Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2020

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We know it isn't near as much fun as in real life, but we're making our June Member Mixer virtual! Join Christina from Roselle, and Matt from Wheeling, for a virtual wine tasting of the June wines of the month! Sign up by clicking the RSVP and we'll send you a link to follow on Wednesday afternoon. Grab a glass and be prepared to laugh and learn!

Reserve your spot at the Zoom Member Mixer

About Lynfred Winery

Fred E. Koehler, founder of Lynfred Winery, also considered the father of the Illinois wine industry, was a business savvy man and self-taught winemaker whose aspiration to produce wines of excellence earned him the title of a legend. Robert Mondavi once told him "You're wasting your time in Illinois. You ought to come to California", but Koehler replied that his roots are in Illinois. In the 1920's Fred's grandfather and father made wine for the family and local politicians. Then in 1975 Fred, along with his late wife Lynn, made his first batch of wine in the basement of their home. “We had so much wine we outgrew our house and had to go commercial.” What began as “a hobby that got out of hand" led to the opening of the first winery in Illinois in 1979 with 7 varieties and 5,000 gallons of wine.

It was a rough beginning; Koehler had to overcome many obstacles along the journey. Converting a residence into a commercial business, convincing California vineyards to ship their grapes 2,000 miles to Illinois, and fighting to get Illinois laws changed to allow more freedom in producing various varieties and in larger quantities, just to name a few. Koehler’s big break came when his 1983 Chardonnay earned national recognition in 1985 when it won 'Best of Class and Best of Show' against other prestigious California wineries in a Reno, Nevada judging. One month later, this wine made history by winning another major national competition, again “Double Gold", at the National Restaurant Show in Chicago. Named in prominent magazines such as the Wine Spectator, Chicago Tribune, and with TV exposure, people began to take notice. "Word of mouth is the best advertising", Koehler would say, and this little business began to grow.

Source: Lynfredwinery Virtual Events