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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Pinot File
Ten Year Vertical of Freeman Akiko's Cuvee
The wines were simply put, impressive. The earlier vintages had aged beautifully and the most recent vintages were very approachable. This last feature is the rub since many wine lovers will not be able to keep their hands off these wines upon release and therefore not experience the nuances that develop over time in the bottle. The style was consistent, yet the wines reflected vintage differences. Each wine displayed an appealing elegance, a moderate and balanced tannic structure, and crisp fruit expression. Finesse was featured over fruit heaviness, especially evident in the more recent vintages. I found that the most striking aromatic vibrancy and purity began to appear with the 2005 vintage wine. My tasting notes follow. When it comes to older Pinot Noir, there is no absolute rating, only a snapshot in time, but the wines were scored to reflect some current judgment. |
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Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthuisiast
Ryo-Fu Chardonnay 91 points |
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South Florida Food & Wine
Interview with Akiko Freeman, winemaker at Freeman Winery
Akiko Freeman is the winemaker at Freeman Winery in Sebastopol, California. Akiko guides every wine and every vintage as she has dedicated herself to the ideals of a family-run winery, and a belief that a wine bearing the Freeman name should reflect the Freeman touch. To achieve this goal, Akiko immersed herself in the world of viticulture and winemaking, and apprenticed herself to renowned winemaker Ed Kurtzman. Akiko oversees every aspect of Freeman’s winemaking program, from the selection of vineyard partners to fermentation, racking, lot evaluations and blending. Her vision and refined palate have established Freeman as one of the great benchmarks for cool-climate New World winemaking, while also establishing Akiko as a winemaking talent in her own right. I present this week’s Vintner in the Spotlight, Akiko Freeman |
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