Ed Kurtzman, Winemaker

A gifted winemaker with a talent for crafting elegantly structured, cool climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Ed Kurtzman has been the winemaker for Freeman Vineyard and Winery since its launch. Utilizing the extensive experience gained working for such esteemed wineries as Chalone and Testarossa, Ed has refined his style and techniques, effortlessly fusing his intimate understanding of California Pinot Noir with a classic and gentle Burgundian approach to winemaking.

Ed’s interest in wine was initially sparked as an undergraduate at the University of Massachusetts in the late 1980s, when he worked at a large Northampton wine shop. After honing his knowledge at the shop, Ed was inspired to head west to Northern California’s legendary wine country in the hopes of parlaying his passion for wine into a career. Though Ed began working as a wine wholesaler, his proximity to the vibrant energy of California’s great wineries convinced him to take the next step in pursuing his dream, and he soon enrolled in the enology program at California State University, Fresno.

When he graduated in 1994, he started out in the cellar at Bernardus learning the industry from the ground up. His passion for winemaking was soon recognized and in 1995 Chalone Vineyard hired him as enologist and assistant winemaker, where he worked alongside Dick Graff and winemaker Michael Michaud. In 1999, Ed joined Testarossa Vineyards as winemaker, where he was responsible for developing the winery’s acclaimed Pinot Noir program.

In 2003, lured by the ideal Pinot Noir climate and terroir of the Sonoma Coast, and Ken and Akiko Freemans’ dedication and enthusiasm, Ed joined Freeman Vineyard & Winery as winemaker. From his extensive time spent in the vineyards to his handcrafted, Burgundian winemaking approach, Ed gently guides the careful crafting of every Freeman wine. “I love making wine at Freeman,” says Ed. “It’s amazing working with renowned grape growers like Ted Klopp, Marcy Keefer and Charlie Heintz to see what this magical fruit can achieve. There’s greatness in these grapes. As a winemaker, my goal is to respect and nurture that – to find the essence of the fruit and let it express itself.”

In addition to his role as winemaker for Freeman Vineyard & Winery, Ed is also the winemaker for his own label, August West.