Prairie State Winery
Prairie State Winery is a winery located in Genoa, Illinois. Founded in 1998, it is the oldest winery in DeKalb County, Illinois. It is owned by husband and wife, Rick and Maria Mamoser, who gave up careers in high-school teaching to start the business.
The winery produces wines made exclusively from Illinois-grown grapes and has won both silver and bronze awards from the Beverage Testing Institute. Additionally, the winery utilizes wind turbines for powering its bottling and production facility. The business produces organic wine and utilises environmentally friendly packaging.
In 2002, the winery led an effort to preserve Grape View Farm in nearby Elgin, which was believed to be the state's oldest continuously producing commercial vineyard, and to use some of the yield for a sweet red wine. After Grape View's owner died, however, the vineyard's location in encroaching suburbia was sold at auction in 2004, although Prairie State obtained clippings to preserve at their own vineyard.
The wines of Prairie State Winery have received a number of medals and awards at various levels of wine competitions.
