Posted April 21, 2011 - 3:35pm by Tracy
Historic Chicago mansion rehab could mean new local wines
Last year, Well Community reported on a variety of local wine resources in the city, as well as the wine trails, vineyards and wineries throughout Illinois.
If you thought drinking these wines was “hyper-local,” check this out:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0421-confidential-lavicka-20110421,0,4091986.column
According to this Chicago Tribune report, if the City of Chicago approves, a 150-year-old estate on the south side of the city could be transformed into a 14-acre modern vineyard.
Although finished wines are years (and many logistical hurdles) in the making, knowing what we know about Chicago’s growing conditions, we have some hearty local vintages to look forward to if the project works out.
As we detailed in our Well Community article, “Illinois’ undiscovered wine country,” Chicago climate conditions are not ideal for many classic grapes like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfindel, but some resilient varieties thrive here — many ideal for dessert wines.
But can this proposed vineyard withstand the challenges presented by Chicago politics, its location, the age of the building, the weather and the soil quality?
Time will tell.
But what do you think?
Would you seek out a 100 percent Chicago-produced bottle of wine?
Would you head to the south side to give it a try and check out the rehabbed mansion?
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