ZD Wines In 1969, aerospace engineers Norman deLeuze and Gino Zepponi, along with their families, turned their entrepreneurial enthusiasm toward winemaking. These were the early days of California's wine industry, and they were among Napa Valley’s adventurous winemaking pioneers. Their founding concept was to produce world class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reminiscent of France’s renowned Burgundy wines. They achieved this endeavor by sourcing from the cool Carneros regions of Napa and Sonoma.
The ZD Wines brand highlights the initials of the founding partners’ last names, but it also symbolizes the term Zero Defects, an acronym for the quality control program Norman and Gino worked under while designing rockets at AeroJet, a rocket propulsion manufacturer in Sacramento, CA. Norman’s wife and founding partner Rosa Lee deLeuze quips that ZD also stands for the names of her two cats, Zesty and Delightful.
The ‘70s and early ‘80s were the experimental years for ZD Wines as this small family winery was developing its personality. ZD produced an array of varietals including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, White Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Flora. ZD also experimented with different growing areas including Napa, Sonoma, Carneros, Mt. Veeder, Shenandoah Valley in Amador County, San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Monterey and Umpqua Valley in Oregon.
By 1987, the winery narrowed its focus to three varietals: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. This was also the year ZD produced its first Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon sourced entirely from the 3.2 acre vineyard planted alongside the winery, which yielded a mere 1.5 tons per acre and a total of 316 cases. This 1992 Reserve Cabernet was released to rave reviews from the media, most notably Robert Parker's Wine Advocate.
The wine was barrel aged almost three years prior to bottling, which softened the tannins into a velvety finish with great depth and complexity of flavors. Long-term barrel aging and selections from top vineyards have defined the hallmark character of ZD’s rich Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon.
Today, three generations of the deLeuze family continue looking to the future with a commitment to family, community, the environment and the production of world class wines.
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