When Lynfred Winery founder Fred E. Koehler was told by Robert Mondavi "you're wasting your time in Illinois," Fred did exactly what any native Illinoian would do and completely ignored him. The self-taught winemaker wouldn't dream of leaving his home, and likewise, he wouldn't give up on his dream. He persevered, and today, his winery makes over 100,000 gallons of wine in 80 varietals every year.

But wine-lovers need not travel all the way to the vineyard to get a taste of these locally grown vintages. In 1999, Fred opened Tasting deVine, the first Lynfred Winery satellite store. There, patrons explore the world of vino in five different wine clubs, and guests enjoy wine tastings by the glass or by the bottle, often complementing their wines with paired cheese plates.