Accolades and Press

As a seasoned winemaker, Theresa brings a wealth of expertise and a deep appreciation for the craft of winemaking. With a keen understanding of terroir, grape varietals and climate, she crafts wines with texture, complexity and balance that captivate the senses and tell a story of their origin.

Her innovative approach and dedication to excellence has garnered acclaim on both a local and global scale, earning accolades that reflect her commitment to producing exceptional wines.

Accolades

  • Sonoma County Barrel Auction Honoree, 2023 Innovator Award

  • Winemaker of the Year Nominee, 2020 and 2023, Wine Enthusiast

  • #1 Wine of the Year, Top 100 Wines of 2017, Wine Enthusiast

  • 2016 Winery of the Year, PinotFile by Rusty Gaffney

  • 2015 Winery of the Year, Pinot Report by Greg Walter

  • Over 800 90-96-point wine scores, 2012-2024

  • Wine Spectator: 95 pts - ’17 Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot Noir; 93 pts - ’19 Rochioli Pinot Noir, ’19 Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir; 92 pts - ’19 Toboni Pinot Noir, ’19 Hallberg Pinot Noir; 91 pts -’21 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

  • James Suckling: 95 pts - ’19 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

  • Wine Enthusiast: 96 pts - ’16 Lancel Creek Pinot Noir; 95 pts – ’13 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir (Top 100); ’15 Russian River Selection Chardonnay (#1 Top 100); ’14 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir;’17 & ’18 Hallberg Pinot Noir; ’17 & ’19 Lancel Creek Pinot Noir; ’18 Russian River Selection Chardonnay (Editor’s Choice); ’18 Martaella Pinot Noir; ’18 McDonald Mountain Pinot Noir; ’18 Ritchie Chardonnay; ’19 Rochioli Pinot Noir;  ’19 & ‘20 Durell Chardonnay (Top 100); ’20 Rochioli Chardonnay; 94 pts -  ’17 Russian River Selection Pinot Noir;’17 Rochioli Chardonnay; ’17 Rochioli-Allen Pinot Noir; ’19 Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir; ’20 Westside Farms Chardonnay

  • San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 Wines of the year, 2009 Freestone Vineyards Pastorale Pinot Noir, Dec 2011

  • San Francisco Chronicle Winemakers to Watch featuring Freestone Vineyards Winemaker, Jan 2012

  • Connoisseur’s Guide to California Wine, Winery of the Year, Freestone Vineyards, Selected for Freestone Chardonnay’s Consistent Quality; 2011 Best Wines of the Year featuring ’08 Freestone Chardonnay

Recent Press Highlights

Passion for Winemaking

“Winemaking is a passion that chooses those folks that are more than willing to work unbelievable hours in the cellar during harvest. It takes guts, determination and most importantly, a fine palate. Theresa Heredia more than qualifies as having “been chosen by wine”. Listen to her story to see why.”

Ray Fister
Life Between the Vines