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Bicycling and wine in the metro-east

While it's true that the Illinois counties of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area -- also known as the metro-east -- can't be confused with the Napa Valley of California when it comes to wine or scenic cycling, the Belleville Area Bicycling and Eating Society is doing its best to connect cycling with the growing wine industry in Southwestern Illinois.

I spent much of the afternoon in Edwardsville scoping the two wineries in that city, Vintner's Cellar Winery and Springer's Creek Winery.

Unfortunately, the Springer's Creek Winery, 817 Hillsboro St., was closed today, although it's open from noon to 7 p.m.Thursday through Sunday. The good news for cyclists is that's easily accessible from Madison County Transit's Quercus Grove Trail. The rear of the winery abuts the trail at Chapman Street.

In the fall, the BABES visited the Vintner's Cellar Winery, 1017 Century Drive in the University Pointe II shopping center. Although poor weather kept the numbers down, we were impressed with what Vintner's Cellar had to offer. It, too, has easy access to the MCT Trails system; it's a short ride from that winery to the MCT Nature Trail.

The BABES started doing winery rides in the fall of 2005 at the Ravissant Winery in Belleville. After touring the hilly countryside near Belleville and Millstadt, we gather to sample some of Ravissant's wine and enjoy music. Owners Matthew and Kristine LaMons have been most gracious hosts to our group.

Last year, we added the Hidden Lake Winery near Aviston into the mix. The riding near that winery is considerably less difficult than near the Ravissant Winery. While you have to go off the beaten track to find the winery, the trip is well worth it. Hidden Lake is one of two wineries chosen to host this year's Illinois Wine Festival.

We've yet to explore the Lau-Nae Winery in Red Bud, the Black Diamond Vineyards near Nashville, the Piasa Winery, Aerie's Riverview Winery and the Chateau Ra-Ha Winery in Grafton or the Schorr Lake Vineyard in Waterloo, but there's plenty of time for that.

Although exploring wineries and bicycling can be a nice mix, obviously you shouldn't ride a bicycle or drive a car if you have had too much to drink. It doesn't take a lot of wine to get you over the legal limit -- just ask St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa.

Labels: Belleville Area Bicycling Eating Society, cycling, wine

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