| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LYNMAR WELCOMES INAUGURAL VINTAGE IN
NEW WINERY
Sebastopol, CA—October
18, 2005—This season's harvest takes on an additional
significance for Lynmar Winery (www.lynmarwinery.com). Not
only is 2005 looking to be a stellar vintage, but today Lynmar
also announces the completion of an expanded state-of-the-art
gravity flow winemaking facility and barrel aging caves.
The Russian River Valley specialist of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
broke ground on the winery expansion, 9,000-square foot barrel
aging caves, and a visitor center in October 2004. The construction
project is part of the winery's investment plan that also
includes a phased-replanting of its Quail Hill Vineyard estate,
purchase of additional acreage in the region and the assemblage
of a world-class winery and marketing team initiated in winter
2004.
“The completion of the expanded winery and caves marks
a major milestone in Lynmar’s development,” said
General Manager Larry Moraes. “The gravity-flow winery
design reflects this team's commitment to produce world-class
wines from our esteemed Quail Hill Vineyard estate. The integration
of the winery into the hillside and the use of caves is also
part of our commitment to integrate our facilities into the
landscape of Sonoma County.”
Lynmar applied the latest research and advances in winemaking
available to create a winemaker's dream winery facility and
barrel aging caves. The new multi-level expanded winery is
outfitted with the most modern winemaking equipment including
double-jacketed fermentation tanks for precise temperature
control, basket press for Pinot Noir, membrane press for Chardonnay,
a complete lab and an oxygen-free bottling line to be added
this winter. Further, the entire interior surfaces of the
winery building are epoxy coated, ensuring a pristine environment
for winemaking. The caves provide an ideal, stable environment
for aging and are accessible directly from the winery structure.
Cooling and heating by section in the 9,000 square-foot cave
allow the winery team to bring the temperatures as low as
52 degrees for long term aging and much higher to encourage
native yeast fermentations. The entire winery project was
designed to fit into the existing landscape and not to distract
from the natural beauty of Sonoma's West County. Principles
of Feng Shui were also employed to bring the site into balance
and harmony.
The companion hospitality center, set to open later this
month, will offer Pinot and Chardonnay enthusiasts an unparalleled
look at grape growing in the Russian River Valley.
“It’s a winemaker’s dream to be involved
in designing a project of this magnitude, and we’re
very excited with the final result, especially with the enhanced
capability to use gravity in the multi-level facility to minimize
handling of the fruit," said winemaker Hugh Chappelle.
The winery and visitor center were designed by San Francisco-based
architectural firm Baum-Thornley Architects LLP. The barrel-aging
caves were constructed by Magorian Mine Services, and Expert
Alex Stark of New York conducted the Feng Shui assessment.
Winegrowing at Quail Hill Vineyard in 2005
The Lynmar vineyard team completed the phased-replanting program
at Quail Hill Vineyard this spring. The replanting program
accounted for approximately 70 percent of the vineyard and
took place from 1996 to 2005. Today, the vineyard is made
up of 70 percent pinot noir (up from 55%) and 30 percent chardonnay,
underscoring the team's conviction that this is a prime site
for Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.
"As part of this program, our vineyard and winemaking
team tirelessly examined the vineyard when choosing rootstocks,
clones, spacing and trellising systems. The result of this
careful planning optimizes fruit quality," said Hugh.
The 2005 growing season was a long one for the region. For
Lynmar's Quail Hill Vineyard estate, budbreak occurred on
March 7 and flowering began on May 19. With careful vineyard
management, as well as a bit of luck, Quail Hill Vineyard
escaped dramatic fruit losses that some North Coast growers
experienced as a result of late spring rains. The winery brought
in its first fruit from the estate Quail Hill Vineyard on
September 21. Lynmar expects to pick through the month of
October.
Hugh says the 2005 vintage looks to be of stellar quality.
"Crop load is very uniform throughout the estate this
year. Fruit development, veraison and ripening occurred evenly,
something we strive to achieve through careful viticultural
techniques such as treating each vine as a single entity and
farming vine-by-vine. Our outlook for Pinot Noir from the
estate for this vintage is outstanding and the Chardonnay
developed beautiful, classic flavors."
Lynmar Winery's latest releases are the 2003 Quail Hill Vineyard
Pinot Noir and 2003 Quail Hill Vineyard Chardonnay. These
wines are the first made by the winemaking team of Hugh Chappelle
and consulting winemaker Paul Hobbs, and represent the first
results of Lynmar’s investment in the future.
About Lynmar
Lynn Fritz, an expert in global logistics and humanitarian
relief efforts, and family founded Lynmar Winery in 1990 with
the vision of creating world-class Pinot Noir. Lynmar's 42-acre
Quail Hill Vineyard lies within one of the Russian River Valley's
coolest areas, Laguna Ridge, an ideal microclimate for Pinot
Noir and Chardonnay. The winery launched a five-year investment
plan in early 2004 to create a state-of-the-art winery and
visitor center. For more information, visit the winery's temporary
tasting room at 9060 Graton Road, Graton, CA, or call (707)
829-3374. www.lynmarwinery.com
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kimberly Charles, Charles Communications Associates, (415)
701-9463
Amelia Weir, Charles Communications Associates, (415) 701-9463
media@lynmarwinery.com
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