There’s no hustle or bustle at Lynmar Estate. Set just a few miles from downtown Sebastopol, the Russian River Valley winery has a knack for whisking visitors away from everyday life with natural beauty and warm hospitality.
The story
San Francisco native Lynn Fritz spent his childhood summers on the Russian River. In 1980, as the founder of a global logistics company, he bought Quail Hill Vineyard near Sebastopol as a family retreat.
The Russian River Valley property came with 30 acres of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, which officially made Fritz a grape grower. Winemakers Merry Edwards, then working at Matanzas Creek, and Tony Soter, at Etude, were among his early clients.
Fritz had no intention of starting a winery of his own, but perhaps the story of the estate’s original owner had a subtle influence: Gold Rush prospector Lewis Meyer made the first wine at the site in the 1880s. With the help of winemaker Daniel Moore, Lynmar Estate produced its inaugural vintage in 1994.
Fritz and his wife, Anisya, made Quail Hill Vineyard their permanent home in 2008, and together they now run the day-to-day operations of the winery and tasting room. Over the years, Quail Hill’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay plantings have expanded to 44 acres, all certified organic. The winery produces about 10,000 cases a year.
Wine isn’t the couple’s only passion. In 2001, after Lynn sold his logistics company to UPS, the couple co-founded the Fritz Institute, a nonprofit logistics organization that helps deliver relief supplies to disaster-stricken communities around the world.
The vibe
Higher-end wineries can sometimes feel a little chilly when it comes to hospitality. Not so at Lynmar. As Anisya says, “We are in the business of joy … making people feel happy and present.” Indeed. Just walking onto the property makes the day’s burdens feel a little lighter.
The 100-acre Russian River Valley estate is lush with vineyards, orchards and bee-friendly gardens filled with flowers, herbs and vegetables. The indoor-outdoor tasting room is designed for maximum “oohs” and “ahhs,” with glorious views in every direction. Indoor seating evokes a fine-dining restaurant, while the patio has a more casual feel. The winery’s seasonal Pinot and Pizza events take place in an intimate redwood grove, with picnic tables and a wood-fired pizza oven.
On the palate
With the many facets of Quail Hill Vineyard, as well as two additional estate vineyards in Forestville and Sebastopol, winemaker Pete Soergel has plenty to work with — even focusing on just two grape varieties.
I didn’t want to stop sipping the 2022 Adam’s Vineyard Russian River Chardonnay ($71), with rich aromas of soft vanilla and bright citrus flavors on the palate. Equally delicious, the silky 2021 Young Vines Russian River Pinot Noir ($69) has cola and spice aromas and concentrated red fruit flavors. Seated tastings cost $60 per person.
Beyond the bottle
If you’re looking for a special experience for, say, an anniversary or birthday, book the Collectors Lunch ($250), overlooking the winery’s organic garden and vineyards.
In-house chef David Frakes creates magical, multicourse menus using estate-grown ingredients, accented with a global spice palette. (I will forever dream of his Thai green curry and coconut soup, studded with garden-fresh peas.) Even the popcorn is remarkable, tossed with toppings like corn-kasundi salt and estate olive oil.
Standard tasting appointments are available at 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Lynmar Estate, 3909 Frei Road, Sebastopol, 707-829-3374, lynmarestate.com
Tina Caputo is a wine, food, and travel writer whose work has appeared in numerous publications, including SevenFifty Daily, Visit California, HuffPost, and Sonoma Magazine. Follow Tina on Bluesky @winebroad and view her website at tinacaputo.com.