my pup! read more

See all

We were traveling with friends and stopped in along the trail. I liked the updated setting on the inside with lots of natural light. Good amount of options ranging from semi-dry to sweet. More sweets overall on the menu but a few dry wines. I liked the Shiraz the best out of my tasting of 6. A tasting of six and a souvenir glass is $5. Michelle was very friendly and knowledgeable about the variety of wines and helping guide our tasting. The wine and yoga events on Wednesday look great. Dogs are allowed inside! read more

Alto Vineyards - Events - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

What a great place. This is one of the starting wineries for the Shawnee Wine Trail. At this time everything is outside with a walk up window. This year they have added cheese curds to their snacks menu. I had a glass of the sangria, it wasn't homemade which I was a little disappointed. Even if they don't make it in my opinion they could have added a few personal touches to the sangria. they have a few umbrella tables and a nice patio deck. This is a place I would go back to. read more

Okay so let me set the scene: my mother visited me and we had a nice catch up session for the day. However the entire day was ruined when one of the male bartenders said he'd give my mother a bottle of sweet white wine on the house if she'd meet him in the back room and "fool around" Without response from my mother, he grabs her hand and tried to bring her back. I think the guy's name was Alex. Absolutely disgusted with what I saw and I hope the your clown show of a vineyard will get y'all's shit in order. I feel unsafe coming to Alto with my wife now. We're happily married and I will absolutely swing on a lil punk a** worker you have if he tried some goofy a** behavior with my pride and joy. read more

This was a wonderful food truck. Great food, great service. Really wonderful experience with great ambiance. Love this place!

I love love this winery!!! I have to stock up every time I go down south to see my in-laws. I am not a big wine person but man do I love the sweet wines from Alto Vineyards. read more

We had a wonderful experience! The staff member (Cassie) was very friendly and helpful! Enjoyed the wine flights and food! We will be back!

Sooo yesterday four friends and I went to the winery ( two black women, one biracial woman, and two Caucasian women). Allison (sp) was working the window. When my Caucasian friend was ordering her drink, she was treated super nicely, not ID'd, given an ice bucket for her wine immediately, you know normal kind service. BUT when I was ordering I was IMMEDIATELY asked to show identification and she made my friend show hers as well ( even though she was not purchasing liquor, and the person before us was not carded). In 90+ degree heat I was asked if I wanted an ice bucket for my wine ( but my friend was automatically given one ). I used to really like this winery but after being treated like I was yesteday I don't think I'll be returning. I'll take my money somewhere that people are consistent in how they treat people spending money with them. read more

Beautiful facilities for tasting - Shawnee Hills Wine Trail is a good idea. Will be enjoying the 2017 Chardonel. read more

Alto was our 2nd stop of the day on our Shawnee Wine Trail adventure. Its just down the road from Von Jakob. The entrance is very welcoming and after a hot day on the trail, the AC was a breath of fresh air. There are options of sitting inside or sitting somewhere amongst the winery grounds. There's a self guided trail you can walk to visit the vines and other spots around the vineyard. We did a tasting then decided to do the walk. Gorgeous views and great picture taking spots. The guy behind the wine bar invited us to 3 tastes on the house. We decided our favorite was their Cherry Berry. We sat and people watched as this particular winery was busier than the first. They also were having a girls night with different vendors setting up. They were very inviting and informative. Such a fun 2nd stop! read more

Im a big fan of the Chancellor. Not to mention that the prices directly through the winery are about 40% cheaper than the liquor stores. The outside area is beautiful as well. A nice relaxing place to enjoy a glass or bottle of vino. read more

Alto Vineyards - View - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

Very nice and scenic setting with a nice selection of wine. This should be one of your stops on the Shawnee Wine Trail.

Alto Vineyards is the first Illinois Winery that I ever tried. We have since been to them all and rank Russell Hill #1 and Von Jakob #2 and Alto Vineyards as number 3. Our favorite bottle of wine is attached (see picture) nice atmosphere and very capable staff. It's over all a great choice to visit. They could make a few improvements. The Shawnee Gold is excellent! read more

Alto Vineyards - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

Well worth the drive especially for an event of which Betty and Desiree are the gracious hostesses. I have been coming here for almost 20 years and it is absolutely amazing the events (salsa dance, music, fashion show, benefits, concerts, yoga, etc) they now put on. My dad's favorite wine was Heartland Red so I always grab him a bottle. Mine tends to the Rock Red but now that they have Sangria. Good Wisconsin cheese curds read more

See all

We were there right when they opened and was very impressed with the look and feel of this vineyards. A great gift shop, appetizer menu for those that arrive hungry, a beautiful rooftop deck of the land. The wines were great, the $5 tasting is a fantastic price. OK, now for the bad. There were three employees behind the bar when we walked in. Not a one acknowledged or welcomed us. They seemed much more interested in their personal conversation. I finally had to ask a question to get one of them to approach us. While she did a great job of explaining the different wines on the tasting, she seemed less than thrilled to be there. I would think that if this is the way they treat their very first guest of the day, I would hate to be the 20th guest. While they may be rated as the best vineyard in the area throughout my extensive google search, I am not sure I would return due to their lack of customer service. read more

The wine here was pretty good and they have plenty of space for the drinkers. It kind of reminded me of a German beer room it was so open and with tall ceilings, kind of vacant of character though. Another drunk group kind of ruined the perfect score for this one though, like literally falling down flights of stairs drunk and the winery didn't even stop serving them. So there was that... read more

Great vineyard. We discovered this place by going to a hibachi steakhouse. There we purchased some wine and liked it so much we tried to figure out where it was and we did. This place has a huge wine tasting area. It is free to try up to 2 wines and $5 to try 6 and get a free glass. The staff was very knowledgeable and patient with noobs to wine like me. Will be back next time we're here. read more

For me, ranking the vineyards alon the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail mostly comes down to how nice the people are and how much fun he place is. I don't mean to be a crumudgeon, but I don't like sweet wines much, and he dry wines of this region just aren't very good. Alto vineyards is one of the oldest vineyard along this trail. One of the locals tole me everyone wondered why the hell anyone would want to ope a winery down here when Alto first opened. It's a fair enough question, since the best wines in the country are NOTHING like the wines around here. Turns out there is a pretty big following for sweet wines, and a lot of those followers are women. As we all know, if Mom's happy, everybody's happy, so a wise dad schleps mom down to the Shawnee Hills and shows her a good time. The pourers at Alto Vineyards are pretty nice, down home folks and that goes a long way in making a visit here fun. The grounds are very well kept, with three separate sitting areas. I'd guess most visitors to this wine trail stop by here because it's has the most trafficked address on the trail. So it's a pretty okay place to stop and try wines that taste pretty much like all the others on the trail. They'd get higher marks with a good sangria or live music...or better yet, a brewery. read more

My personal favorite winery in southern Illinois, actually that I've ever been to! Heartland blush is a cult classic, but every wine here is amazing!! Excellent staff and atmosphere! Have live bands pretty often! And have an indoor space if it's raining or too hot! They have seating on the ground level and on the roof area! My only wish is that there was more outdoor seating and shade on the ground level! read more

The building is quite stark against the country landscape. It is very modern looking and seems Eco-friendly. Tastings are 1 or 2 free or 5 for $5 and you get a glass. I hate when wineries choose to make you pay for samples, to me it doesn't make business sense. The wines were decent, we got a bottle of the blush to enjoy there. We also got the $6 cheese plate, it was good for the two of us. We left with a container of fudge and the Cherry Berry wine, a divine combination. It was too windy to enjoy the outside, which is too bad because it looked beautiful. Probably not on the top of my list to go back, but still a good winery. read more

Alto Vineyards - The blush - pretty good! - Wineries Near Me - Alto Pass, Illinois

Very nice afternoon setting during COVID 19. Except for Illinois restrictions the vineyard operations were seamless. Wine was a little sweet but w/o opportunity of tasting was not a vineyard problem. So band was good, cool breeze in shade on 91 degree day. Good experience. I would recommend. read more

I think this was my fav of all of the wine trail. Super nice deck with a great view. Great wines, some of these made of Australian grapes ( we all agreed: ours are still the best! And I was genuinely surprised, as I very much like Australian Shiraz.) Very pleasant service. Entertainment by Kristin Kearns. Love her! Thank you for making my last stop on the Southern Illinois Wine Trail memorable and nice. read more

Love Alto!!! Wines are so good, delicious dry whites! Dog house white is probably my favorite. Love the aesthetics of the tasting room. Staff was super friendly and knowledgeable. The decor is not over the top but very nice. I appreciate the local art work on display. Enjoy a great glass of wine by the gorgeous fireplace. Can't wait to come back when we can sit outside and enjoy the view. read more

3 is my highest rating for any southern Illinois winery and Alto is the only one to get it. Along with keeping me on the phone when my GPS took a remote "shortcut" their wine was wonderful (making subsequent Shawnee Wine Trail locations pale In comparison). Their staff (Corey) made us comfortable and welcome while juggling phones, owner MTG interruptions and additional customers. It was 90 degrees so too hot to take advantage of their lovely deck for long but made our party long for the opportunity. read more

See all