Handcrafted Wines in Illinois
Our Story
Everything we do is for the love of wine, from grape growing and winemaking, to educating visitors about our land and our agricultural history. Our vineyards give us the opportunity to focus on what we are truly passionate about: creating the best regional wines and sharing them with other wine lovers. We offer flavors that are truly unique to Illinois.
Handcrafted Wines in Illinois
Our Story
Everything we do is for the love of wine, from grape growing and winemaking, to educating visitors about our land and our agricultural history. Our vineyards give us the opportunity to focus on what we are truly passionate about: creating the best regional wines and sharing them with other wine lovers. We offer flavors that are truly unique to Illinois.
We are enthusiastic about our craft and every wine is bottled by hand. Our wines have a unique flavor that can only be found at Waterman Winery & Vineyards. Our winemaking process begins the day the grapes are harvested. We raise the grapes, harvest, ferment and bottle on-site. Nothing leaves the farm until it is wine. What we cannot use, like grape stems and seeds, goes back into the vineyards and surrounding farmland to help enrich the soil and prepare it for another season of winemaking or crop production.
We are enthusiastic about our craft and every wine is bottled by hand. Our wines have a unique flavor that can only be found at Waterman Winery & Vineyards. Our winemaking process begins the day the grapes are harvested. We raise the grapes, harvest, ferment and bottle on-site. Nothing leaves the farm until it is wine. What we cannot use, like grape stems and seeds, goes back into the vineyards and surrounding farmland to help enrich the soil and prepare it for another season of winemaking or crop production.
Our Mission
At Waterman Winery & Vineyards we provide an authentic, regional wine tasting experience in an agricultural setting.
The Family & Its Humble Beginnings
Terrie Tuntland
Lex Tuntland
Trisha Tuntland
While sipping wine one afternoon with fellow teachers, Terrie and his friends began to wonder what life would be like in retirement. Two of his friends were determined to make wine after teaching. It was at that time that Terrie realized he wanted to grow grapes and craft wine on his family’s century-old farm property.
As science teachers and wine connoisseurs, Terrie and his wife, Lex, were naturally curious about handcrafting wines. The couple attended workshops and visited universities all over the Midwest looking for answers to their questions about Illinois winemaking. Conventional wisdom was that you could not grow grapes in Northern Illinois, but we were determined to prove this wrong.
The Family & Its Humble Beginnings
Terrie Tuntland
Lex Tuntland
Trisha Tuntland
While sipping wine one afternoon with fellow teachers, Terrie and his friends began to wonder what life would be like in retirement. Two of his friends were determined to make wine after teaching. It was at that time that Terrie realized he wanted to grow grapes and craft wine on his family’s century-old farm property.
As science teachers and wine connoisseurs, Terrie and his wife, Lex, were naturally curious about handcrafting wines. The couple attended workshops and visited universities all over the Midwest looking for answers to their questions about Illinois winemaking. Conventional wisdom was that you could not grow grapes in Northern Illinois, but we were determined to prove this wrong.
Redefining Wine
We started our vintner journey in March of 1998 with 400 grape plants imported from California. The grapes were grafted onto hardy, thick stems to make them more robust than typical California grapevines. With a foot of snow on the ground, the grapevines lived in our family kitchen for months before the weather allowed the vines to be planted.
Within our first year of grape growing, most of our California grapevines died. But we were not discouraged. These plants simply were not hardy enough for severe Illinois winters. As a result, we introduced French-American hybrids into our vineyards and have been growing grapes ever since.
Redefining Wine
We started our vintner journey in March of 1998 with 400 grape plants imported from California. The grapes were grafted onto hardy, thick stems to make them more robust than typical California grapevines. With a foot of snow on the ground, the grapevines lived in our family kitchen for months before the weather allowed the vines to be planted.
Within our first year of grape growing, most of our California grapevines died. But we were not discouraged. These plants simply were not hardy enough for severe Illinois winters. As a result, we introduced French-American hybrids into our vineyards and have been growing grapes ever since.
“My philosophy has always been that there are two types of people. One type says you cannot do something. The other type goes out and does it. We decided, even though others were saying we couldn’t do it, we would try. We tried, and have been very successful!”
– Terrie Tuntland
On the Farm
We come from a long line of Illinois farmers. Terrie and his father, Archie, worked on the farm for years, growing produce and raising hogs and cattle in the pasture that is now home to our vineyards. Archie was passionate about trying new things and thus cultivated the land for tomatoes. He found success in his new crop, growing tomatoes for Campbell’s Soup, along with corn and soybeans. His tenacity inspired Terrie to try growing grapes in corn country.
The Next Generation
Trisha partners with her parents and aspires to expand offerings and enhance the visitor’s experience, while preserving today’s authenticity and agricultural setting.
“Growing up on the farm, my grandparents, parents, siblings and I, all worked hard to collectively manage the crops and livestock. Hard work is a part of our lifestyle, and growing grapes and producing wine is an extension of what we know best – how to be good stewards of the land. Many hands have helped to establish, build, and maintain our winery and vineyards, and I am excited to take our family-owned business to the next level.”
-Trisha Tuntland