Lynmar

This picture pretty much sums up why I love Sonoma. Imagine birds chirping and the occasional eagle or horse passing by.

We discovered Lynmar Estate and fell completely in love with the winery. I had a lovely chardonnay and several nice pinot noirs. And that's saying a lot, because I'm not usually a pinot noir fan. There was also a rich syrah that's more similar to what I usually drink.

But mostly, the people and space won us over 100%. At Lynmar, when you purchase a tasting, you aren't forced to stand at a bar and make small talk with the employees while you try to down one wine after another. Instead, you place your order, then you pick a seat outside and the wines are brought to you, poured, described, and left for you to enjoy at your own pace. You are also welcome to bring whatever food you would like, or purchase amuse bouches that are paired with the wine.

Some of the outdoor tables are nestled in the middle of a flourishing herb and flower garden. We saw huge bushes of oregano, thyme, chives, asparagus, lettuce, basil, strawberries, sweet peas, posies, poppies, and a lot more. We even saw a birds' nest built into the side of the building, and the mother bird was flying back and forth with beetles for her babies. Ah, nature!

So if you find yourself in the Santa Rosa/Sebastopol area, do not miss a chance to visit Lynmar. Tastings are $10-25 instead of $5 or free, but it's a much more leisurely experience and you actually get to sip and enjoy your wine instead of feeling like someone's breathing down your neck waiting for you to drink your wine, swish it around in your mouth, pour out the rest, and then buy.