Illinois Apple Orchard Also Makes 11 Great Tasting Varieties of Wine

All this time visiting apple orchards, sipping on cider, eating donuts, picking apples and other goodies to bring home and I've been missing one great thing.

Did you hear the one about the guy who walked into an apple orchard and didn't see the... 

11 Bottles of Apple Wine grown and pressed right there on the same farm?

There's no funny punchline here. This story is about me and apple wine life I haven't been living.

My life, and your life, are about to change.

Time for an Apple Wine Road Trip

Just 45 minutes south of Rockford, there's a 105-acre farm with over 20,000 apple trees. For decades, this orchard and farm have been offering a safe, clean, fun and memorable family fall experience.

During that time, this orchard has perfected the art of turning some of their apples into amazing wines. This is a brand new discovery for me and I couldn't wait to share it with you.

Jonamac Orchard in Malta, Illinois

At Jonamac, they offer 11 varieties of wine and I'm confident you're going to find a new favorite.

Little did I know what was really happening in that 'Cider House' on this northern Illinois farm.

Jonamac Orchard not only makes their own wines, they're making hard ciders, too.

Look at this list of Jonamac Orchard wine varieties:

Carmel Apple

On a stick, or in a bottle.

Honeycrisp

Made of 100% Honeycrisp apples with that sweet honey-like flavor. it tastes similar to a moscato

Pomme Nouveau

With a hint of cinnamon and a bit of apple cider added for sweetness.

Pumpkin Spice

This one is great warmed up.

Autumn Harvest Spiced Apple

Made with Jonamac's special mulling spices.

Orchard Blend

This one is great for cooking and has a sweetness similar to Pinot Grigio.

Carbonated Apple Blossom

Mix this bubbly with some apple cider to make a 'Jonamac Mimosa'.

Red Barn Blush

This is an apple and cranberry wine that would be great for making some sangria. It would make a great vodka cranberry.

Nosy Neighbor

This one is made with apples AND grapes, giving it a semi-sweet taste

Orchard Reserve

Buttery-flavored with hints of vanilla. Similar to a chardonnay, but very unique

JonaZin

The fruity flavors of a zinfandel mixed with oak-aged apple wine.

Jonamac Orchard also cans five different hard ciders, ranging from 5.8% to 6.5% alcohol by volume.

Get in the car, I'll meet you at the Cider House.

Jonamac's Cider House is open Monday- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.

Monday-Friday 11 a.m to 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sunday, Labor Day & Columbus Day 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The season at Jonamac typically begins in late August and ends in late November. It's always a good idea to check in with the orchard on Facebook or their website.

Jonamac offers everything, and I mean everything, you love about a fall outing to an orchard.