Winemaking

Winemaking Begins in the Vineyards…..

Winemaking begins in the vineyard, where a deep connection to the land shapes everything that follows. At the heart of our philosophy is a commitment to honoring what the vineyard gives us and expressing the character of the fruit and the site. As grapes move from vine to cellar, the process becomes a careful balance of science, craftsmanship and years of experience—the true art of our winemaker, Roberto Alfaro. An inspiration to craft wines of depth and distinction. Aging in hand-selected French oak barrels for 2 years and extended bottle aging for at least one year reflect our unwavering attention to detail and defines every bottle we produce—a pursuit of excellence that drives us, inspires us, and ultimately sets us apart.

Winemaker

Our winemaker, Roberto Alfaro, was born and raised in Michoacán, Mexico, and moved to Napa Valley at age 17. His journey started in 2000 when he began working with vineyard master David Abreu in the field. After only a few harvests, he became captivated by the winemaking process as the transformation of grapes into wine captured his imagination.

Shortly after deciding on the cellar as his career path, he landed a job at The Hess Collection, where he spent four years learning the intricacies of production. Showing remarkable talent, Napa’s Caldwell Winery offered him their lead cellar position in 2005, and he began mastering the art of turning small batches of coveted fruit into hand-crafted lots which demanded meticulous care and attention.

In 2008, Sam Kaplan invited him to join as his Assistant Winemaker at Arkenstone Winery, a formidable brand until itself, and Napa Valley’s most impressive “custom crush” facility. From their first harvest together, the experience has been a collaborative journey where they have worked with some of Napa’s finest vineyards and a noteworthy roster of top clients.

Today, he continues to harmonize with Sam at Arkenstone, producing Freedom and other exceptional wines. He also created Arador Wines in 2019, a personal tribute to those who have helped him on his path. We are fortunate to have his passion and vision as part of the Freedom Estate team.