It all started in 1969 when…

two aerospace engineers Norman deLeuz and Gino Zepponi along with Normans wife Rosa Lee decided to make wine together. Combining their last names and the quality control term of zero defects, often used in industrial production, the winery name ZD was created. At the start they worked out of a small farm building where they had to repair everything themselves, luckily not a hard task for two engineers. Money was further stretched by buying inexpensive whiskey barrels, the first two vintages being made with American oak from Jim Beam barrels. This 1969 vintage of Pinot Noir and Riesling would produce fewer than 300 cases, a small amount that further shrank when their library stock was later destroyed when a businessman set fire to a wine storage area to cover up his embezzlement! Success was never a guarantee, especially as the first 20 banks refused to give the winery a loan, but soon large crowds would gather in Rutherford on the weekends to enjoy the wines. In the early 90’s tastings only cost $5, if only we could go back to those prices! Today the winery creates some of the best Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon of Napa Valley, with vineyards farmed with California Certified Organic Farmers certification.

Tasting with ZD Winemaker Brandon deLeuze.

The 2017 ZD Chardonnay is full of ripe fruit flavors of golden apple, guava and pineapple. Despite its richer texture the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation, helping retain a refreshing tart apple acidity. This is helpful to balance the round sumptuous power the wine gets from undergoing barrel fermentation. 10 months aging in American oak adds creamy vanilla and cinnamon spice aromas to the wine. As amazing as ZD Chardonnay is, the wine can get stuck under the large blue and yellow shadow Rombauer Chardonnay casts in the American marketplace. If you’re a Chardonnay lover and have never tasted this ZD wine, do yourself a favor and grab a bottle!

The ZD Carneros Pinot Noir has always reminded me of an excellent wine for the holidays as it has enough complexity to appeal to a crowd of people with different palates. The 17 vintage is intensely aromatic with orange peel citrus and light crunchy red fruits. The 17 Founders Reserve Pinot Noir is sourced from the ZD organic Carneros estate vineyard and serves as a tribute to founder Norman deLeuz who passed away from lymphoma in 2007. Fruit quality is rich and denser than the Carneros Pinot, with red plum, black cherry, and cedar spice and that honors the memory of Norman. The 2016 ZD Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has a small amount, (12%) of Petit Verdot along with 22 months aging in American oak. Expect some juicy richness from this addition. The 15 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a combination of Napa Valleys Rutherford, Oak Knoll and Coombsville sub regions. Aging is extensive here with 34 months in American oak providing clove, tobacco, and vanilla that combines with black cherry fruit and black currant aromas. A perfect pairing for a Cab and slab.

ZD Wines Regional Sales Manager Scott Billeci

The Abacus XX was tasted for a grand finale. First available to consumers in 1999, this is a non vintage wine that combines the 1992-2017 vintages of Reserve Cabernet. The wine is silky smooth as its bottle is jet black. Viscous and mouth coating, this solera styled blend is fed new vintages of Reserve Cabernet as it begins to age each year to keep a youthful freshness and vibrancy. A small percentage of the solera blend is bottled each year, around 15% or less, ensuring there will be new Abacus to come year after year. The heavy medallion that comes with each bottle signifies the first and last vintages used in the blend.

2019 was the 50th anniversary for ZD and I promised winemaker Brandon that I would write about the history and wines of this great winery. While I might be a little late to congratulate them for their first 50 years, I’ll make sure to be the first when their 100 year anniversary comes around. I have no doubt the wines then will be just as amazing.