Join us for a relaxing afternoon in the wine country, which will include a lunch at the Union Hotel and a private wine-tasting and tour of the Freeman Winery in Sonoma!

Started in 2001 by Ken and Akiko Freeman, the small family-owned winery has won acclaim for its Burgundian style Pinot, as well as its Cabernet. Freeman’s debut 2002 Pinot won an international medal for its Akiko’s Cuvee blend from the prestigious Starwine competition. Handcrafted by Ed Kurtzman, an award-winning winemaker who gathered praise for his Pinots with stints at Testarossa and Chalone wineries, Freeman Vineyard & Winery is a dream realized for the Freemans, who purchased the former Pommeroy winery, located in Sebastopol, in 2001. Today the winery includes an upgraded version of the old barn that once housed one of legendary Pinot producer Williams-Seylem’s first vintages, as well as a 6,000 square-foot wine cave, one of only a few in Sonoma.

Freeman does not have a commercial tasting room, but Ken, his wife Akiko and Ed Kurtzman have graciously invited a group of WCNC members to a private tour of the winery and the cave, complete with a tasting of Freeman’s award-winning wines! We will kick off the day with Ken, Akiko and Ed at a delicious three-course lunch (accompanied by Freeman wines) at the Union Hotel, a historic California landmark (www.unionhotel.com.) We will then head out to the Freeman winery for our private tour and tasting.

This event is limited to current WCNC members only and is capped at 40 people--register now if you'd like to attend as we expect this to sell out quickly. Members will be allowed to bring one guest. The cost of $50 per person includes a three-course lunch with wine, coffee and dessert, in addition to the tasting at the winery!

Date: Sunday, August 27th, 12:00pm.
Location: Union Hotel, 3731 Main Street, Occidental, CA (Directions to Union Hotel)
Registration: $50 per person for WCNC members and one accompanied guest. Wharton Club members and their accompanied guests only for this special event! Extra $10 for registrations after 4:00pm Wednesday, August 23rd, if available. Cancellations must be received by 4:00pm Wednesday, August 23rd.
Register Online to reserve your spot at this exclusive event today!

We will meet at the Union Hotel at noon and head out to Freeman Winery around 2pm. (Directions to Freeman Winery)

Since its debut, Freeman’s Pinots have been embraced by some of the country’s top restaurants from New York, San Francisco, Aspen, Pebble Beach, Tokyo and elsewhere (French Laundry, Boulevard, Michael Mina, Jardiniere, Montrachet and Olives are some of the restaurants that carry Freeman). Most recently, Freeman was featured in the New York Times as one of the top picks for Cabernet wines in California.