Quail Hill Vineyard

By:Joe Alexander

The beauty found at Lynmar Estate is unlike any other that can be found in the wine country of California. After traveling the globe, Lynn Fritz and his wife, Anisya, found their home in Sonoma. The community experience found at Lynmar, when paired with their high quality wine and food, serves as the perfect backdrop for this breathtaking venue. The components of Lynn's vision of a new artisan winery model serve as a testament to the prodigy that is Quail Hill Vineyard. Lynn says, "The wines speak for themselves, but in the words of the consumers on our subscribers list, 'they are  the best of the best.'"

Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Grapes   
Perched in the heart of the Russian River Valley lies the picturesque Lynmar Estate, the pride and joy of Lynn Fritz, the proprietor of this iconic vineyard. A San Francisco native, Lynn first purchased Quail Hill Ranch in 1980, drawn to the breezy seafaring climate and the beauty of the plunging vineyards. Originally a home away from home, it was a place he frequented throughout his life to reconnect with loved ones. "I used to visit Russian River as a child because that was a big place for families to go together before the days of country clubs," Lynn says. "The grapes do so well because the maritime influence is perfect for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. I love the area and I was so happy to own something where part of it was already planted."  Each time he returned to Lynmar, he planted new trees and bushes, slowly transforming the location from a pasture to a vineyard with lush gardens and indigenous flowers and trees.

Food Friendly Wines
With vines over 40 years old, Lynmar's state-of-the-art, gravity flow winery and caves allows for a pristine wine making environment, ensuring that their wines always meet the ultra-premium standards that their subscribers expect. "I've always loved Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They are the most food-friendly wines," reveals Fritz. "Many people were scared to plant this close to the ocean until the Russian River was discovered. After growing grapes, which were sold to exclusive wineries for the next 15 years, it was clear that our vineyard could grow some of the best wines in the world." With that certainty Lynn then built his own winery in 1994 on what is now the 100-acre Lynmar Estate. "I waited 15 years to see how good this site really was. It's like discovering you have a child prodigy," he says with a laugh. "I knew I would have to spend the rest of my days seeing that it reached its potential. I say that because I recognized what rare good fortune, I had been blessed with."

The Red Wood Grove
"The primordial pull of wine is its relationship with food, so food had to be part of the equation," Lynn explains. "It's the ultimate acid test, literally and figuratively." In July and August, Lynmar offers a Picnic Pairing for guests, a favorite seasonal offering where you can partake in a fresh farm-to-table lunch with a special pairing of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Some of the summery selections to be sampled include their harvest salad, mixed greens with Persian cucumber and heirloom tomatoes all picked right from the grounds, and their gourmet grilled local chicken breast sandwich on Village Bakery focaccia, with cheddar and a blackberry-chive aioli. For something a little more substantial, head over to the beautiful Redwood Grove for the Pinot & Pizza pairing menu featuring pizza made in on-site ovens fired with Pinot Noir-ingrained oak barrel staves inoculated with Chardonnay yeast and an innovative selection of their award-winning red wines.
For more information: lynmarestate.com