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Lynfred Winery
Rating Details »
Categories: Wineries, Venues & Event Spaces, Bed & Breakfast
15 S Roselle RdRoselle, IL 60172
(630) 529-9463
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
23 reviews for Lynfred Winery
How I love they? Let me sip the way.
I've coming to this winery for a few months now. It's our monthly wine tasting. I've become a member which means a small discount on the tasting and certain purchases.
They make the wine and bottle it on site. They offer several tours each day where you can see their operation. The wine is pretty tasty. The staff is very pleasant and happy (it's as if they really like their jobs!)
We enjoy our monthly trip to this fantastic winery. Of course, we have to go get something to eat once we're done since we're usually toast. There's a tasty Mexican restaurant within walking distance and a Starbucks directly across the street from the winery.
One note of caution though, SLOW DOWN in that area. Lots of cops with speed guns and if that doesn't scare you to slow down, the idea of driving right past this winery should get you to slow down. It looks like someone house (it's also a bed and breakfast) and has a tiny little driveway that doesn't look like you should be driving on but trust me, it is the driveway to the parking lot.
Swing by, grab a glass, go home with a bottle. Drive safe.
I was first introduced to this great establishment during a wine tasting @ Tasting Devine by Marissa G...thanks again! We headed over on the last day of Oktoberfest and were greeted by an amazing fall day filled with grape spitting & stomping contests, a live band, pig roast, and refreshing wine (Oktoberfest wine being my ultimate fav!) Food and wine can be purchased by tickets ($1/ticket and a suggested $1 donation). It's definitely a family friendly atmosphere, so feel free to bring the rugrats.
The grounds of Lynferd Winery are small, but the energy could fill a whole football field. The buliding which houses both a bed and breakfast, a small tasting room, and a gift shop is beautifully adorned with ivy by mother nature. Go ahead and try NOT to take a picture...it's too good to pass up!
I'm not much of a wine snob and I (GASP) drink Illinois wine!
I think this place has a lot of charm and when you're inside the garden sipping wine or chatting with friends you actually feel quite far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and suburbs. The greenery growing up the buildings, the stone driveway and serene atmosphere might trick you into believing that you're a stones throw away from that well known wine capital.
Located fairly closely to the Roselle metra stop so no need to drive if you plan to partake in some wine tasting. For $9 we got to taste 7 wines but I must be honest when I say that $9 isn't expensive but compared to other Illinois wineries it is. The staff upon entering isn't as friendly as you would think they might be considering the fact that this whole visit should be an experience but the actual ladies in charge of the tasting were very nice and engaging.
the actual wines I tasted were pretty good (nothing blew me away) and a few not so good ones. They also have a B&B attached which could be cozy for out of town guests. I would go back!
Actually their fruit wines aside, Lynfred makes some pretty good wine. Most of it is sourced but he does a nice job with his winemaking. The gewurztraminer is quite good as is their pinot. they have a nice shop attached to the tasting room which sells glassware and wine brac a brac. They often have some cool events like Octoberfest and have a nice venue for such things. Recommended
Oktoberfest was going full force at this winery when some girlfriends and I made the trip from Chicago. It was nice to actually see an Oktoberfest event that didn't include puking Trixies with sleazy looking frat guys (which you'll often find in Chicago proper), and was well-organized without all of the crazy lines-out-the-door. Although I didn't sample any of the wines, the winery itself, along with the landscaped grounds, were beautiful - ivy-covered building with picturesque grounds and the inside is large and all wood-paneled. I hear it's also a bed and breakfast.
I've been here A LOT. Usually for the tastings.
Although it is a nice little sanctuary in the middle of the over-developed and otherwise culture-less suburbs, the wines are hit and miss. Some are excellent, some are just OK. The staff is usually pretty friendly, and they seem to have some fun events. This past weekend they had strawberry wine and home made strawberry rhubarb pie, which was excellent and a steal ($12 for an entire pie). It's kind of fun and cozy to do the tastings sitting on the heated benches in the wintertime, and they have outdoor seating on warm summer days. It's a nice and relaxing way to spend a little bit of time when you're already out there.
After I wrote this review and found out that they did have fruit wine year round, I went in for a visit. I left the visit as a member of their wine of the month club.
I'll tell you what, I've been a little wary of the wine culture as it seemed that you needed to know what you were talking about in order to enjoy it. I was very open with them in that I was new to the wine culture and a little nervous about it. The woman that worked there (I am so sorry I don't remember her name) said she too, was a wine newbie. This made me feel relaxed and comfortable.
The whole atmosphere there is that of relaxing and enjoying your friends, wine and well....life in general.
I'm a huge fan and look forward to many more trips here!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/3/2009
My review is based solely on their annual "Oktoberfest" and not on the B&B or Wine Tastings. So the… Read more »
It is what it is -- a small Illinois winery. If you've never been to California, then come and enjoy a "somewhat" quaint spot for an hour or so. The wines are typical of what you'd find in Michigan or up in Door County cherry country - that is to say, too fruity (even sweet) for my taste too. These are the wines with the unusual labels my friends stashed in their closet after receiving them as Christmas gifts - but Grandma probably enjoyed more than a few glasses at the once-a-year family gathering.
The architecture is more interesting than the wine, but some people, mostly women, enjoyed this experience. Maybe the selections try to please too many people of widely divergent tastes.
The staff is hit and miss - the reviews taken as a whole tell the story!
This place is right by me and I've visited several times. Also have been a member of the wine club for the last 3 years, and have gotten only a couple wines that I wasn't particularly fond of.
As others have said, the winery is gorgeous. The tastings are now $7 for members, $9 for non members. That gets you 7 tastings, which can be pretty generous. The list of 7 wines to taste is preselected each month, but if you don't like whites you can use all 7 of your tastings on the selected reds, and vice versa.
The staff is always friendly and accommodating. My particular favorite wines there have been the Cabarnet Sauvingon, Cabarnet Franc, Syrah, and Chenin Blanc. I noticed a few reviews mentioned the wines (both reds and whites) are too sweet. I've been a wine fan for years and I've never had this impression of their reds, so those reviews surprised me. The fruit wines can definitely be too sweet, but you can swap those out with one of the other 7 wines on the tasting menu.
This place closes kind of early, but is a great place to go if you are looking for somewhere to hang out with friends during the afternoon. I have brought my parents here several times for Mothers day and Fathers day, and we always enjoy sitting on the patio, sipping wine, relaxing, and catching up.
How can you go wrong at a wine tasting.......
Take 7 different wines from your winery but then have them all taste pretty much the same....way to sugary.
Set up the wine station in a corner with only one pourer. I like to take my time and enjoy the wine but trying to get a sample took longer then it should've.
Try to push store products that are way over priced when you can get the same things at Wolrd Market for a lot less.
Have the staff ignore you when you ask question or need help.
How you can go right at a wine tasting....
Seven dollars for seven tasting not bad at all.
Not everybody on the staff was rude, some were really nice.
The pourer gave a little more then they should... sweet! (except the wine wasn't that great)
Location is beautiful, I only wish I could have seen the top floor. It has a glass floor overlooking the distillers.
I can't say that I enjoyed the wine that much. People's taste buds are all different but you cannot deny that these wines are way too sweet (whites and reds). Somebody also wrote that if you're a wine snob then this is not the place for you and that you're too snooty to enjoy tastings by IL wineries. I think that is extremely arrogant to say, there are some great wineries in IL and just because you don't like one (for obvious reasons) that doesn't make you snooty. I suggest you try other wines to expand your own palate sir.
Here is a list of other wineries in IL
http://www.wine-il.com/
I'll admit, my winery experiences are very limited... however the customer service and visits I've had here have always been excellent.
A small local winery that specializes in fruit wines, it's surprising to find it located in a town like Roselle.
During our very first visit, we were able to taste anything that was open with no pressure to purchase at all. The samplings provided us with a chance to understand what type of wine we would really enjoy, and what would be good for gift giving. Favorites among friends and family have been the peach and the cherry wines. Their fruit wines are extremely affordable ($10-$15), and an excellent treat.
If you happen to visit during the holidays, make sure to get a taste of the Christmas wines (white and red), as they are a delicious served warm.
For a fun piece of trivia... Charlie Trotter has selected a red wine from here as one of his favorites to pair with some of the foods he serves at his restaurant downtown... while the name escapes me, the staff will know which it is if you're interested in trying it.
I have visited more than a few wineries, some in Illinois, some in Oregon, some in Ontario and some in Wisconsin. I have to say I wasn't impressed with Lynfred. It wasn't bad. It just was kind of blah. The wine was way too sweet. (My mother would love the place). The wine tasting was just that and nothing more. The person pouring the wine did nothing more than pour. Usually the person conducting the tasting tells you about the wine or the winery. This woman just poured. We got our pour at a little portable bar in the corner, walked over to a bench, sat, drank and did it again (6 more times). It was the dullest wine tasting I have ever experienced.
My photography group went to Lynfred for a tour/tasting/photography outing. This was my first wine tasting/winery tour. Overall it was nice. There were only a few wines I really like, but since I was more there for the experience than the wine I wasn't disappointed than others. I did like their Chardenel and Strawberry wines.
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and did a very good job at working with our group (nothing like guiding a tour where most are there for the photo opps before the wine itself).
All in all, if you're looking for something different to do one weekend (and you're 21 and over) I would highly suggest Lynfred Winery.
An amazing place -- 5 Corks! Located about 40 minutes northwest of Chicago. You first turn into the winery property onto a cobblestone driveway and walk up to the 1912 craftsman inspired home. You then step into a wonderful tasting room that has a beautiful carved oak wood bar where you can purchase a tasting flight of their award winning wines. We had the hot Christmas spiced wine, both white and red and some Swedish Limpa bread from the winery's wood-burning stove -- mmmmmmm! The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, polite and down to earth.
The gift shop has everything wine, wine accessories and gourmet goodies, which are a few steps from the winery itself. You stroll out onto a large catwalk that encircles the winery that has beautiful stained glass windows. They also have four bed and breakfast rooms each with a theme, decorated in the styles of the wine-making countries of France, Italy, Germany and the United States
Fred Koehler and his late wife, Lynn, self-taught winemakers, founded Lynfred in 1977. Lynfred is the oldest and largest, continuously-operated, bonded winery in the state, producing over 50 varietals and 25,000 cases per year. They celebrated their 27th anniversary in October of this year.
December Wine Tasting to the Public
($5 to sample 7 wines)
Organically Grown Chardonnay 2005
Semillon 2005
Sweetheart White
Cabernet Franc 2000
Shiraz 2003
Cabernet 2001
Montmorency Cherry Wine
Holiday hours are from 9-9 through 12.23
http://www.lynfredwine...
Okay, I work at Lynfred, so I might be biased, but Lynfred is truly a gem in the burbs!
You have to come visit! We're open every day for wine tasting ($7 to sample 7 wines) and the tasting changes monthly.
Let me know what you think!!!
The wine at Lynfred is better than you'd probably expect for a winery in the Chicago suburb of Roselle.
In fact - much of the wine at Lynfred is pretty damn good without the "for an Illinois winery" qualifier. Most bottles range from $10 to $25 with the more "serious" wines being at the higher end.
Seeing as this is a small, family run producer this is fine - but if you're a super mega wine snob, you're probably too snooty to enjoy your tasting here - of course you wouldn't be considering visiting an Illinois winery anyway, so move on.
It's certainly worth a visit, it's a fun little afternoon out, the tour is interesting, but you'll probably want to hit up the tasting room before buying a few cases. Tastings are $7 for seven taste portions, plus a wide array of wines by the full glass.
Some staff members are friendlier than others....a somewhat hostile young woman was working the pouring area a few weeks back - seemingly more interested in doing her homework than, you know, selling the place to a room full of people, but I digress....
Actually, no I don't digress - let me point out that wine is a luxury product, it's not something one "needs" and therefore yes, service should be top notch at such an establishment. Period.
That being said....
Another time, the person pouring noticed I was dumping a good portion of the wine I was being served (which I tend to do - as the driver) and struck up a conversation asking if I was enjoying the wine and (politely) asking what was up. She seemed very interested in getting us to just relax and hang out - no sales pressure or anything of that sort - just interested in making sure we had a good time. The positives outweigh the negatives and that's why this place gets four stars.
You can't beat the wine tasting--$5 for a bunch of small pours of wine! I went here for the first stop of my friend's bachelorette party and we had a great time. It was a little crowded (you kind of stand around on a balcony overlooking the vats) and there aren't too many places to sit, but we were there at prime time on a Saturday evening. It may be less crowded at other times. We will be going back soon!
Lynfred is great for a quick weekend excursion. It's located in Downtown Roselle, just steps from the train station. They are open 10-7 everyday. $5.00 will get you a wine tasting with six wines (you pay extra for the "premium" tasting which gets you one glass of the premium wine of the month). They make the wine in house and if you go on Saturday and Sunday they will do a free tour of the facilities (at certain times) If they are not conducting a tour you can still go to the back tasting room and see all the vats and the machinery. They also have 4 luxury bed and breakfast rooms that are way too pricey but incredibly decorated. It's also fun to go during one of their festivals, such as Octoberfest. It's a good deal for a fun, out of the ordinary, activity.....and those six little samples get you a pretty decent buzz too!
Went for the 7 dollars/7 wines tasting-I'm not a member. I live too far away but a friend of mine is in Roselle and suggested we go there to hang out. For a Tuesday night it was pretty crowded-with holiday shoppers and tasters. The staff was incredibly nice and friendly-we ended up closing the place out but you couldn't tell from the staff who were just as friendly as they were when we got there. I'm not a wine expert but there were some better than others, but it was an interesting mix they had going and they had their seasonal, spiced wines. We got to sample them as well so really, it was 7 dollars/9 wines were delicious both red and white. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and will probably come back again.
The winery is just gorgeous, and everyone here is so friendly. I went with friends who are members, and ended up getting one of my own. They'll get a $15 credit if I stay on for a few months. The wines are just excellent, and the bar offers samples of the yummy fresh breads, dips and oils also available for purchase. I also enjoyed the 1970s newpaper clip of the winery getting approval to build despite neighbor naysayers. They felt it would bring down property values - ha!
So this was the first winery I had ever been to and I was nervous because I didn't think I liked wine. But Lynfred showed me that I LOVE wine!! And of all the wine tastings I have been to this is by far the best! The tasting is $7 for seven wines and you always get a taste of the warm Christmas wine! Delicious!! You also get to sample breads, dips and chocolates to go with your wine. This place has is all...great wine, AWESOME atmosphere and friendly people!
I agree with Colleen. The wine is overall fair. if you like fruit wines, their blackberry is worth a visit. The B&B is WAY overpriced and while the train station is a mile away, the tracks are literally right next to the facility. Nonetheless, it is closer to Napa than anything else in the area, and fun for an occasional distraction.
I really wanted to love this place. It is a beautiful space and the staff is nice, but the wine. Oh, the wine is bad. For $7 you get a glass and 7 tastings. I spilled out 5 of them, they were that bad. Full of off notes and weird flavors. The Semillon was good though.
