Big Bowl’s New Illinois Wine List Continues To Support Local And Organic Goals

Master Sommelier Alpana Singh has found two quality, locally produced Illinois wines for Big Bowl - a light and crisp seyval blanc and a robust cabernet franc.

The new wines made with grapes grown in Illinois join the Big Bowl list that Singh revamped two years ago to feature a variety of organic and sustainable selections. She is currently researching wines produced where other Big Bowl outposts are located.

The new white selection is a Seyval Blanc from August Hill Winery in Peru, IL Grown in the Illinois River Valley, the French hybrid grape is made in a style reminiscent of pinot grigio. The 2009 is a light bodied, semi dry wine with hints of citrus, tropical fruit and floral aroma. It's on the list for $24. The red selection is a Cabernet Franc from Prairie State Winery in Genoa, IL for $30.

The new selections, which are both award-winning wines, are available in Illinois at Big Bowl in Lincolnshire, Schaumburg and the two locations in downtown Chicago.

Another feature of the list that supports local agriculture is the Farm to Glass program. Big Bowl has partnered with Fosters Beringer to donate proceeds from the sale of Campanile Pinot Grigio to an urban garden organization in Illinois. The organization selected is Growing Home which received a Green Award from Chicago Magazine in 2009. $1 per bottle sold for a 6 month period (up to $5000) will be donated.