Eric Buffington, Assistant Winemaker

In 2006 Eric Buffington joined Freeman Vineyard & Winery as assistant winemaker. Working alongside winemaker Ed Kurtzman and Akiko Freeman, Eric rounds out the dedicated Freeman winemaking team, adding his insight and enthusiasm to the winery's small-lot, artisan Pinot Noir and Chardonnay program.

A native of California, Eric was raised in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, where he developed an early passion for the world of wine and viticulture. Following college, Eric took a position in the lab at Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery. Eric's hard work and dedication were soon recognized, and he was promoted to lab manager. During his four years with Sebastiani, Eric supplemented his on-the-job experience by taking viticulture and enology classes at the University of California, Davis. Eager to expand his expertise beyond the lab, Eric next joined St. Helena's Rombauer Vineyards were he spent three years honing his cellar and winemaking skills.

In 2005, Eric jumped at the opportunity to apprentice with Ed during the 2005 Freeman harvest. Impressed with Eric's work ethic and commitment to the small details of handcrafted winemaking, Ed and the Freemans invited Eric to join the team as assistant winemaker in early 2006.