The Owl Creek Story

Owl Creek Vineyard was established in 1995 by an intrepid group of friends led by retired PhD Ted Wichmann. Ted had been instrumental in launching the first winery in the region – Alto Vineyards. He had decided to strike out on his own with the mission to produce the highest quality wines made from Owl Creek’s vineyards. The first season, tastings were conducted in the winery’s production area and consumer response was enthusiastic. To continue the growth, Ted along with Alto Vineyards and Pomona Winery established the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail that year.

In 2001, Ted led an initiative to create the Shawnee Hills AVA which was signed into law in December 2006. The AVA (American Viticultural Area) is federal recognition that the grapes from the Shawnee Hills are truly unique and special. By the time the Shawnee Hills became reality, the region had grown from a few pioneers to 18 wineries and 55 vineyards.

Being a pioneer was both rewarding and exhausting, so in 2005 Ted decided to retire and sold Owl Creek to Brad Genung. Brad is a pioneer in his own way, starting the first commercial organic vineyards in the Midwest and deeply believing in the future of the Shawnee Hills, its wines and potential as a growing tourism destination. In Brad’s first year out he doubled Owl Creek’s production and retail distribution to include all of Illinois. The first new wine introduced in 2006 was an homage to Ted – “Bald Knob”. The wine is made from the Chambourcin grapes of the LaFoon Family Vineyard. Bald Knob was an immediate success, earning “Best of Show” in the Illinois Wine Competition and assuring that the future of Owl Creek is in good hands.