Every once and a while you happen to find a place that's close to home yet when you're there, you almost feel like you've travelled to a far away place. The atmosphere is relaxing and the scenery is absolutely gorgeous. We found a gem right in Southern Illinois a few years ago and I finally decided that I had to share it with everyone on Hubpages.

Blue Sky Vineyard is located in Makanda, IL. Tucked away in the Shawnee Hills and part of the Shawnee Wine Trail, this place is magnificent. The building is beautiful! It reminds me of something you would see in Tuscany. The tasting room offers a very authentic feel to the Tuscan theme. The plaster walls and stone arch definitely add to the feel. There is even a large windmill blade for a ceiling fan. There is a long bar where a very pleasant staff waits to help you decide which wine you would like to start with. The main entrance doors of the tasting room are very large wooden doors that look like they could have come from a castle. The whole vibe inside is very fun.

Step outside onto one of the terraces, and you can see the small lake with a rock waterfall. There's even a little gazebo right on the water. They do have weddings out there pretty often so you can imagine how pleasant it is. There is a stage area for the live music that's played there almost every weekend. If there isn't enough room to sit on the terrace there are tables set up in the grass with large parasals to help keep you cool. It's the perfect outdoor area to admire the scenic view while taking in some good music and wine.

Now, the wine. They have a very large selection of red's and white's. I always seem to lean towards the sweet red's but I'm sure they'll have something for everyone. I like the Rocky Comfort Red. They also serve some of the best sanguria for a summer day. The white sanguria is almost like lemonade with a little kick. Can't beat it!

The last thing you absolutely cannot overlook, is the food. Even if you're not there for a meal, at least get some bread and olive oil to enjoy while you are sipping your wine. If you need a little more than just bread, they have an excellent thin crust pizza and some really tasty sandwiches. Last time I believe I had the BBQ sandwich. I must say, for a place that specializes in making wine, they have some really good eats!

So, the next time you are in the Southern Illinois area, or even the St. Louis or Nashville area, you may want to take the couple hour drive to go check it out. Heck, even if you don't like this place, there are several other wineries in the area. I hope you enjoy it as much as I always do if you ever make it!