FAQs - August Hill Winery

Please find below Frequently Asked Questions for both our Tasting Room location in Utica, IL, and our Wine on the Hill location in Peru, IL. Insider Wine Club members can find FAQ’s at this link regarding our wine club. If your question is not answered here, feel free to call us at 815.667.5211.

Tasting Room FAQs

Where are you located? Our Tasting Room is located at 106 Mill Street in Utica, IL. Please note that Mill Street is closed seasonally for outdoor dining, but there is plenty of available parking nearby.
What are your hours? The Tasting Room is open 7 days a week: Sunday – Thursday, from 11am – 6pm, and Friday – Saturday, from 11am – 7pm.
Are you handicap accessible? Our Tasting Room is handicap accessible. Our wine tastings are offered at our tasting bar area, which requires standing. If someone in your group is not able to stand to do a wine tasting at our tasting bar, please let us know, and we can accommodate you at a table in our lounge.
Do you accept credit cards? Yes, we do accept all major credit cards.
Do you offer any special discounts on wine? Wine Club members receive a 10% discount when they purchase 1-11 bottles to-go and a 20% discount when they order 12 or more bottles to-go. Non-members receive a 10% discount when they order 12 or more bottles to go.
Do I need a reservation to do a wine tasting? You do not need a reservation to do a wine tasting. Tastings at our Tasting Bar and seating in our Lounge are on a first come, first serve basis. If you have a large group coming to the Tasting Room, we recommend you consider one of our party options if you need guaranteed seating. Please call ahead at 815-667-5211 for large groups or tour buses.

Do you allow outside alcohol? We do not allow outside alcohol.
Do you serve beer? We do serve locally-made Tangled Roots Brewing Co. beer, but if you have friends who prefer beer, have them try one of our ISC pét-nat wines. It’s fun to see the surprise on their face.
Are pets allowed? Pets on a leash are allowed outdoors at our seating area on Mill Street. Due to health department regulations, your furry friends are not allowed inside the Tasting Room or on the Patio unless they are a service animal.
Are children allowed? Our Lounge area is reserved for those 21 and older. Children are allowed in the Tasting Room bar area or on our Patio. No one under 21 is permitted to consume alcohol.
Do you sell food or other beverages besides wine? We offer a several small bite options, Cocoa Blue Chocolates, Prairie Fruits Farm cheeses and more. We also have water, soda and non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice as alternatives to wine. For our most up-to-date menu, visit this link. Outside food and beverages are not allowed.
Do I need to have a valid ID? Every guest who would like to consume wine or purchase wine needs to have a valid ID verifying that they are 21 or over. Photographs of IDs are not an acceptable form of ID.

Can I find my favorite August Hill & ISC wines at a store or restaurant near me? You can find which stores and restaurants carry your favorite wines by using our Wine Finder tool.
Do you host private events? Yes, we do! Our Tasting Room staff will be happy to help you plan the perfect event. Visit this link for more info.
Questions about our Wine Club? You can find many frequently asked questions about our Wine Club here. For general information on becoming an Insider Wine Club member, visit this page.
How do I join your mailing list? Click here to sign up to receive emails about upcoming events, discounts and offers, special announcements, and more!
Do you ship wine to all states? We can ship your favorite wines to all but 10 states.
* To ship wine to AZ, CA, CO, FL, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, MT, TN, TX, or WI, visit this link: https://augusthillwinery.com/wine-shop/

* To ship to AK, GA, HI, ID, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, OK, PA, SC, VT, VA, WY, WA, or WV, visit this link: https://augusthillwinery.com/shop-2/
Do you have Brunch and/or Lunch options for those with allergies or dietary restrictions? Call us at 815-667-5211 prior to making a reservation to see if we can accommodate your needs.

Wine on the Hill FAQs

Where are you located? Please refer to the map below to find us at 21 N 2551st Rd, Peru, IL. If you do a search in your map app for “August Hill Winery,” make sure it pulls up the “August Hill Wine on the Hill” location in Peru and NOT the “August Hill Winery Tasting Room” in Utica, IL. If you look at satellite view on the map below, you can see our spot. The winery building is white with a burgundy roof, and there are a couple of semi trailers parked up near it. Look for the black and white August Hill Winery sign on the hillside or the big blue banner flag at the entrance.
Can I attend early/stay late? Guests can begin to arrive 30 minutes prior to opening to park and secure a spot on the hill; however, staff will not be available to make wine purchases until opening times. Last call is 15 minutes prior to closing. We ask that all guests leave by closing time.
Can I pick up my Wine Club order? At this time, Wine Club orders can only be picked up at our Tasting Room location in Utica, IL. The only exception to this is during the Will Call on the Hill events in May, July, and September; members can pick up their wine at these events if they RSVP ahead of time (we will send an email with RSVP info).
Are you handicap accessible? We offer handicap parking and our restrooms and cave are accessible. The landscape on the hill can be uneven and in some parts difficult to maneuver. If you have someone in your group who needs assistance, please let one of our staff members know.
What if the weather is bad? We will still offer tastings in the cave, but live music may be cancelled. The hill will still be open for guests, but we do not provide shelter. If the weather presents a danger, we may ask guests to leave the hill area.
Do you have restrooms? We have two restrooms inside the winery.
Do you accept credit cards at Wine on the Hill? Yes, we do accept all major credit cards.

Do you allow outside alcohol? NO, we do not allow outside alcohol. Guests who bring outside alcohol may be asked to leave. If you have friends who prefer beer, have them try one of our ISC pét-nat wines.
What to bring? Pop-up canopies, small tables, lawn chairs, picnic blankets, food, non-alcoholic beverages, umbrellas, coolers, picnic baskets, utensils, and wine glasses are all items that are allowed at Wine on the Hill. Coolers will be checked by staff for outside alcohol. Don’t forget the sunscreen and bug spray.
What items are prohibited? Firearms, outside alcohol, marijuana, grills, bonfires, fireworks.
Are pets allowed? Yes. Pets are allowed on the hillside, on a leash, but not inside the building. There will be a dog walk area supplied with trash bags for dog waste. If your pet is causing distress or inconvenience for our other guests, you may be asked to leave.
Are children allowed? Children are allowed on the hill, in the Winery (bathrooms, purchase area), but not in the tasting cave. No one under 21 is permitted to consume alcohol. Children under 12 need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
Do you sell food or other beverages besides wine? We offer a charcuterie box and other snack options. Local restaurant, Thyme Craft Kitchen, will deliver food to Wine on the Hill; click here for menu and ordering. We also have water and non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice as alternatives to wine. You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks, but outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
Do you sell ice? We do have ice available for sale if you need it.
Do I need to bring my own wine drinkware? You can bring your own or we have some available for purchase or plastic cups for free.

How do I check-in for the tasting? When you arrive, enter through the double doors of our winery building, and let one of our staff members know that you have arrived for your Cave Tasting.
What if I am running late for my scheduled tasting? In order to be fair to all guests, we must stick to our scheduled tasting starting times. You can come in and join the tasting late, possibly missing out on some of the experience, or we will do our best to fit you in at a later tasting time, availability permitting. Best advice is to get here early!
Will I need a jacket in the winery? We keep our winery and caves at a cool 60 degrees throughout the year, so we do recommend bringing a light jacket.
Can children attend the Cave Tasting with me? Children are not allowed in the tasting cave. If you have a reservation for a Cave Tasting, we ask that you have an adult available to supervise children outside of the Cave Tasting area.
If I made a reservation for a Cave Tasting and cannot attend, will I be refunded? You will get a full refund if you cancel your reservation at least 48 hours before your scheduled tasting.
Can I change the date or time of my reservation? Please make any change to your reservation at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled tasting.
What else should we know? You’ll be standing during the tasting. If you have someone in your group unable to stand for the 45-minute tasting, let our staff know when you check in, and we will make sure we get a seat for them.
Can I pre-order wine when I purchase my Cave Tasting Experience tickets? Please DO NOT pre-order wine when ordering your Cave Tasting tickets as our software gets confused if you do. We will have all our wines available for sale after the event.