3 Bay Area wines served at US Embassy presidential dinner in Japan

President Trump's recent visit to Japan took an interesting turn when California wines made their way onto the menu at a presidential dinner hosted by newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The unusual choice was not just a novelty, but rather a deliberate selection made by George Glass, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

Glass opted for three specific bottles of wine: Freeman Winery's 2022 Akiko’s Cuvée Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast, Schramsberg's 2021 North Coast Blanc de Noirs, and Far Niente's 2023 Chardonnay from Napa Valley. The winemaker behind these selections is none other than Akiko Freeman, who was born in Japan and holds a prestigious award for agricultural excellence.

Freeman's wines have been featured at high-profile events before, including a luncheon hosted by former Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrate the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. This latest appearance marks another milestone in her career as the first woman to receive such an honor from the Agricultural Society of Japan.

It's worth noting that the selection of California wines for White House dinners is not a new trend. As noted by author Frederick J. Ryan Jr., President George H.W. Bush Sr. played a significant role in implementing this policy, which has remained in place to this day.

The presence of these California wines at the U.S. Embassy dinner suggests that Glass and Trump were looking for something unique and special to serve during their meeting with Japanese business leaders. While it's unclear exactly why Freeman's Cuvée Pinot Noir was chosen, its inclusion on the menu highlights the growing influence of American wine in Japan and the country's increasing interest in California's finest vintages.
 
🍷 So I think this is a great move by the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, to feature California wines at the presidential dinner 🤔. It's not just about bringing some good wine to the table, it's also about showing respect for American culture and business 👥. And let's be real, who doesn't love a good Pinot Noir? 😊 Akiko Freeman's 2022 Cuvée Pinot Noir from West Sonoma Coast sounds like a real showstopper - I'd love to try it out 🍴.

But what really caught my attention is that this isn't the first time California wines have been featured at high-profile events in Japan 📚. It just goes to show how the country's palate has evolved and that there's more interest than ever in American wine 🌿. And it's not just about the wine, it's also about the business and trade opportunities that come with it 💼.

I think this is a great example of how cultural exchange can lead to some amazing things 🎉. The fact that Akiko Freeman was born in Japan and holds an award for agricultural excellence makes her wines all the more special 🙌. It's a real testament to the growing influence of American wine in Japan and the country's increasing interest in California's finest vintages 💚.

Overall, I think this is a win-win situation for both the U.S. and Japan 🎊. And who knows, maybe we'll see even more California wines making an appearance at high-profile events in the future 🔥.
 
🍷👀 I just saw this thread about President Trump's dinner party and I'm dying to chime in... I mean, who wouldn't want to see California wines on the menu at a presidential dinner? 🤔 It sounds like Ambassador Glass wanted to bring something special to the table (pun intended). The fact that Akiko Freeman's wine was chosen is pretty cool - it's awesome that she's getting recognition for her work. I'm not surprised, though - American wine is gaining popularity in Japan and Napa Valley is like, super famous for its wines now. It's a win-win! 😊
 
Wow! 🍷🇺🇸 So like, this Akiko Freeman person is literally a winemaker superstar? I'm genuinely interested how she even got involved with these high-profile events, it's pretty cool that she reps both the US and Japan with her wines 😊. And I get why they'd choose something unique for the dinner, but California wines in Japan? That's new to me... I wonder if there's a larger trend or movement going on here 🤔
 
🤔 I mean, come on, 3 bottles of wine from Cali? That's just a cop-out. Can't they do better than that? 😂 I'm all for supporting the American wine industry, but what about the Japanese wine scene? Don't they have some amazing stuff too? 🍷 It's like they're trying to say "Hey, we're buddies with Cali!" instead of actually showcasing some local talent. And btw, Akiko Freeman is a big deal, I get it... but still 🤪. Maybe next time, let's see some sake or something 🥃?
 
I don't get why we need to have these fancy wine dinners anyway 🤷‍♂️. It just looks like a bunch of rich people drinking expensive wine while politicians pretend to be interested in each other's business. And what's with the selection process being so opaque? Who exactly chose this one specific bottle from that particular winery, and why didn't they just go with something more generic? 🍷👀 The fact that it was Akiko Freeman who made all these wines is cool, I guess, but it feels like we're trying too hard to make this dinner about her instead of the actual issues at hand. And honestly, can we just have a beer or something and cut through the pretentiousness?
 
🍷👍😎 California wines at a presidential dinner? 🤔 Yeah, because what says "diplomacy" more than a bottle of Pinot Noir?! 😂 But for real, Akiko Freeman is lowkey the GOAT of winemaking! 👏 Her wines have been featured at some high-profile events, and now she's got her foot in the White House door... 🚪 What's next? A Trump winery label? 😉🍷
 
I gotta say, I'm loving this trend of using high-end Cali wines at state dinners 🍷👑! It's like, a major step up from the usual water or soda, you know? And Akiko Freeman's wines are straight fire 🔥! I mean, it's cool that she's got ties to Japan and all, but it's also awesome that her winery is getting some serious recognition. The fact that Trump and Glass chose those specific bottles over others shows they're really thinking outside the box (or in this case, the wine cellar 🤔). Maybe it's just a way to break the ice or build some goodwill with Japanese business leaders, but whatever the reason, I'm here for it! 👏
 
🍷🇯🇵 I'm loving this move by Glass & Trump! California wines getting a shoutout at the embassy dinner is like, super cool 😎. It shows that US-Japan relations are all about sharing the love of good food (and wine) 🍴. Akiko Freeman's winery is killing it too - first woman to get that prestigious award from the Agricultural Society of Japan? No biggie 💁‍♀️! It's a great representation of how Japanese culture is embracing American flavors & styles. Can we talk about how awesome it is that Trump's dinner menu included some serious Napa Valley vibes? 🔥
 
omg can u believe they chose cali wines for japanese pm's dinner 🤯🍷 like wut r they thinkin? its not just random bottles or somethin... akiko freeman's winery is lowkey famous and her wine was featured at kammala harris' luncuh too! thats some serious influence goin on 🤑🇺🇸 now i know whats the deal with cali wines in japanese dinners its not a new trend, george h w bush sr started it all back in the day so like, props to him for gettin america's wine game on point 🍷😎
 
omg 🤩 can u believe that japan just served california wines at a presidential dinner!!! it's like, totally awesome 😎 akiko freeman's pinot noir is literally the best 🍷 i've been following her winery since she won that award from the agricultural society of japan 🏆 and now she gets to serve wine at white house dinners?!?!? life is good for akiko!! 🌸
 
omg have you guys tried those new matcha ice cream flavors they just came out at matcha cafe? 😍 i'm kinda obsessed now i mean what even is a good matcha flavor tho? like do you go for classic green tea or try something with strawberry or mango? personally i'm all about that black sesame 🌰👀 btw did u hear about the new anime season coming out next month?
 
I'm low-key impressed by Akiko Freeman's achievement 🤩. I mean, a woman from Japan gets recognized for her amazing wines by both US and Japanese leaders? That's goals! 😊 It's awesome to see American wine getting recognition in Japan too - more people need to try some of that good stuff 🍷👍
 
🤔 I mean, come on... California wines at a Japanese PM dinner? That's like putting McDonald's on the menu at a fancy French restaurant 🍴😂. Don't get me wrong, Akiko Freeman's wines are pretty cool and all, but it just feels like a weird cultural exchange 🌎. Like, did the US Embassy research Japanese wine tastes before choosing California? And what's up with this whole "special" thing? Is it just to impress the business leaders or is there something more to it? 🤷‍♂️
 
🤔 that's so cool! I mean, who wouldn't want a taste of Napa Valley at the White House 🍷? It's awesome to see Akiko Freeman getting recognition for her amazing wines, especially since she has Japanese roots. The fact that California wines are still a thing on the menu after all these years says something about how much America and Japan value those relationships 💼.
 
OMG I'm so down for this wine thing! 🍷👏 I mean, who wouldn't want to have a glass of fancy wine at the White House? It sounds like Akiko Freeman is total boss 🤩, winning awards and all that jazz. And can we talk about how cool it is that she was born in Japan but made it big in Cali? 💁‍♀️ I wonder what other yummy food they served at the dinner... was there sushi or something? 🍜👀
 
I mean, I'm all for supporting American winemakers, but come on, 3 bottles of wine at a presidential dinner? That's just excessive 🤯. And what's with the choice of Akiko Freeman's Pinot Noir? Is it really necessary to highlight some California girl's credentials in front of an entire room? I guess it's cool that she won an award and all, but can't they just focus on the wine itself instead of making a big deal about the person behind it? 🍷🤔
 
I don’t usually comment but this is actually kinda cool I guess 🤔. So I just read that California wines made it onto the menu at a Japanese presidential dinner hosted by PM Sanae Takaichi 🍷. It’s not surprising though, wine selection for White House dinners isn’t new 🙃. But what I find interesting is that Akiko Freeman's Cuvée Pinot Noir was picked 🤝. Born in Japan, she's a total underdog who made it big 🌟 and now her wines are being served to world leaders? That’s some next level stuff 💥. Plus, it shows Japan's growing interest in Cali wine – I guess you could say they're "crush"-ing it 💪. Not sure about the reasons behind this choice but if American wine is popular in Japan, more power to it 🍷
 
That's so cool! I'm loving the idea of Akiko Freeman's wines being featured at such a high-profile event 🍷👏. I mean, it's not every day you see Japanese-born winemaker gettin' that recognition on the international stage, right? 🤩. And I gotta say, using California wines in White House dinners is like... next level stuff 😎. It shows how far wine has come as an ambassador for American culture and business. Plus, it's all about celebrating the diversity of our global community 🌎.
 
🍷 I'm loving this move by the US Ambassador to Japan! Using Akiko Freeman's wines at that dinner is a great way to build bridges between cultures, especially with Japanese business leaders who are all about quality 🤝. Plus, it shows Trump and his team are willing to think outside the box (or wine cellar 😉) when it comes to selecting unique and special wine options for high-profile events. And can we talk about Akiko's winemaker skills for a sec? This woman is literally killing the game in Japan! 🎉
 
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