Recently I went to a wonderful wedding in Carrollton, Illinois. At the reception, I was able to try a red wine blend called Dawg House Red from Alto Pass Winery. It was listed as a semi-dry and exhibited nice plum flavors with a touch of tobacco.  The finish was smooth and dry.

When I contacted the winery, I received a quick, friendly email reply.  I learned they had been producing Dawg House Red for a little over 3 years. The vintage I tried was a "blend of Chambourcin and Croix Noir grapes from Southern Illinois." However, they are currently working on a new vintage that will include several varieties of grapes including Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

This is a nice red wine from Southern Illinois.