I stopped by for a tasting with a group and we had a really nice time. We were served and toured through the experience by a very kind gentlemen who shared a bunch of interesting history about the winery, the winemaker, and everything that we tasted. I'm not sure how much everything was, as it was paid for by work, so check on pricing if that factors into your decision. I think we had at least 6 tastings, possibly a couple extra. It was my third tasting of the day, so I didn't push things and I was already feeling toasty. I wasn't driving. :) read more

Adorable Japanese owned winery. This local spot is a small, appointment only winery and focuses mostly on Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. You can do an outdoor or indoor tasting. We did indoors in the wine caves and tasted about 6 wines with a couple special member pours. Really delicious wines, and great staff. Definitely feels more like a charming local spot than the wild touristy areas of Napa and even Sonoma/kenwood. Definitely go support local! read more

All it took was a quick drive from San Francisco into the rolling hills of Sebastopol...Freeman Winery offered a much needed escape to.... IMO, the better part of wine country, not called Napa. Not that Napa isn't great, but a little too touristy sometimes for my taste especially when you want a peaceful escape from the grind. Freeman Winery's grounds felt intimate and refined. On a crisp, and at times, slightly chilly day, our tasting visit started with their Ko-Fu Riesling--delicate, bright, and not overly sweet. I'm not really a white wine drinker, especially Rieslings but this was probably the best way to start the day, something crisp and refreshing. The Ryo-Fu Chardonnay followed, I would describe it as bright, earthy and acidic, not a bad follow up to the Riesling but it was the dream-team lineup of Pinot Noirs that stole the show--tried 6 of them that day with their own story behind each one. (in order of appearance, all Pinot Noir: KR Ranch, Gloria, Yu-Ki, Akiko, 2018 Pinot, 2013 Pinot) Each bottle whispered their subtle Japanese influence which I would describe as minimalist (in traditional Asian fashion, :) ) with each showing their unique flavor. Lunch was actually unexpected, b/c I thought it was going to be just wine but it was a pleasant surprise: cooked on the spot, I started with their flavorful salmon sushi roll (alternate option was tempura), tender chicken tonkatsu (breaded pork was the other option), and a rich and hearty Japanese curry with rice and vegetables. I"ll also add that Dar, Ken, and Akiko were awesome. Welcoming, warm, friendly, and answered my admittedly basic Pinot Noir questions (mostly a heavy red fan up until today). I'm looking forward to their fall cavern tasting experience. read more

See all

Put group had such a wonderful time at Freeman! I mixed up the schedule and showed up unannounced but David took care of us! I would recommend calling in advance though. David was very knowledgeable about the wines and told us so many interesting facts about how the owner makes the wines. The setting is beautiful and it's so fun to go into the cave where they keep all the wines. I will definitely be coming back!!! read more

Freeman Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sebastopol, California

See all

Superb cool climate Pinot noirs and Chardonnay crafted by this minority/woman-owned winery! Freeman winery has been on my list for a while now, and it definitely met my high expectations! I visited with a friend who is a wine club member, and we sampled a broad portfolio of wines before leaving with half a case to bring home! Our favorites include: Yuki 2016, Chardonnay 2011 and 2016 (magnum), Akiko's Cuvee 2019 and 2021. Perhaps the most magical part of our tasting was the pairing of Japanese bites with the wines. A wasabi-corn chowder with their Chardonnay, Tatsuta Age (lightly seared chicken) with Akiko's Cuvee... we were in heaven! The entire experience was made memorable by their incredible staff. We had the good fortune to chat briefly with Akiko (the winemaker), as well as Dar and Eiji, all of whom were friendly and only too happy to share their wine knowledge with us! Would definitely recommend. read more

Freeman Winery - Wine cave - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sebastopol, California

With so many wineries to choose from in west Sonoma county, Freeman Winery is one of the best. I find it's wine to be in the top 5% of all the wines I've tasted in Sonoma County. They have a wine cave where they welcome their guests to a private tasting. Only 1-2 tastings at a time and the wine ambassador is yours for the hour. The are all very knowledgeable and provide as much information as you want about the wine. Library wines are also available for sale. The ambiance of the cave is very cool; actually 60 degrees at all times. There are several picnic tables outside where you can bring your own food and even your dog! The gardens are so private and beautiful. There is not a better value for the quality of the wine and the total experience. I would give a 10 star if u could!! read more

Our group did the $30 pp cave tour with tasting but it turned out to be just a cave tasting. Not really worth the price. There wasn't much of a tour and much information. The lady owner told us when the tasting room and cave was built in the beginning of the tasting. We felt awkward since it was quiet and not much talking so we talked amongst ourselves but the lady was just there. We tried asking some questions. The wines were quite good. There was only Chardonnay and Pinot noirs. We left with a bottle of Pinot noir around $75. There's areas where you can take some nice photos outside. read more

See all

We had a fantastic tasting experience and tour here with our host, Nick. We were the last tour of the day, and we benefited greatly from Nick's incredible knowledge about the wine and about the history of the winery. The pinot noir here was amazing, especially the KR Ranch Pinot. Overall the whole tasting experience blew us away because we were treated like VIPs when we scheduled a regular tasting. The cave is incredibly unique and the whole place was charming and quaint. And of course, the wine was the best part. read more

See all

A wondrous place. We didn't meet the Freemans but we did meet Jessica and from her stories, I felt like we might just as well had. It helped us take a peek into the owners lives. (They also live on the property and there a short trail that leads up and around their beautiful home.) Jessica was the perfect host and had an infectious laugh. On our private tour, she answered all of our questions and helped us take so many group pictures. I loved the Gloria Estate pinot noir as far as the wines go. Give it a go. Definitely one of the tastiest pinot noirs I have had. The cuvee was also popular in our group but none of us wanted to check in our luggage to bring it home. Worth it to come by. Their bottles can run you $45-$72 but hard to resist not buying one. read more

Akiko Freeman is amazing and the Freeman wine is top of the line! I highly recommend the Akiko Cuvée Pinot Noir! Wow, delicious, rich, exotic! The Chardonnay is amazing too! Beautiful property and lovely tasting experience! The best part, it's local! All local grapes, Sonoma county grown and the Pinot grapes grown on the property! Support local businesses! Our community thrives from it and appreciates it greatly! read more

We were greeted immediately by a very friendly staff person upon the arrival of the eight of us in three separate vehicles. One of our companions had booked a tasting for us prior to our arrival. Reservation group size is four but Freeman accommodated the eight of us. After an explanation of the winery origins, we were led into the cave to begin our wine tasting experience. We sampled a flight of five varieties ranging from a Chardonnay, a rose, and their Pinots. It was leisurely and private. Just the eight of us. As with many of the small boutique wineries in Sonoma, Freeman also harvest grapes grown elsewhere but crushed and bottled on the premises. In addition, they offer Estate wines. Hubby and I bought two bottles of Pinot Noirs, Russian River and Estate and our companions did likewise. read more

I've been winetasting quite a bit in Sonoma and Napa and definitely give 5 stars to Freeman Winery. They don't have a tasting room or license, so you have to contact Ken Freeman in advance to set up an appointment, but it is worth it! The Sebastopol area has some of California's best wineries (e.g., Iron Horse, Martinelli, Lynmar, Hartford Court, Scherrer, Merry Edwards) but even among these great wineries I would highly recommend Freeman as a stop. Freeman Winery is a small family-owned winery that produces amazing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and the winetasting experience is fantastic. The venue is really nice, and Ken will give you a tour of their facilities, cave, and do some barrel tasting, and they have a large picnic table there which is perfect if you bring a lunch. read more

Fairly new as wineries go. An investment banker and his wife making good Russian River Pinot Noir. Lots of fruit, very different from the earthier styles of Burgundy that Im used to but it's smooth and very enjoyable. unlike the fruit bombs that I've tried from NorCal I like that Freeman sits in a very good middle ground. read more

If you like your wineries small, unpretentious, and handmade, make an appointment and go get your Freeman on. The Keefer Ranch pinot and their mineral-rich Chardonnay are two of the best that this entire area has to offer. No doubt. Not cheap, but worth every penny. And...Nick (the host) is gracious, knowledgeable, and as helpful as they get. read more

I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better experience I had at a winery. I arranged in advance a tour/tasting with the propietor, Ken Freeman, for myself and about 15 friends when we were renting a house in nearby Guerneville. He was very accomodating, especially since a lot of my party ended up being late! Ken walked us through the crushing/fermenting house at the front of the property (the first thing you see when you drive up the private driveway), then took us into the BEAUTIFUL wine cave where he led us through a very nice tasting of all of their wines (a wonderful Chardonnay and four amazing Pinot Noirs). The winery only makes a few wines, which really allows them to focus on quality--and boy, does it show. It's no wonder that some of the best restaurants in the country carry these wines (French Laundry, Per Se, Michael Mina, Gary Danko, etc.). It's all the more special given that the wines are priced in the $40-$50 range; they are great deals considering how delicious they are. Everyone in my party was equally as impressed as I was. You need to make an appointment as it's not open for drop-ins, but it is well worth it! read more

Freeman Winery - The wine cave at Freeman Winery - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sebastopol, California

See all

Make an appointment - this place is absolutely worth the trip! I would give them 6 stars if I could. The location, the tasting room, the friendly and informed host, the individual attention, etc. make this place a must-see. Husband and I had a short tour, then a private tasting. Each wine was fantastic - I even liked with Chardonnay, which I NEVER do! We could definitely have walked away with a bottle of everything we sampled. Instead, we settled on 2 bottles of the 2009 Akiko's Cuvee Pinot (93 points on WS) and 1 bottle (94 points) of their 2009 Pinot Noir (no tasting of this, but can imagine it's amazing just based on the ones we did sample). Note: Only 1 bottle per person of the 2009, but it was nice to hear that they held a few cases for tasting room visitors. Very nice touch to hold some back for visitors instead of everything going to wine club members or distributors. We'll definitely be back! read more

If you want a large-scale Costo-selling winery, this is not the place for you. The award-winning Pinots speak for themselves in this classy little low-key winery. The presentation starts outside for a little bit but is mostly conducted in their cave which, by the way has been verrry tastefully designed and has MUCH Feng Shui happening. Freeman takes a über friendly and waaaay laid-back approach at presenting their winery, but don't let their chill fool you...their Pinots are super-finely crafted and OMG-good! The 2010 Keefer Ranch, to be specific, has got to be one of, if not THE best Pinot in the universe. Yes...make an appointment and dont forget to bring your taste buds. Freeman Winery is the place for Pinot and definitely worthy of using the Visa card :) read more

Fantastic winery with great wines and awesome people behind it!!! I'm Very impressed!!! Continue success Akiko! read more

See all

The experience is second to none. The wine, the atmosphere, and then the presentation meets you where you are in the wine journey. Feels like visiting old family. read more

We called in the morning to set up a wine tasting. We were met by Akiko Freeman, owner and wine maker. She is an art historian by training and is self taught in wine making (with a lot of help from a leading wine maker consultant!). She is obviously a fast and great learner because their wines were superb! We loved the Chardonay and our friends loved the Reserve Pinot. Chardonay was $40 and Pinot $44; not cheap but worth the price. She was charming to talk to, the wine cave is fascinating. Follow your GPS to get there because it is not intuitive that there is a winery tucked away in the hills where they are. A definite must visit. read more

I've often said that the wine tasting experience is made by the host. At Freeman, Nick was an amazing host. Very approaching, yet very knowledgeable. And yes the wines were amazing. If you like Pinot Noir this place is a must. The grounds are beautiful, and the tasting caves add a very nice touch to the whole experience. read more

Great experience! Beautiful vineyard and a really cool cave where you do the wine tasting. Our host, Jessica, was awesome!

In my opinion Freeman is a MUST! Freeman has some of the best wine in the area. The owner, Ken, is RIDICULOUSLY nice. I called ahead to arrange a tasting. We we arrived, I felt like Ken was an old friend. He walked us around the grounds, explained the process of making Pinots (which we already knew, but was still nice to see their facility) and then brought us into the caves for our tasting. The cave is so neat... and so cool, which naturally keeps the wine cool. Their Chard is TO DIE FOR. Not "okay" or "buttery" at all. I could sip that back quick and easy. Seriously good. But honestly, I LOVED everything he poured. They make great wine. I agree with John's comments (below) about Sebastopol. They have great wineries. Spend a day checking them all out!! read more

Freeman Winery - The Cave - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sebastopol, California

Freeman's is a hidden gem! I have had the pleasure of visiting this lovely vineyard twice and each time was a dream. Ken really takes his time with your party to answer questions and let you sample his amazing array of wine. They have a beautiful grassy area where you may bring a picnic and enjoy your libations. I look forward to my return. read more

My wife and I had a wonderful visit to Freeman Winery. A lovely, intimate winery off the beaten path in the beautiful Green Valley area of the Russian River Valley. Nick greeted us warmly as we arrived and gave us an overview of the area and of the winery grounds. We moved into the cool cave and began our tasting. Nick described the background of each of the wines and patiently answered our novice questions. The wines were delicious and we were happy to purchase several bottles, with no pressure to buy. A magical experience and we look forward to visiting again. read more

Freeman is my ideal tasting experience. If you love pinot noir, you'll have trouble not popping open a bottle as soon as you get home. If you don't like the high-brow, viticultural information dumps that are commonplace with many finer wineries, you'll love Freeman's knowledgeable yet responsive staff, who tailor the discussion to your preferences and still educate you about their philosophy and business. We made small talk and laughed just as much as we discussed winemaking. Freeman wines are not only exquisite, they are very affordable for this level of quality ($40-46). I highly recommend making an appiontment...soon. read more

Incredible experience for a group of 11 Texans, with Nick as our host and Akiko also on the property, taking time to introduce herself and make us feel comfortable. Exquisite library of Pinots on a beautiful campus. Tasting in the caves was very special. Will most definitely return. read more

Freeman Winery - Cave entrance - Wine Tasting Room Near Me - Sebastopol, California

On a recent family trip with my siblings/spouses we were lucky enough to listen to advise of friend in the area and visit Freeman Winery. It is a smaller winery then some of the much larger mega wineries. Nick Sharp was such an informative host, the personal attention and privacy was fantastic. Sampling great wines in the cave that they are stored was a highlight of the entire trip. Our family of 15 then enjoyed a wonderful picnic lunch after our tour and tasting right next to the history barn where they produce there wine. So Cool! Not only is it a must stop but I am looking forward to going back in a few years. read more

Incredible wines, beautiful cave, and very personal service. Probably one of the highest quality winery experiences I have had so far.

Fun, small winery with a wine cave for tasting. Really nice variety of Pinots to choose from with a well educates staff to answer questions.