Freemark Abbey is a household name these days it seems, one of the few we’ve ever included in a wine club shipment: having shipped an entry level Chardonnay to our Explorations Wine Club members.

Ok, so the history of the site is extensive, but it’s also important to note that back in the late 1880’s, Marlin Tychson was the first female winery owner in the state of California (and likely America, if not the world).  The winery was sold, acquired, fell into disrepair and after so many changes, was turned into Freemark Abbey in 1939.  Again disrepair set in with Southern California ownership until the winery was brought back in the mid 1970’s.

Finally, in 2006 a serious ownership group took hold: Kendall Jackson.  While most of us know Kendall Jackson for a series of entry level wines, they buy smaller wine producing estates and continue to run them as seperate wineries, of course, with the added bonus of the parent companies massive distribution network. Jackson has allowed winemaker Ted Edwards to stay on board (he’s been there since the 80’s) and production from their 200 acres of vineyards has stayed consistent as the past decade has rolled past.