Squire Fridell - Master Vintner
Our Master Vintner, SQUIRE FRIDELL, may look like a typical Vintner, Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, but he also holds the possible distinction of being the only actor in history to have never drawn unemployment benefits. He graduated from University of Pacific and holds a Master's Degree in Acting and Directing from Occidental College.
If Squire's face looks vaguely familiar, it's because he has been one of the most successful actors ever in television commercials. Since 1970, he has performed as a principal on-camera talent in over 3,000 television commercials and about twice that many television and radio voice-overs. He is still recognized today as the on-camera spokesman for Toyota (1978-2007) and until 1991 you might have spotted him on TV wearing a funny yellow and red outfit chasing "The Hamburglar" around McDonaldland!
In 1986, Squire, escaped the noise and congestion of L.A. with his wife Suzy and their toddler-daughter in tow, to begin a second and concurrent career as a grape grower, vintner and winemaker. The Fridells purchased 26 acres of raw land in Sonoma Valley and built their home. Squire and his wife Suzy planted two vineyards and began the process of creating their state-of-the-art winery which they named "GlenLyon" after Suzy's Scottish ancestry.
Over the last two decades, GlenLyon has produced highly sought after Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Their fruit has been sold to Laurel Glen, Wellington, Ravenswood, Bedrock and Franciscan wineries, often times with Vineyard Designation. In addition to running his vineyard, Squire is also on the Board of Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers.
Squire's hard to get GlenLyon wines are totally allocated and pre-sold upon release. Aside from a few select wineries in Sonoma, Kenwood and Glen Ellen, the only restaurants able to procure GlenLyon are sixteen fine restaurants in NYC. Why? Their no-longer-a-toddler daughter is now an actor living in Manhattan and they love to visit her, go out to eat at wonderful restaurants and drink their own fine wine! (If you're headed to NYC, contact Squire for a list of restaurants!)