Meet Ken Freeman, banker turned wine producer, at our Bishopsgate shop from 5-7pm today

When Uncorked discovered Freeman Winery, it hadn't really been discovered. Allen Meadows and Stephen Tanzer were on the case, but the first vintage covered by Parker was 2007, which was the second vintage we shipped. Aah, those were the days. There were always a couple of vintages available at the winery and we could choose stock with an extra bit of bottle age. Allocations and pricing pressure weren't concepts Ken had known.

That all changed abruptly at the end of last year. Ken's word for the Wine Spectator is “massive”. The magazine's most anticipated edition is their annual Top 100. In 2011 the list was drawn from more than 16,000 new releases from around the world. The Top 100 are chosen on quality, value, availability and “X-factor”. But the final selection isn't mere science; it's all about excitement. Freeman clearly delivered: everyone at the winery was overjoyed to discover they'd secured the number 22 spot.

This afternoon come and meet Ken to hear how he's dealing with his rise to stardom, and to taste his wines. He comes from a foodie background - his brother owns a chain of microbreweries in Boston - but he continues his day job in investment banking because, he says, “they'll still have me.” His Japanese wife, Akiko, runs the winery day-to-day but Ken is there whenever he has time. He loves the life: he told me last night that he's “livin' the dream”. /AR

Click here to view the wines on tasting and order online, or call 020 7638 5998 to order by phone