Famous Fossil Vineyard & Winery
Ken and Pam Rosmann
395 West Cedarville Road
Freeport, Illinois 61032
815-563-4665

pam@famousfossilwinery.com
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Hours of Operation:
~Daily 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. ~ Friday 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
also available by appointment

 
 Vines were planted in 2004 on the hillsides of the 22 acre northern Illinois farm. The winery,
built in 2007, overlooks the vineyard and the beautiful rolling countryside. A stream meanders
through the farm attracting birds and wildlife throughout the year. Famous Fossil wines are
made from cold climate grape varieties, having distinct characteristics that reflect the
climate, the soils and the culture of the Midwest. This is called terroir in France and has
been termed "somewhereness" by Matt Kramer in his book Making Sense of Wine.
When you taste Famous Fossil wines, you are tasting the Midwest!
  
 
Famous Fossil Vineyard was certified Biodynamic by Demeter Association in 2008. A certified Biodynamic farm encompasses all of certified organic standards as well as recognizing and working with all living forces that enhance the growing process.

Under the guidelines of writings by Rudolf Steiner, Biodynamic agriculture creates a farm which is “ integral, vibrant, and diverse, in symphony with all living forms and rhythms, and where food has the vitality to cultivate the essence of our Self."
(Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association vision statement)




~The Vineyard in the wintertime~
The mission of Famous Fossil Vineyard and Winery is to create
a place of beauty that inspires joy, relaxation and friendship,
to live in harmony with all life and
to make wine that is naturally expressive
of the Famous Fossil Vineyard.
 

 

~ Meet the Owners ~
Ken and Pam Rosmann
 
Ken Rosmann
~Winemaker~
Ken farmed in Iowa for many years, certifying as organic in 1987. Some of his crops were used to make organic tofu in Japan. It was the relationships that Ken developed with his Japanese friends that inspired him to make an end product that people can enjoy. Wine was a natural fit for Ken’s personality and skills – his ease with chemistry, his farming success and his great enjoyment of food, wine and friends. Ken began studying under winemakers, taking courses and making wine in earnest 13 years ago. He is a past president of
Northern Illinois Wine Growers.
Pam Rosmann
~Tasting Room and Events Coordinator~
After careers in psychology and landscape architecture, Pam is currently in her third career as the chief wine taster. She also manages the tasting room and events room where businesses, clubs and families and friends meet to enjoy food and wine. Pam and Ken met when Pam was director of the Organic Agriculture Program in the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. 
   

 

 
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