Highlights
Toast to International Ties: Freeman Wines Featured at State Department
On Thursday, April 11, 2024, we had the honor of presenting our wines during a luncheon at the State Department, hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrate the visit of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan. Esteemed attendees included Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
Featured wines were the 2022 Ryo-Fu West Sonoma Coast Chardonnay and the 2021 Akiko's Cuvee West Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, both of which paired exquisitely with the seasonal menu, enhancing the culinary experience.
This prestigious event was not only a profound honor but also a testament to the deep cultural ties between the United States and Japan. We are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a significant occasion and look forward to fostering further connections through our shared appreciation for fine wine.
Historic Award for Akiko Freeman: The Green & White Medal for Agricultural Excellence
Akiko Freeman was recently honored with the Green & White Medal for Agricultural Excellence, becoming the first woman ever to receive this prestigious accolade. The ceremony, held at the Japanese Consul General’s residence in Los Angeles, recognized her for being the first Japanese winemaker with a wine served at the White House and her transformative approach to organic farming. Shinkichki Koyama, who presented the award, said of Akiko, “She worked very hard to achieve the best growing conditions on the property — irrigation, ensuring that the soil was well-drained and well-oxygenated — all with the long-term vision to produce better grapes under organic farming protocols.” Her efforts have significantly contributed to the agriculture sector, reinforcing Japan-USA relations. This milestone achievement underscores Akiko's pioneering role in the field.
We are honored that the White House featured our Ryo-fu Chardonnay at a recent State Dinner welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the United States.
LE.PAN: The small Sonoma winery with Asian ambitions; “We don’t manipulate anything. We just try to grow the best fruit and bring out the best of it. That’s our philosophy.”
|
Forbes
Seven Great California Pinot Noirs to Try This Year
2013 Freeman Akiko’s Cuvée Sonoma Coast—Think cool-climate winemaking elegance and you have the essence of the Freeman wines. Winemaker, Akiko Freeman, grew up in Japan and brings an innate sense of balance to her wine. The cuvée bottling, a blend of the winery’s best barrels each vintage is especially gorgeous with notes of black cherry, violets and earth. |
|
i-winereview
International Wine Review BlogFreeman 2013 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Releases from the Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast ...In sum, they are well-made and delicious drinking. The Pinot Noirs are fruit forward and ripe with dark lush red fruit flavors and earthy nuances. However, some of the wines would benefit from a tad more structure on the backend and finish. Our favorite in the red wine line up was the Pinot Noir Gloria Estate; it is elegant and refined and perfectly balanced with good acidity on the finish. The Chardonnay Ryo-fu with its fruitiness and restrained use of oak was also a winner... |
|
Pinot File
2012 Akiko's Cuvee named to the "All American Team.""Best Akiko's Cuvee Ever - 95 Points 2014 California Pinot Noir First Team All-Americans December 2014
2012 Freeman Akiko’s Cuvée Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir |
|
The Somm Journal
The 2012 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast Featured in "California’s Côte d’Or"
Freeman Winery 2012 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast ($45) Silky and smooth with fresh black cherry and spice; savory and lush with notes of earth and toasty oak. 92 |
|
Tasting Panel
Publisher's Pick
Japanese for “cool breeze,” Ryo-Fu is fragrant and perfumed with distinct—and exotic—perfume: jasmine, honeysuckle and other ethereal notes. White chocolate and caramel converge mid-palate with pretty notes of apples and pears and a light nuttiness. The mouthfeel is both grassy and stony. 100% French oak–fermented and aged sur lie for 14 months. |
|
