Lynfred Plum

Lynfred Plum is a fruit wine made from 100% Damson plums, produced by Illinois-based Lynfred Winery in a standard 750ml bottle. What distinguishes this release is its single-fruit, single-source approach — all plums are sourced from Shelby, Michigan, a region with a long heritage of stone fruit cultivation.

Quick Facts: ABV: Not publicly disclosed  |  Origin: Roselle, Illinois (fruit from Shelby, Michigan)  |  Style: Damson Plum Fruit Wine  |  Winery: Lynfred Winery

Production & Heritage

Lynfred Winery was founded in 1979 by Fred Koehler in Roselle, Illinois, making it one of the pioneering post-Prohibition wineries in the state. The winery's name is a combination of the founder's children's names — Lynn and Fred Jr. For this plum wine, Lynfred uses 100% Damson plums, one of the oldest and most storied plum varieties cultivated in America, prized for their intensely tart flesh and deep pigmentation. The fruit is sourced exclusively from Shelby, Michigan, and fermented to produce a light-bodied, fruit-forward wine that stays true to the character of the raw ingredient rather than relying on heavy sweetening or blending.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with ripe, fresh plum and transitions into softer notes of blueberry and delicate floral tones. There is a natural, orchard-fresh quality that feels immediate and unmanipulated.

Taste: On the palate, the entry is bright with concentrated plum juice character that reads almost like biting into the fruit itself. The mid-palate introduces tart cherry and a distinctive violet-like floral nuance that adds complexity. The body is decidedly light, letting the fruit speak without heaviness.

Finish: The finish is clean and brisk, marked by a pleasant acidity that keeps the wine refreshing rather than cloying. Lingering fruity notes fade gracefully without residual sweetness dominating.

How to Drink Lynfred Plum

This plum wine is best served well chilled, between 40–45°F, to highlight its natural acidity and fruit purity. It also works nicely over ice on warm days for a casual, low-fuss pour. For cocktails, try a Plum Wine Spritzer — topped with sparkling water and a squeeze of lime, the wine's tartness creates an effervescent, thirst-quenching drink. A Plum Sangria built with fresh stone fruits and a splash of brandy plays to the wine's fruity core. For something more inventive, a Plum Bellini — substituting plum wine for peach purée alongside prosecco — delivers a unique brunch cocktail with genuine depth.

Best For

• Introducing fruit wine to someone who typically drinks grape-based wines
• Warm-weather patio sipping as a chilled afternoon pour
• Gifting to someone interested in American craft winery products
• Pairing with a cheese or charcuterie board at casual gatherings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Lynfred Plum taste like? Lynfred Plum delivers bright, authentic plum juice flavor with tart cherry and violet undertones, finishing clean and acidic rather than overly sweet. The body is light, making it a refreshing fruit wine rather than a heavy dessert-style pour.

How does Lynfred Plum compare to Choya plum wine? Choya is a Japanese umeshu made by steeping ume (Japanese apricot) in spirits and sugar, resulting in a sweeter, liqueur-like profile, whereas Lynfred Plum is a fermented American fruit wine using Damson plums with a lighter body and more pronounced tartness. The two occupy the same broad "plum wine" category but differ significantly in base fruit, production method, and flavor intensity.

Is Lynfred Plum good for beginners? Yes — its approachable, fruit-forward character and light body make it an accessible entry point for anyone curious about fruit wines or looking for something less tannic and complex than traditional grape wines.

Where is Lynfred Plum made? Lynfred Plum is produced at Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The Damson plums used in production are sourced from Shelby, Michigan.

What foods pair well with Lynfred Plum? Soft, creamy cheeses like brie or camembert complement the wine's tartness nicely. Grilled pork tenderloin benefits from the plum's natural affinity for stone fruit glazes. Mild Thai or Vietnamese dishes with sweet-sour profiles echo the wine's balance. A simple fresh fruit tart or almond cake makes a harmonious dessert pairing. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage can also highlight the wine's berry-like undertones.

What sizes does Lynfred Plum come in? Lynfred Plum is available in the standard 750ml bottle format.

Is Lynfred Plum worth the price? Lynfred Plum positions as an accessible, craft-level fruit wine from a well-established Illinois winery with over four decades of production history, placing it in a solid value tier for American-made fruit wines that prioritize real fruit character over mass-market sweetness.

Why Lynfred Plum?

What earns Lynfred Plum its place in the fruit wine category is its commitment to a single varietal of plum — the Damson — sourced from a specific Michigan growing region rather than blended from generic concentrate. Lynfred Winery has been producing wines in Illinois since 1979, giving it a depth of experience that many newer craft operations lack. The resulting wine is genuinely fruit-driven without tipping into the sugary, one-dimensional territory that gives fruit wines a mixed reputation. For drinkers who want a plum wine that actually tastes like plums — tart, floral, and clean — this is a straightforward, well-made bottle from one of the Midwest's most established wineries.