(November 1; Sebastopol, CA) – Lynn and Anisya Fritz, owners of Lynmar Estate, a benchmark Russian River Valley-based producer of estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, are pleased to welcome the addition of Hessel Station Vineyard to their distinguished portfolio of vineyard sites.
Located in South Sebastopol, the coolest and most southern tip of the Russian River Valley, Hessel Station joins Lynmar Estate’s three other estate sites, which include Susanna’s Vineyard, Adam’s Vineyard in Forestville, and the winery’s original Quail Hill Vineyard, located adjacent to Laguna de Santa Rosa in the heart of the AVA. Together, the four vineyards include nearly 85 acres of vines spanning the Russian River Valley. The portfolio of prime sites provides a tremendous range of diverse microclimates, soils and exposures to produce site-specific Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
“Hessel Station stands out as a very special vineyard due to its geographic location at the southernmost tip of the Russian River Valley, where it is cooled by ocean breezes,” said Lynn Fritz. “The addition of this property furthers our long-term vision to farm grapes in all of the best pockets of the Russian River Valley. Since the region gets warmer the further north you go, each of our four estate vineyards produces wines with distinction in the disposition of, density and character from one another.”
Hessel Station shares similar southwest coastal wind influences to Sonoma County’s Petaluma Gap AVA, located directly to the south. “Hessel Station’s location and orientation strikes a perfect climatic balance,” says Director of Winemaking and Vineyards Pete Soergel. “The vineyard combines wind and cool temperatures, but neither in excess, providing ideal conditions for complex and elegant Pinot Noir. We are anticipating a spicier flavor profile in the wines compared to our other sites, along with enhanced vibrancy and texture. We are already excited about the potential of this vineyard and what it will add to our Russian River Valley portfolio.”
At the time of purchase in 2018, the Hessel Station site was an unfarmed open field which had sat largely fallow for decades, allowing the Lynmar team to not only plant with a clean slate, but to also treat the property as a reclamation project. The non-native Eucalyptus trees were removed, mulched, and then hauled off for biofuel, reducing the risk of fire. To enhance the soil structure, Lynmar planted organic soil building cover crops composed of barley, Bell Beans, peas and vetch, which were then tilled under to feed the soil’s microbes. As part of Lynmar’s 30-year estate plan, the site is sustainably farmed by a permanent vineyard team.
For over 40 years, the core of Lynmar Estate has been a commitment to its core values: sustainability, hospitality, and responsibility to the greater good. “We strive to not only make the highest quality wines, but to also operate our business in a way that is considerate of the land, our team and the local community,” said Fritz. “We are always looking for ways to ensure that our business has a positive impact on the world around us.”
For more information about Lynmar Estate, please visit www.lynmarestate.com
About Lynmar Estate
Located in the heart of the Russian River Valley, Lynmar Estate is a preeminent producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Resident proprietors Lynn and Anisya Fritz are intimately woven into daily operations, sharing overarching values of sustainability, world-class winemaking, locally sourced food, and community. Always more than the sum of its parts, Lynmar Estate is comprised of four touchstone vineyard parcels in the Russian River Valley, beginning with Quail Hill Vineyard established by the family in 1980.
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