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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Prince of Pinot
Freeman Vineyard & Winery New Website
December 2012
Ken and Akiko Freeman have updated their website to include many photographs and details about them and their wines, the vineyards they work with, and the experience they offer at their Sebastopol winery. As part of the unveiling, for the first time ever, they are offering magnums of four 2010 Pinot Noirs through their online store: 2010 Keefer Ranch, 2010 Russian River Valley, 2010 Sonoma Coast, and 2010 Akiko’s Cuvée. The wines are sold out in the standard size bottle format. |
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Nortwestern
Purple Passion
Ken and Akiko Freeman had been looking for years for a hillside vineyard and winery where they could produce cool-climate pinot noir and chardonnay. They finally found a 4-acre winery near a redwood forest — in Sebastopol, Sonoma County, about 50 miles north of San Francisco — where fog blankets the hills most mornings, and the daily 50-degree temperature range helps finicky grapes hold their complexity... |
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Pinot File
Ken and Akiko Freeman are both card-carrying Pinot fanatics.
Ken and Akiko Freeman are both card-carrying Pinot fanatics. They launched Freeman Winery to produced singularly elegant Pinot Noir and, boy, have they achieved that goal. Guiding the winemaking efforts are Akiko Freeman, Winemaker Ed Kurtzman (also winemaker at Roar Wines and partner and winemaker at August West Wines) and Associate Winemaker Eric Buffington. The Freeman team has really dialed in on a beautiful, focused style of Pinot. Freeman Pinots are sourced from several Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley vineyards including Guidici Vineyard, Keefer Ranch, O'Connor Vineyard, Rayhill Vineyard and Thorn Ridge. Pinot bottlings include regional Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley blends, a vineyard designate from Keefer Ranch and the Akiko's Cuvee. The style is deep, lush, spicy fruit with great structure and silky, silky texture. |
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Forbes
Your Weekly Treat: Freeman 2010 Pinot Noir
Freeman’s 2010 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch vineyard showcases what wine lovers fall for in Russian River Valley. Pinots: The wine is perfumed, large-framed, and palate-flattering, but entwined with a lively cut of acidity that gives it lift and definition. The world’s wine map is porcupine-pinned with producers claiming to bottle “Burgundian” style Pinot Noir, but Freeman has a case to make here—not so much in the juicy Californian ripeness of the fruit, but in the refinement of the wine’s balance. There is a connoisseur’s delicacy behind the obvious pleasure.... |
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