We really enjoyed Pomona Winery! Due to Covid, no tastings or flights were offered, but the very knowledgeable woman (owner?) made a suggestion that we loved! The bottle price was very reasonable and completely worth the experience! We loved sitting on the porch, it felt like we were in a treehouse, what gorgeous grounds! She sealed up our the rest of our bottle of wine so we could take it to go. Really appreciated letting our dog play frisbee on the front lawn, she was in heaven! read more

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The service was great and very informative when we asked wine questions. Wine is fruit based but very enjoyable. Would go back in a heartbeat and also love they distribute in our area in Illinois. read more

You have to come here if you're in the area for a tasting. Truly unique wines. We bought a lot to take home.

This was my favorite winery in the area. It just has a very calm, comforting feel. The staff were all smiles and greeted us right away. They did a good job explaining the wines and didn't seem "stuffy" Also their wines are derived from apples! Sweet! I would give them 5 stars if they served food (bruschetta anyone?) or some fun non-alcoholic drinks for the DD (NA apple cider maybe?) read more

Pomona Winery - Able to accommodate large groups - Wineries Near Me - Pomona, Illinois

The service was amazing at this winery, the wine was amazing, and the view was beautiful. We took away a star due to a unpleasant smell when entering the building. read more

Traveled to Carbondale for the Eclipse, and wanted to experience the wine trail in the afternoon. On maps this was the only place that did not say closed, went ahead and called to make sure they were open. No answer. Finally arrived after a long drive, and closed. About 30 other cars were following us to the winery, all had to turn around. Very upset that they did not tell us that they were closed for the eclipse day- they missed out on a ton of business. We took our business to Hedman Vineyards and we're very pleased with that experience. They should have left a message on their voicemail that they were closed. Very disappointed. read more

Meh. If you have the pallet of a 5 year old and enjoy a sweet wine this is your place. I had to gag down all the wines we tried all while the guy who told us about the "wine" tried hard to sell it. Bless his heart. Bring your insulin. You'll need it! read more

While visiting family in Southern Illinois, we decided to hit the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail... the Pomona Winery was our first stop. The winding roads getting there made me unsure of my ability to drink wine, but all was well the minute I stepped inside. We were greeted by the owner, George, who was hilarious, kind, and generous in his knowledge. I wasn't sure about the idea of apple-only wine (no grapes? seriously?), but George changed my mind, and he'll convince you, too. Pomona was hands-down my favorite stop of the trip... they have a great tasting room, a large deck where you can bring your own food, have a glass (or bottle) of wine, and relax. The price can't be beat, either... I think we had 5 glasses of wine & it was only $20 or something ridiculously inexpensive like that. I had a few favorites, but the bottles I took home were the Orchard Spice (seriously, they aren't kidding when they tell you it's Thanksgiving in a bottle)... SO delicious. I highly recommend making a stop at Pomona while on the trail... you will not be disappointed. read more

Stopped in while on a mini vacation in Shawnee. The server was great at describing the wines and suggesting what to pair with them. The dry wines were delicious. The dessert wines were way too sweet for me but that depends on your pallette. The grounds at Ponoma are gorgeous. We enjoyed a glass of wine on the back deck and it was very relaxing! read more

I'd have to call this place a must see for the Shawnee wine trail. The wines here are made from local fruits and not from grapes (local or otherwise). Many of the wines are made from apples. As you might imagine, most of the wines are pretty sweet. The tastes were surprisingly varied, though, and the woman giving out tastes was very knowledgeable and had lots of suggestions on how these wines could be used in cooking. Unlike every other winery on the trail, none of the wines here were offensive. They were all good in their own way. If you like cooking with wine, especially desserts, be sure and stop here. A very fun tasting. read more

The owner George made this a 5 star experience. His playful descriptions of the wine you are tasting and how to pair it with food was really enjoyable. Add in the running commentary and snarks from Becky the master vinter and its just too much fun. The most fun I've ever had a winery...ever. Bar none. Pomona Winery is different...they make "non-grape" wines that are really different and out there. OF the sample of 10 wines I actually enjoyed most, especially the dry wines. One apple wine actually reminded me very much of a traditional pinot gris as the apple taste was so subdued. Only a couple of the sweets were too much for my taste. The really stunning wine that I bought and brought home with me was really different. It was a strawberry wine. It had a bit of a kick but you could taste the berry flavor through it all. Perfect dessert wine that paired perfectly with a molten lava cake. read more

This is the FIRST stop I take anybody when I introduce them to Southern Illinois' wine trail. First, it's unique because they are all non-grape wines. Second, they are the MOST informative winery and I feel that's a great way to start a trip. You'll get a lot of great background information if the owner is in and taking you through the tastings. He must train his staff really well too because I've never had a bad experience or one where they leave you wondering. They always give you tips on how to taste it and what to cook with - always friendly and you get to go through the entire list. The tastings use to be free but I think it's a dollar now (well worth it - most wineries will let you have up to 5 tastings for a couple bucks and Pomona gives you everything). This is an especially good place to take someone who doesn't normally drink or care for wine. I think the apple wine is a good transition for a non-wine drinker before they set off to the rest of the wine trail. Again, highly recommended for a first stop. read more

Pomona Winery is a small vineyard and winery located on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in a wooded section of the Shawnee National Forest (10 miles south of Murphysboro). They have a rural tasting room with a back deck that overlooks the forest. The grape-less wines they offer are unique and tasty. Most are made from apples, berries and other locally sourced fruits. The cost is $3 for a tasting of all 10 wines. George and Becky are informative, entertaining and fun. This winery is small, but unique and is definitely a worthwhile stop on the wine trail! read more

Pomona Winery - Playful George. Super fun wine tasting. - Wineries Near Me - Pomona, Illinois

Becky provided us with a nice, knowledgeable tasting while informing us, "We don't do weddings; have bands or offer any food" thus claiming "our winery stands on the product alone." The non-grape wines are nice, unassuming treats...offered in an environment free of the expected accoutrements of other wineries. They obviously have concern for the environment, using recycled bricks along the entrance drive. My problem with this established winery is the lack of solicitation. Introduce us to your sommelier (I had to ask the name of ours) and let us know if there is a deck to have a relaxing glass of wine on. We rushed through a tasting,, described our other experiences and were counseled as to how to better handle our dissatisfaction. If you don't offer food, inform your customers via web....inviting us to bring snacks. Becky kindly directed us, as a local, to other touristy destinations. read more

Pomona Winery - Wineries Near Me - Pomona, Illinois

This was my last stop before heading home to Chicagoland. I didn't want to leave. The owner (George, I believe), is actually from Chicago, so we broke the ice quickly. Their wines are fantastic, and you can tell that they put a lot of thought and pride into their work. He build the building himself (which, is a really cool building). We got lucky for having a 50 degree day in the middle of December, so we were able to sip our wine out on the back deck! Beautiful views from the deck and surrounding property. I bought a bottle of almost all of their wines (6 out of 10). They are NOT all sweet wines, FYI, and only 3 of their wines are dessert wines. They run the gamut from dry to semi-dry to semi-sweet to sweet, so they have something to please everyone. Unless you're like me and enjoy a variety of wines, then you'll be in heaven! It's a little off the beaten path (and my GPS didn't take me right there, but we found it), but it's definitely worth the trip. read more

While I give them major bonus points for being the only vineyard on the wine trail making apple wines, this restriction doesn't leave the customer with much variety. There are roughly 9 different wines on the menu, but only one is any different than the others (not including the ports). I forget the name, but it had a really nice cinnamon flavor to it. The rest all tasted like slightly less sweet Moscato to me. However, Pomona is arguably the most secluded of all the wineries on the trail and has one of the warmest interiors of all the locations I've seen. The staff is always friendly, and the service is quick. read more

Pomona Winery is a classic example of what a Southern Illinois winery should be. Why? 1) The Wines, while too sweet from my taste, are a delicious example of locally-produced fruit wines from the surrounding orchards. 2) The Building was built by the Owner's own hands out of reclaimed materials. He even has a "reclaimed materials" shack nearby that is photo-worthy. 3) The Owner (George) takes time to walk you through a tasting of all of the wines and how they fit into the larger world of wine itself, and he takes his time to slowly work through the story and share his craft. (He may even answer the phone in the middle of his spiel--just talk to your friends and enjoy the slowness of it all--George will be back soon.) 4) The Location. You will see some beautiful landscape on your way there, and pulling into the drive feels like trespassing onto some old hippie's secret weed plantation. Yes, you might get bitten by mosquitoes on your way from the car to the tasting room. Welcome to Southern Illinois. This is a must-stop on the Shawnee Wine Trail. read more

Never ever drive past this one. It has some of the best wine's in the state. Great people great view great deck. Just sit and relax with one of your favorite wines. Don't leave without buying some to take home or you'll be sorry later. read more

First time visitor and this is my favorite winery on the Shawnee Wine Trail! A must visit worth the drive through the beautiful countryside! Becky was very helpful and made the visit complete. read more

Pomona Winery was our second winery stop along the wine trail and out of the 12 wineries along the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail this was my favorite experience! When we walked in, we were greeted with a warm welcome by Mary. She was so knowledgeable about the area that she told us the must see and must try spots all along the area which is great to get the useful knowledge from a local. We actually did try everything she mentioned to us and all were right on so Thanks!! As we moved down the tasting list, every item was explained with such great detail it was as if she had been drinking their wine for a million years! With every tasting she explained exactly what you were going to smell it and how you were going to taste it in pure detail and then she even went on to explain dishes (we even swapped some recipe secrets) that would pair with each wine. They make this amazing Apple wine (Jonathan and Jonathan Reserve) that was delicious. With her great explanation, not only could you taste the difference between the two but you knew what the differences were. They also make a wine called Kir, sweet and delicious. Now, for their dessert wines, I only tried the Peach and all I could think of was how good a peach cobbler would be with this wine! They also make a blueberry and a strawberry (the Strawberry is an award winner!) Of course I bought a couple bottles! If in the area, definitely stop in here it was an amazing tasting experience with a extremely knowledgeable person. read more

The Pomona Winery is a small family business run by very knowledgeable people. It is a bit out of the way, but it is way better than most of the wineries on the Shawnee Wine Trail. The wine is actually good - unlike most wineries in the area that just serve generic swill. The location is perfect, even though it is very far out from Carbondale or any other town. read more

After a day of hiking we decided to hit a couple of wineries on the trail. We had no idea you could make so many wines without using grapes. All of their wines were made from apples. They were all very good. We ended up purchasing 2 to take home but could have bought many more if we had let ourselves. The owner was very friendly and informative. We had a glass outside on the deck, which was very nice and peaceful. We were very excited to hear they sell their wines at Friar Tucks near our home! read more

My personal Favorite on the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail! This winery has all fruit wines and they also have one of the most beautiful places to sit and sip on a glass. The view from the rear deck is superb. I suggest trying Kir, Orchard Spice, and the strawberry dessert wine. I love this winery so much we drove down from Montana to get cases of wine for our wedding! So happy we made the trip, it was worth it! read more

DO NOT GO HERE. My friends and I tried to go here as part of the Shawnee Wine Trail and were turned away. The owner told us we weren't welcome because we were "intoxicated" despite no one in the group being sloppy, stumbling, sick, or other signs of excess alcohol intoxication. We were really excited to see this place and were enjoying our day on the trail (having been to only 3 wineries so far) and were disappointed not to be able to go here. Before we left one of the female workers gave our group the middle finger. Extremely unprofessional. While businesses reserve the right not to serve customers (despite me not agreeing with their reasoning whatsoever, especially as a bachelorette party we'd seen at our first winery sat inside), how the owners handled it was not okay. My money will be going elsewhere from now on. read more

This is our favorite winery. We love to sit out on one of the decks, enjoy the views, and drink a delicious bottle of wine. Secluded, and usually a quiet place to share some wine with friends. read more

This was our last winery stop on the Shawnee Wine Trail and I think we saved the best for last! This winery makes their wines from fruits other than grapes. They have a variety of 7-8 apples wines that were all unique and different as well as a blueberry and an award winning strawberry dessert wine. Becky offered to have us taste them all and gave us a nice description of each one as well as tips for cooking with them! She was extremely helpful and nice and really made our visit outstanding. We enjoyed a glass on their beautiful deck literally right in the trees. It was a hot day but with the shade trees and the ceiling fans on the deck it was so pleasant. They also have a beautiful garden and several flowers/plants that really make the atmosphere just wonderful. The drive to this winery was definitely off the beaten path but it just made the entire experience more unique. We have visited at least 10+ wineries in the area and this was by far my favorite. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and I can't wait to come back! read more

Most definitely our favorite winery we've been to in Southern Illinois. The wines are all amazing, and the staff is very knowledgable and friendly. The winery and surrounding area are both beautiful, which only adds to the great experience. When out on the wine trail, we make this a must-stop. The wines are typically non-grape derived, and many of them are apple-based. They run sweeter than some other wineries, but they all taste delicious and refined. read more

We really enjoyed the experience at Pomona Winery. We went to four different wineries on the Shawnee Trail and this was the best experience. Becky was the wine expert and she as very knowledable about th different type of wine. There was apple, strawberry, blueberry and other wines that we rated. It was a fun experience and we will definately go back in the future. read more

from Pennsylvania visiting and love to visit wineries and this one is a must visit it has wine from the fruit of the area it has an ambassador that has a passion for wine (thank you becky) they have reason to be proud of their product very pleasant to see a winery that puts quality first the apple wine are outstanding and the desert wine strawberry is to die for I am drinking a glass of strawberry as I type i make wine and I make a very good strawberry but have to admit Pomona strawberry is the best I have ever had if you love fruit wine then come here read more

This is the best place on the wine trail.I have been coming here since the first day they where open to public tasting. Its been over 20 years and the wine just keeps getting better. George and Jane are not only very knowledgeable but also great people.I have driven four hours for a case of their wine, but also to see these great people and their staff. You cannot do the wine trail without shopping here. I recommend that you stop here last so the you see how well these wines taste. read more

Great atmosphere, friendly, informative staff and the most beautiful scenery. The wines are unique and delicious. Can't wait to go back!