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.”
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Pinot File
Sips of Recently Tasted California Pinot Noir Freeman Vineyard & Winery The 2012 vintage marks the release of the first vintage from the Gloria Estate Vineyard, situated on a hillside adjacent the winery. Five clones and/or selections were chose by winemaker Akiko Freeman including Swan, Calera, Martini, Pommard 5 and 115 to be planted at this cool corner of the Russian River Valley AVA. A sister vineyard, Yu-ki, located in the Sonoma Coast, is now in full production and along with Gloria will be the focal point of Freeman’s estate wine program. The first Yu-ki Vineyard Pinot Noir will be released in 2015. Visit the newly expanded website at www.freemanwinery.com to learn more about these two properties. |
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Forbes
California's Edgiest Wine Region: The Western Sonoma Coast
2011 Freeman Akikos Cuvée Pinot Noir. Dark forest floor, raspberry, pomegranate, cherry and cardamom. Wild strawberry married with clean, precise acidity and balance. Cerebral and refined, a wine to drink over dinner. |
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International Wine Report
FREEMAN WINERY Pinot Noir 'Keefer Ranch' 20112013 Top 100 - Rank #47 2013 Top 100 - Rank #47 93 Points |
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Forbes
Six Exciting Wine Regions To Explore In 2014
2011 Freeman Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir. Layers of dark forest floor, raspberry, pomegranate, and cardamom. I love the wild strawberry and purity from clean, precise acidity. Cerebral and refined, a wine to drink over dinner. |
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Pinot File
¡Salud! 2013 Russian River Valley Immersion Trip RecapFreeman Winery and Vineyard, Sebastopol Ken and Akiko Freeman started their winery in 2001 and since then have developed a style of Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that appeals to those who savor cool-climate wines with lovely, ripe fruit flavors. The veteran winemaker for many years, Ed Kurtzman, has passed the winemaking duties on to Akiko, and has assumed a consulting posture. The 7-acre Freeman Estate Vineyard (Gloria Vineyard) adjacent the winery will produce a vineyard-designated Pinot Noir for the first time from the 2012 vintage, adding to their portfolio of wines produced from sourced grapes. The winery is built into a hillside cave where Ken and Akiko also hold tastings by appointment. Total production is fewer than 5,000 cases which is sold through a mailing list. The winery offers a Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley appellation Pinot Noir, a Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir, and the Akiko’s Cuvée, which is a barrel selection. An excellent Rosé of Pinot Noir and the Rya-fu Russian River Valley Chardonnay complete the lineup. The wines are distributed to selected retailers and restaurants throughout the United States, and several hundred cases are sent to Japan (Akiko’s birthplace) each year. The 2011 Freeman wines were reviewed this past year in the PinotFile (www.princeofpinot.com/winery/501/). After a tasting of the 2011 wines in the winery cave, our group was invited into the Freemans’ home on the property for a lunch. We got a sneak peak at the 2012 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir which was very special. |
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