Highlights
Freeman Pinot Noir Featured at U.S. Embassy Presidential Dinner in Japan
Freeman Vineyard & Winery’s 2022 Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir was among three California wines selected for a presidential dinner at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo during President Donald Trump’s state visit to Japan. Hosted by newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the evening also featured wines from Schramsberg Vineyards and Far Niente.
U.S. Ambassador George Glass chose the wines following an extensive tasting of California selections. For Akiko Freeman, who was born in Japan, the honor adds to a growing list of international recognitions. She previously received the Green-White Achievement Award for agricultural excellence from the Agricultural Society of Japan, and her wines have been served at diplomatic events in Washington, D.C., including a luncheon hosted by former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Read the full article on The Press Democrat
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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Wine Enthusiast
Sonoma ranked #1 in Wine Enthusiast's "10 Best Wine Travel Destinations 2014" "If a genie was to grant you three wishes and you chose great food, great wine and gorgeous surroundings, you’d land in California’s Sonoma County..." |
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Steve Heimoff Wine Blog
More on the troubling 2011 vintage
Here are some wineries that obviously did have the means and will power to produce magnificent 2011 Pinot Noirs: Williams Selyem, Merry Edwards, Paul Hobbs, Rochioli, Lynmar, Dutton-Goldfield, Joseph Phelps, Failla, Thomas Fogarty, Flowers, Testarossa, Tantara, Freeman, Sojourn, Siduri and Foxen. The usual suspects, you say? Exactly. The reason they’re the usual suspects is because these wine companies do what has to be done to produce great wine. |
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USA Today
5 up-and-coming California wine regions on our radar
Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir delivers the quintessential flavor of this area December 2013
Other local wineries utilize the nuanced grapes from the Sonoma Coast. Among them are: MacPhail, Littorai, Paul Hobbs, Halleck Vineyards, Martinelli and Freeman Winery. In fact the Freeman Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir delivers the quintessential flavor of this area – elegant, mysterious, contemplative and simply a stunner in a glass. If visiting, the Timber Cove Inn poses a welcoming retreat overlooking the Pacific Ocean. |
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Sonoma Discoveries
Wines from the Wild West Coast of Sonoma
Shaped by the influences of wind, fog and cool days November 2013
For that reason, a small group of vintners banded together in 2011 to form the West Sonoma Coast Vintners (WSCV) to set themselves apart from the much broader Sonoma Coast and distinguish the West Sonoma Coast as one of the world’s leading regions for cool weather Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. “We got together to form an organization that can help consumers understand who we are and help define the region,” said Ken Freeman, one of the founding members of the group, who owns Freeman Vineyards & Winery, with his wife, Akiko, the winemaker. He explained that when the Sonoma Coast AVA was formed it seemed to be put together with what was left over from other Sonoma County growing regions and didn’t fit in an existing appellation. “There was no rhyme or reason” that an appellation included areas 20 miles from the coast, said Freeman. Some vineyard land in the Sonoma Coast AVA abuts the Napa County line, others skirt the northern edge of San Pablo Bay. |
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Bloomberg Luxury
California Pinots to Beat Blockbusters: John Mariani
I’ve also been very happy with several other California pinot noir makers, including Failla Hirsch Vineyard, Freeman, Williams Selyem, and Morlet Family, all producing fine examples of what the varietal should be -- a medium bodied, velvety wine with flower and bright fruit flavors. |
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