A Visit To Lynfred Winery
Not everyone lives within driving distance of Napa Valley or even just any wine country. When you don't have vineyards at your disposal but still love wine, you learn to find a few hidden gems. Lynfred Winery in Roselle is a small, cozy location but has plenty to offer for wine lovers. Also serving as a bed and breakfast, Lynfred Winery is the full package. They offer tours, tastings, events and plenty more to make your visit exactly what you want it to be. I had the opportunity to bring a friend to the winery earlier this fall for a tasting of our own. Both the food and wine were incredible and the staff knowledgable and friendly.
When you arrive to Lynfred, it's easy to miss the tiny, hidden entrance. The building resembles an over sized cottage or small villa. There are vines all over the walls giving it a rustic charm you might find at a winery in southern France. The entrance doubles as a tasting room so that upon your arrival, you can have your first glass of wine in hand. Off to the right is a store where guests can buy all kinds of knick knacks, wine, food and more.
We were escorted upstairs by a winding staircase that I am still in love with. It reminds me of something that would be in Once Upon A Time. There was a table prepared for us with each glass of wine we'd be tasting lined up. Executive Chef Celeste Pasag prepared a delicious tasting menu for us with sweet, savory and a combination of both and also walked us through each of them. My favorite were the mini ground beef patties. I could have eaten a full-sized one without even thinking twice about it.
Pairing 1: Seyval Blanc 2012 (Impressions of lemon, pears and honey)
Aubergine Roll with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes
Smoked Salmon with bread and butter vegetables
I loved the Seyval Blanc. This was my favorite wine of the three we tasted. You can really get the pear both in scent and taste. It starts dry but finishes sweet which was really great. The Aubergine Roll was delicious. I'm a sucker for sun dried tomatoes. The Smoked Salmon was also very tasty. The Aubergine Roll paired beautifully with the wine. They were practically made for each other.
Pairing 2: Petite Sirah 2008 (Impressions of oak, chocolate and butter)
Roasted Beets with pecans and chicory
Mini Ground Beef Patty with caramelized mushrooms and blue cheese
The Petite Sirah was a full bodied red wine with a strong tannic presence. The Roasted Beets were delicious and the Mini Ground Beef Patty my favorite bite of the tasting. The Sirah paired beautifully with each item but especially the beets.
Pairing 3: Blackberry Wine (Impressions of spiced blackberries and black currants)
Parmesan Tuile with artisanal cheese
Lynfred Almond Bar with dark chocolate and coconut
This was my first experience with Blackberry Wine. I love blackberries so it was only natural I'd love this wine as well. It has a very strong flavor and it is very sweet, perfect for a dessert. I loved the contrast between the sweetness of the wine and the Parmesan Tuile. The sweet versus salty and tangy was interesting and surprisingly complimentary. The Almond Bar was delicious as well, a chocolate lover's dream.
Overall, it was an incredible experience. We had a great time and the food and wine were both memorable in the best of ways. I'd love to come back here for a little weekend getaway and do some more tastings. They're having a Halloween extravaganza but I'll be traveling so maybe next year. Have you been to Lynfred Winery? Do you have a winery or vineyard in the Midwest you like to visit?
Thank you to Lynfred Winery for providing this visit and tasting. No compensation was received for this post, all opinions are my own.