Irene's Vineyard and Winery

Irene's Vineyard and Winery is a family place first and a winery second, which is exactly why it stands out in rural eastern Illinois. The Boldrey family runs it at the countryside home where Wayne and Irene Boldrey raised four children after moving there in 1958. Today the property remains in family hands, with Robert and Tiffany Boldrey leading operations and Chelsea Nye involved in events and vineyard work. The setting leans tucked-away rather than roadside, with the winery set along North Fork Creek in Jasper County near Oblong.

The estate has about three acres of producing vines across seven varieties, but the wine program casts a wider net than estate fruit alone. The range is broad and intentionally crowd-friendly: dry and off-dry whites and reds, sweeter house favorites, and a sizable fruit wine selection. White Trash, made from Niagara, is the bottle people remember, partly for the name and partly because it delivers the sweet, smooth style many local visitors actually want. There is also Chambourcin in the red program, Marquette, rosé, blackberry, cherry, blueberry, strawberry, and peach wines when available.

What it is actually like to visit: more casual winery hangout than hushed tasting bar. Tastings are inexpensive, the kitchen turns out pizzas, nachos, pretzels, and dessert, and the drinks list extends beyond wine into cocktails and beer. Irene's is also built for gatherings, with private event space, wedding rentals, and even seasonal dome rentals, so it often feels like a social hub as much as a tasting room.