The 2019 Yuki Estate Blanc de Blancs has a youthful brightness and clarity. It has a concentrated green apple aroma with notes of raw honey, candied lemon peel, hints of dried pineapple, baker's yeast and brioche. It has a creamy mouthfeel and a crisp acidity that makes it a perfect match for any meal, but it can also be enjoyed on its own. It can also be aged for a few more years. This refreshing wine inspired the winemaker, who is a lover of champagne and sparkling wine. He had the great idea to make a sparkling wine from the Chardonnay from this vineyard and release it in 2021, the year of the winery's 20th anniversary. He also got the help of Craig Romer, former winemaker at Schramsberg in Napa Valley, and thus Freeman's first sparkling wine was born. Yuki Estate is located just 8 km from the Pacific Ocean and at an altitude of about 300 m. The first vines planted in this vineyard were Dijon clone Pinot Noir, but in 2017, 0.2 hectares of the vines were grafted with Chardonnay. The following year, Yuki Estate harvested its first Chardonnay, confirming that it could produce a refreshing wine like sparkling wine. It is made in the traditional style of Brut Nature, with secondary fermentation in the bottle and no sugar added during disgorgement. We also take a minimalist approach to winemaking, so that we can fully express Freeman's elegant house style and the characteristics of this special vineyard. Yuki's Blanc de Blancs is truly unique to this vineyard. The primary fermentation in barrels with lees further enriches the character of the wine. The use of old French barrels gives the wine structure and aroma, and the unfiltered finish creates a natural clarity without losing body. The additional fermentation in bottle further enhances the unique character of the yeast. Freeman Vineyards & Winery was founded in 2001 by Ken Freeman and his wife Akiko, who is from Roppongi. 15 years ago, when the two had just met, they hit it off as both lovers of elegant and sophisticated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and dreamed of one day making wine in California with the complex flavor and power to attract drinkers like Burgundy. In order to establish a winery that could rival the world, they began to inspect over 300 vineyards and growers, focusing on vineyards planted on cool, gentle slopes. As a result, they chose the Sonoma Valley production area, which is covered in fog and influenced by the cold sea breeze that blows inland from the coast. The grapes grown there mature slowly, retaining fresh acidity, and growing very pure and rich in flavor. When Freeman was founded in the 2000s, California was in the midst of a boom in the production and consumption of fruit-rich wines, but they were not influenced by such trends and stuck to their belief of brewing balanced and elegant wines based on organic farming. As a result, Freeman's wine style has attracted attention not only in California but also around the world, and has been adopted by famous restaurants around the world, growing into a small but well-known brand. In April 2015, the 2013 vintage of Ryofu Chardonnay was served at the White House official dinner hosted by former President Barack Obama, who invited Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and it suddenly became a spotlight. As of 2019, Akiko is the only Japanese female winemaker who owns a winery and vineyards in California, and continues to produce modest, sharp, high-quality wines.