Frey Vineyards is located at the headwaters of the Russian River in beautiful Mendocino County. For over 40 years, their care and respect for the earth is reflected in the expression of purity and true terroir in their wines. They have been vanguards in broadcasting organic, Biodynamic , and non-GMO farming and have mentored small family-farm growers towards organic certification, making Mendocino County the largest concentration of organic vineyards per acre in the world.
Paul Sr. and Beba Frey moved to their Redwood Valley, CA ranch in the 1960’s to raise their 12 children close to the solace of nature. The winery was founded in 1980, becoming the first USDA certified organic winery in the U.S., and one of the few wineries in the world to make wine without added sulfites. Biodynamic certification followed in 1996, when they became North America’s first winery to produce Demeter-certified Biodynamic wines. Today, three generations of the Frey family continue to treat their vineyards as an integral part of the greater ecosystem.
A day trip away from the Bay Area but far from urban chaos, Mendocino County remains an oasis of natural beauty, outdoor recreation, and a relaxed lifestyle. Frey Vineyards resonates with this vibe while producing additive-free award-winning wine. Integral to the Frey way of life is their dedication to Biodynamic farming practices. The Demeter Farm Standard recognizes the Biodynamic farm as a living organism: self-contained, self-sustaining, and following the natural rhythms of the cosmos.
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2020 frey biodynamic chardonnay
2019 Kwaya
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Frey Vineyards knows that the best winegrapes start with healthy soils building strong vines from the ground up. Following Biodynamic methods, they plant cover crops to fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soils and compost all of the grape pomace back into the vineyard. By recycling these resources they close the fertility loop, achieve sustainable soil management, and produce premium grapes.
Frey Vineyards makes the nine preparations required on certified Biodynamic farms. These preparations are concentrated composts made from ingredients gathered onsite. They apply the preparations to the grapevines and soils in diluted amounts, much like homeopathic remedies. Yarrow, chamomile, nettle, oak bark, dandelion, quartz, and cow horn work together to promote photosynthesis, stimulate root growth, and enliven soils.
On a visit to the winery, you might see cows, goats, and sheep grazing between vineyard rows. Frey’s farm animals feast on Biodynamic cover crops and reduce the need for diesel-powered tractors.
Mobile chicken coops move through the rows to manage vineyard pest populations. And honeybees find a safe haven in clean, well-ventilated homes. In response to the illnesses that are plaguing bees worldwide, Frey Vineyards practices holistic beekeeping and the bees thrive on the clover and mustard cover crops as well as native plant pollen.
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One of the unique charms of this extraordinary winery is its stunning and untouched natural setting. The vineyard benefits from a pristine watershed unmarred by logging or other human disturbances. The winery is surrounded by 1,000 acres of wildland that hold a mix of oak and conifer forests, and is home to a wide variety of animals including bears, mountain lions, birds, and beneficial insects. By protecting the surrounding natural habitat, Frey supports the biodiversity of native flora and fauna, and encourages a healthy balance in the vineyard.
By StoryStudio on March 3, 2022 9:27 AM
One of the
unique charms of this winery is its stunning
and untouched natural setting.
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What’s the best way to connect with this Northern Californian Eden? Frey is currently putting the finishing touches on a new winery and tasting room facility after a devastating wildfire damaged their original structure in the fall of 2017. The new headquarters will feature an expansive pollinator garden, self-guided tours around the benchland and meadows, interpretive education about Biodynamic agriculture, and the innovative Biofiltro water-recycling system featuring thousands of earthworms. And of course, you can taste a vast selection of Frey organic and Biodynamic wines. The Frey family and staff look forward to welcoming the public later on in 2022.
In the meantime, the Frey Vineyards Wine Club offers an excellent opportunity to have a taste of this rich and varied experience. In addition to three shipments of four or six bottles, the Organic Wine Club members are first to hear about new releases, receive discounts, and attend complimentary invitations to special events. Wine Club members also receive tasting notes, recipes, and a handmade holiday gift. When social gathering becomes available again, members will have the opportunity for wild mushroom foraging tours and outdoor pizza parties.
“My favorite club event is the Biodynamic farm tour,” says Molly Underwood of Sebastopol, a Frey Wine Club member since 2012. “It’s a short hike to visit the bountiful ranch gardens and baby lambs, goats, and calves at the barn. Then it’s an afternoon of live folk music and a delicious and all-organic repast in a warm, generous atmosphere. This is just a taste of the many wonderful experiences I’ve had with the Frey family and I’m glad to be a part of it!”
With over two dozen varietals and blends in their organic and Biodynamic portfolios, it can be hard to choose a favorite. Here is just a handful of some of Frey’s many choices, available both online and from wine shops and grocery stores throughout the U.S.
The 2020 Frey Biodynamic Field Blend received a Gold Medal at the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition. Offering taut boysenberry notes and a touch of tannic structure from the terroir’s graphite vein, this Côtes du Rhône-style blend also suggests “a blackberry and soft saddle leather dance.”
The 2020 Frey Biodynamic Chardonnay conveys aromas of a single-vineyard expression with caramel, apple, and freesia blossom overtones. Elegant Asian pear and blanched almond flavors deliver “a luminous, fresh vitality, while deeper-reaching, ephemeral nuances of earth and stone rest in the background.”
The 2019 Kwaya Organic Merlot features “flavors of cassis and cedary plum that meld with luscious tannins to give depth to the core of this bottling.” The Frey family collaborated with friend and wine distributor, Nicky Coachman-Robinson, to create Kwaya Cellars as a “celebration of African culture, organic farming, and the promise of unity.”
Visit the Frey Vineyards website to join the Organic Wine Club, read the informative blog, order wine, and to stay up to date on their grand re-opening!
Organic wine pioneer
Frey Vineyards offers a taste of nature in Mendocino County
