A Wine Grows in Illinois

Fine wine in Illinois? Absolutely! Wines are being made in each of the 50 states these days and with all the buzz surrounding the concept of EAT LOCAL and DRINK LOCAL, its time to step up and investigate what wines are being produced in your own backyard.

If you live near Chicago, you are blessed with one of Illinois' largest wineries, complete with a luxurious bed and breakfast: Lynfred Winery. Just a short drive Northwest (minus traffic) from the Loop lies Lynfred Winery, in the town of Roselle. Lynfred has been producing award-winning wines since 1979 from both California and Illinois grown fruit.

On a recent visit, I had the pleasure of sampling a wide array of wines from Lynfred's line-up of over 50 selections.

2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Monterey--ripe style, mango, peach, slight herbal notes, hint of sweetness on the finish, medium bodied.

2006 Semillon Reserve, Columbia Valley--smoky, pineapple, mango, peach, luscious and full, smooth texture, medium/full bodied.

2007 Fume Blanc, Monterey--aromatic, grassy, mango, lemon-lime, touch of oak, full and round, slight zest on the finish.

2006 Viognier, Lodi--ripe, tropical, mango, peach, luscious, hint of sweetness, round and smooth.

2007 Seyval Blanc, Illinois--like Riesling meets Sauvignon Blanc--big aromas of white grapefruit, gooseberry, herbal notes, lemon citrus, semi-sweet, refreshing.

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi--jammy, white pepper, plum, black cherry, touch of toasted vanilla spice, medium bodied.

2005 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi--spicy wild berry, raspberry, silky texture, medium bodied.

2006 Tempranillo, Columbia Valley--ripe and jammy, plum, black cherry, white pepper, vanilla spice, silky, medium bodied.

2005 Petite Sirah Reserve, Lodi--dark and brooding, plum, cassis, raisin, leather, dark chocolate, velvety texture, full bodied.

NV Sparkling Cherry Wine--totally fun--tastes like sparkling cherry pie--tart cherry flavors with a touch of cinnamon spice. A perfect pairing on a holiday table for cherry pie.

Lynfred is located roughly 30 miles Northwest of Downtown Chicago, near Schaumburg.

15 S. Roselle Road
Roselle, IL 60172

Dog Day Wines of Summer

Yesterday, I discussed "Dog Day Wines of Summer" on XM Radio's Broadminded with Jill Zimorski of Cafe Atlantico & Mini Bar. The perfect wines on a hot summer day exude crisp and refreshing acidity and don't tire the palate. Look for high acid wines from grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Albariño, Pinot Gris/Grigio or blends from Spain's Basque Region. Stay away from oaky Chardonnay as the weight of the wine can tire out the palate, not to mention high alcohol wines can come across "hot".

Here is a recap of wines discussed on yesterday's program. Click the link below to hear the audio clip from the show.

XM RADIO DOG DAY WINES OF SUMMER

Xarmant Txakolina, Basque Region, Spain--fresh white blend from Spain's Basque Region from indigenous grapes. Lemon-limon and citrus notes, mineral, slight bit of spritz. Mouthwatering finish. Great with sushi/seafood.

Morgadio Albariño, Rias Baixas, Spain--aromatic with notes of banana, melon, apricot, spring flowers. Little more weighty than the Xarmant but crisp acidity and refreshing finish. Great with seafood.

Ca' Bona Pinot Grigio Rosé, Lombardy, Italy--the coolest Pinot Grigio I have ever seen. As Pinot Grigio grape skins have a slight pinky color, its possible to make a Rosé from macerating the grape skins with the grape juice to extract color. Fresh and light like a white Pinot Grigio with a slight watermelon and strawberry flavor.

Cederberg Chenin Blanc, Cederberg, South Africa--over the top aromatics. Loads of white grapefruit, lemon-lime zest and a touch of peach. Zesty finish.

Lynfred Seyval Blanc, Illinois--Perfect for those looking for a sweeter wine yet is refreshing. Smells similar to Sauvignon Blanc with ripe grapefruit, lychee/floral notes, apricot with just a little sweetness. Refreshing finish.

For those of you who just don't do white, try high acid reds like Beaujolais, Pinot Noirs (from Oregon or Europe) or even the Italian favs Dolcetto or Barbera. Chill the reds for approximately 15 minutes in the fridge for a more refreshing experience.