Last month’s Visionary Voices Leadership Series brought our community into conversation with two remarkable Japanese American leaders in wine country: Akiko Freeman of Freeman Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma and Maya Dalla Valle of Dalla Valle Vineyards in Napa, guided by moderator and USJC member Brittany Amano. Their stories traced a powerful arc from early Nikkei pioneers like Kanaye Nagasawa to today’s Nikkei Wine & Vine Group, showing how mentorship, shared heritage, and “chosen family” relationships continue to shape a quiet but influential movement in the U.S. wine industry. Akiko’s journey from crawling into tanks as an apprentice to becoming America’s first Asian female winemaker specializing in Pinot Noir, and Maya’s path through world‑class châteaux before returning to lead her family’s estate alongside her mother Naoko, reflected a shared commitment to learning, humility, and multi‑generational stewardship rooted in Japanese values.
Throughout the discussion, both leaders emphasized that wine is as much about people and land as it is about bottles and brands. Maya spoke about honoring Naoko’s difficult decision to replant their entire vineyard, foregoing flagship vintages rather than compromise the integrity of the estate, and about using data‑driven innovation, from vine‑level mapping to misting systems, to help their vines adapt to a changing climate while preserving balance and elegance in the glass. Akiko shared how she and her husband converted a chemically depleted former apple orchard into a thriving organic vineyard using cover crops and even daikon radish as living tillers, determined to leave healthier soils for the next generation than they found. Their stories of pushing through male‑dominated spaces – whether convincing an Argentine winery to let a woman “dig out tanks” or gradually earning acceptance in an old‑boys Pinot network – offered resonant examples of quiet tenacity and leadership that will inspire many in our community.
Finally, the conversation reminded us that wine can be a bridge between nations as well as between people. Akiko recounted the improbable phone call from the White House that led to Freeman Chardonnay being served at the state dinner honoring Prime Minister Abe, and later at a State Department lunch for Prime Minister Kishida and at an official visit in Japan, with her kanji‑adorned labels symbolically linking the two countries at the same table. As USJC continues to cultivate leaders and people‑to‑people ties across the Pacific, Akiko and Maya’s example of honoring heritage, investing in the land, and opening doors for the next generation of Nikkei winemakers offers a compelling picture of how our values can take root in new fields and still bear fruit for both the U.S. and Japan.
Watch the full video here.