"Savor the Flavors of Sweden" with Anders and Gerd Hedman

History of Hedman Vineyards:

We bought the place twelve years ago as a peach orchard and had a vision to restore the historic barn and 1879 farmhouse into a beautiful buildings. It had been a fruit orchard since the 1880's and was always a special spot to grow apples and peaches of good quality. Peaches were "exotic" in Sweden so we said to each other, "Let's grow peaches and make peach wine out of them!"

When we were growing the peaches people would come to buy but would have to get up very early. We thought we could have a kitchen put in for these people and make breakfast for them there. We thought to have some Swedish cuisine. This is when we began the Peach Barn Cafe' specializing in Swedish cuisine.

People began to want to stay overnight so that's when we began the Peach Barn Bed & Breakfast. It was in 2005 when we decided to expand and have the winery. In the beginning we were selling grapes to other wineries. Most of our grapes are grafted in which makes for stronger vines and better quality grapes. We wanted to have drier wines than most of the others.

Our next plan is to make a second level wine tasting room and restaurant to have weddings and serve more people decorated all in Swedish traditional style.

Anders Hedman

 

Anders Hedman is the Vintner at Hedman Vineyards. He makes wine in the traditional European Style using old barrels.  He always says that the most important thing is the quality of the grapes growing in Southern Illinois and has been making wine commercially for four years but has been crafting wines for over 30 years as a hobby. 

In Sweden Anders taught himself to make fruit wines while partaking in many other hobbies, but in America he picked up more technical procedures and learned tips from experts such as Paul Renzaglia of Alto Vineyards.  Anders philosophy is that wine making starts out in the vineyard.  He believes that you can't make a good wine with bad grape and that it's important to have a good quality fruit. 

He explains that in Europe there are laws which direct how wines are to be made and the difference in the sweetness level allowed in winemaking.  He says that there is a lot more freedom in making wine in Illinois who has much more open laws to make the wine taste the way in which you would like.

Meet a Wine Trail EMPLOYEE

Stuart Wayman

Stuart Wayman has been with Hedman Vineyards for two years and is very knowledgeable about the wines we carry. He runs the wine tasting counter and is very customer friendly. We get several cards from customers about the service he provided them during wine tasting.