Home to more than 90 wineries and 450 vineyards, Illinois is proving great wine can be produced in the Prairie State. Known for its unpredictable weather and temperature swings, winemakers have focused their efforts on French Hybrids, which make up 75% of the states total grape acreage. Popular varieties include Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles, Chardonel, and Seyval, the focus of today’s post.
Founded by Fred and Lynn Koehler, in Roselle, Illinois in October, 1979, Lynfred Winery is the oldest and largest, continuously-operating, bonded winery in the state. Producing over 50 wines and 25,000 cases per year, Lynfred sources fruit from California, Washington, Michigan and Illinois.
The 2009 Seyval Blanc is from Correl Vineyards in Newton, Illinois. The nose is ripe with melon, peach and tropical fruit. Light to medium-bodied, the food-friendly, crisp wine displays nice minerality and lemon characteristics. A delicious wine to open on a hot summer day.
Each September is Illinois Wine Month, and a perfect excuse to visit and enjoy a glass of Illinois. A short drive from Chicago, be sure to visit Lynfred Winery and tell them TheOther46.com sent you. Cheers!
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Great work on highlighting the nascent wineries in Illinois.
Cheers!
We cannot thank you enough for highlighting our Seyval Blanc and promoting local wine. Everyone wants to eat local and we like to remind them to think beyond the plate and have local in their glass, too. Cheers to you and your quest to drink local!
Hi Christina,
Thank you for the kind words! It’s always a pleasure to write about emerging wine regions like Illinois and especially when the people behind the label are as passionate as I am about local wine. Keep doing what you do and we’ll keep spreading the word. Cheers!
Wine Harlots,
Thank you for your readership. I always enjoy exploring a new wine region, especially in the Midwest (which is largely overlooked by the mainstream media unfortunately). State by state, wine by wine, spreading the drink local message. Cheers!
I thoroughly enjoyed this Seyval Blanc and cannot wait to experience more delicious wine from Illinois!