Wine country in Carbondale, Illinois

Kite Hill Vineyards, located in Carbondale, Illinois, is a dream come to fruition on a hill in Southern Illinois. Founded in the late 1990s, Kite Hill is committed to producing high-quality wines from grapes grown in the Shawnee Hills region. Under the ownership of Jim and Barbara Bush since 2006, the winery has continued to produce award-winning, world-class wines year after year. With a focus on ripe fruit flavors from grape varieties like Chambourcin, Chardonel, and Viognier, winemaker Scott Albert uses state-of-the-art techniques to craft their acclaimed vintages. Visitors can enjoy wine tastings and take in the stunning views at Kite Hill Vineyards, making it the perfect destination to discover your favorite wine. Come for the wine, stay for the view.

The Fermentation Science Institute at Southern Illinois University, located at 1785 University Press Drive in Carbondale, Illinois, is a leading institution dedicated to supporting fermentation related activities. This includes the administration of the fermentation science academic degree program, operation of the FSI Service Laboratory, support for the Illinois Food, Entrepreneurship, Research and Manufacturing (iFERM) Hub, research in fermentation related fields, and outreach to businesses in the fermentation industry. The institute's mission is to advance knowledge in fermentation science through educational programs, research, and outreach to the region and fermentation related industries. This includes the production and analysis of alcoholic beverages, fermented foods and cheese, and industrial fermentation for energy, materials, and pharmaceuticals.