Exploring Freemark Abbey
Freemark Abbey, is a St. Helena winery founded in 1886. With nearly 50 vintages’ worth of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintages tucked away in its library, Freemark’s signature portfolio of wines represents one of the most fully realized Cabernet programs in America. They're produced by a winery whose contemporary rise to prominence has, from the 1960s to present, coincided with that of California’s fine wine industry.
We are happy to welcome to Rochester and Women For WineSense, Barry Dodds, Freemark Abbey’s Wine Historian and Ambassador, who will immerse us in the rich history of the winery and it’s award-winning wines.
A little about our presenter Barry Dodds:
Barry Dodds grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. He developed a respect for wine early from his father and a family friend who was a cellar worker for the KWV the top wine co-operative in the country at the time. At an early age his father would let him sniff and taste Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignons while mom wasn’t looking.
At age eighteen, the legal drinking age in South Africa, his father took him out for his first bar lunch to celebrate and also to teach him appropriate bar etiquette. After lunch as they we leaving his father saw a ‘help wanted’ sign in the window of a Liquor Off Sales and immediately kicked him out the car and said “go get a job!” He got the job and his love for wine attracted the attention of his boss who sent him to as many wine courses as he could.
A year later he was holding first growth tastings for two French wine clubs in Cape Town. His passion is for aged Cabernet, a love he gained from a Master of Wine who used to work in the French section of the retailer Barry worked for. Every Saturday was a new lesson, and every Wednesday a feast of food and wine . . . a lot of wine.
Today Barry is the Freemark Abbey Winery Historian and Ambassador, “my dream job, I get to show some of the best wines in the world every day and talk about the rich history of one of Napa’s originals, pinch me, I’m in heaven.” At Freemark his passion for older wines has come alive due to a cellar that is the envy of Napa Valley with vintages going back all the way to the 60’s.
When he is not traveling the world for Freemark Abbey, he’s home enjoying the Napa lifestyle and babysitting grandchildren, and occasionally sneaking out to play a blues gig. Photographing the places and people of Napa Valley has been a life’s work in Napa. He is an avid fly fisher, loves to camp and smoke good cigars.
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If you would like to attend our event but don't feel comfortable attending in person at this time we are offering two different Zoom options:
- Zoom link with food and wine included
- Zoom link only
If you select the "Zoom link with food and wine included" we will send you a subsequent email before the event providing you information on how to pick up your food and wines at Midvale Country Club. In both instances, you will receive an email on the day of the event with the Zoom information.
Please note event date (fourth Tuesday) and new start time of 6:30pm.
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Please Note: If you are a non-member registering for this event and paying with a credit card, you will be charged a small service fee for this transaction. This fee will appear as a separate line item on your credit card statement.