August Hill Winery Tasting Room — Attraction in North Utica

From the moment we walked in, things went downhill fast. We approached the bar for a tasting — only six people total were there — and were immediately told to scoot closer to the couple next to us. Apparently having six feet of empty bar space to my husband’s side was just too much freedom. (Don’t worry, we would’ve happily moved if anyone else had actually needed the space.)

The tasting pours? Let’s just say if they were any smaller, the wine would’ve evaporated before it hit the glass. We were told it’s 1/2 oz pours… which is interesting, because we’ve visited before and shockingly remember receiving more than a thimbleful.

We finished and ordered glasses, hoping to salvage the experience. But as soon as my husband signed the check, the bartender swooped in and not-so-subtly suggested we go sit outside or find somewhere in the lounge area so he could serve the group of women who had just arrived. Funny — the women on the other side of me were taking up twice the space we were, yet somehow they were exempt from the relocation request… probably because they were in their tasting phase of the experience.

So after driving over an hour to visit a place we used to enjoy, we left feeling like we were in the way the entire time. Pretty disappointing, and honestly? We probably won’t bother coming back to find out if it was...

There are 2 places - the wine tasting room on 106 Mill Street, Utica IL and the August Hill Winery at 21 N 2551st Road, Peru, IL. The wine tasting room has live music every weekend but you can’t be under 21 so not kid friendly. It was really disappointing bc of the inability to bring kids. It would be nice to bring family w young kids bc it’s nice to sit and relax. You can do tastings at both places but this tasting room is close to all the other restaurants and bars in Utica.

At the winery, where it’s more remote and they also have live music at times and you can do tours of the winery. Lorrie was great giving us a very detailed and friendly wine tasting. Favorite wines: We loved the Berlyn, Strawberry Peach Sangria, American Catawba, Caramel-Apple, Almond Infusion (sparkling), Augies Blackberry, and a fruity sweet dry red wine that was so smooth and delicious that everyone would love! Each of these are really sweet and flavorful great quality wines. We had live music here outdoors at the winery. The tour was great and the atmosphere very open and warm. But given my love of sweet wines this winery has very amazing wines. Tasting is $30 per...

$10 for a 6 pour tasting. Sounds good, right? Unlike any other wine tasting I’ve had, this was .5 oz pours! And I’m not even sure we got that! Barely splashed the bottom of the glass. Never had that here before, (or anywhere for that matter) but apparently that is their thing??? Maybe 3 oz for $10??? For reference, almost any other wine tasting anywhere is a 2oz pour and the bartenders are almost always generous with their pours.

Then we were asked to “squeeze” in with half the bar empty, and then when we ordered a glass we were asked to leave the bar so he could accommodate a tasting (group of 5) that just walked in. 1/3rd of the bar was still open.

If you like sweet wines, this is your place. They don’t do real wines well. Run over to Gilded Edge for better reds.

Half oz...