It was the early 1960s and the Russians had launched Sputnik; Kennedy spurred us into the race to space; the Civil Rights Movement was changing the way we looked at the world; and two aerospace engineers were dreaming of grapes. The air was electric with change and possibilities, and Norman deLeuze and Gino Zepponi were ready to capitalize on that energy.

With a new wife and children on the way, Norman deLeuze began working for Aerojet General in Sacramento for his chance to participate in the race to space that was driving the nation. Working in the design department for the liquid rocket plant, Norman was the creative force behind the advanced concepts for liquid rocket engines used on projects such as Apollo. It was here that Norman first met Gino Zepponi and a friendship formed that would change both of their lives forever.

By 1962, Aerojet General had grown exponentially from 7,000 to 20,000 employees in a short period of time and the advanced concepts that Norman had been working on were taking shape and becoming operational. There was a lessening need for design development and Norman left a few years later in search of new work. Along with thousands of other engineers, Norman became a sort of gypsy as he contemplated his skills and how to apply them in other fields. It wasn’t long before Norman and Gino were wondering, what next?
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What do you get when you mix New York spunk with Napa style? The answer is some great tasting wine. Chris Pisani, Winemaker for ZD Wines, is a rare combination of east coast street smart and California cool. Growing up in a big Italian family, Chris learned to appreciate the very things that make Napa so memorable: great food, wine and company. This real-world education made him a perfect fit at ZD Wines where family is the cornerstone of the winery’s values, and great wine and food fall close behind.

During his formative years, Chris studied chemistry in college while spending time with his now-wife, Ina, whose father happened to make wines out of their house in Newburgh, New York. Chris watched, learned, experimented and soon he was hooked. The seed was planted and before long, Chris and Ina were moving to California for a taste of life in the wine country.

In California, Chris followed the path of some of Napa’s most renowned winemakers and attended UC Davis to study viticulture and enology. It was here that Chris fell headfirst into the world of winemaking and started down the path that would lead him to ZD.

Robert deLeuze, CEO/Winemaster for ZD Wines, was attending a job fair at UC Davis to potentially meet his next Assistant Winemaker and Chris was eager for the opportunity. They met, talked, had an instant rapport and soon Chris was joining the ZD team...

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WINEMAKER TOUR

To learn more about Chris and ZD's winemaking process, join the Winemaking Team for a one-of-a-kind private tour and tasting. This opportunity offers you an exclusive glimpse into both ZD's history and into the art of winemaking.

ZD is Socializing - Internet Style

It always seemed to me that being social and using the internet to socialize were on opposite ends of the communication spectrum. The internet being reserved for the nerds too shy and awkward to make it in the real world. However, it seems that the tables have turned and that the “place to be” is on the internet, using sites like Facebook and others to achieve your social networking dreams.

I suppose that I was a late bloomer with this social networking phenomenon. Being that I am the “3rd Generation” of the deLeuze family at ZD and being in my mid 20’s, once I finally got signed up with Facebook, I found that the majority of my friends were there waiting for me to join the party.

The real reason that I finally made my own Facebook page was because the ZD Wines page that I wanted to create needed an administrator. However, once you enter the world of Facebook, the more friends (or fans in ZD’s case) you have, the cooler you are. So the race was on not only to make Facebook friends of my real life friends, but to get a quality ZD page going so that I would be able to build a group of ZD fans who were on Facebook. As of right now, the friend/fan score is Brandon - 73, ZD – 158.

The ZD Wines Facebook page has turned out to be a success, and I suspect that it will become more useful as more people become aware of it. I post all of our upcoming events on the page, as well as give little updates about interesting things that are happening around the winery. If you have a moment, check out the facebook site, let us know what you think about the site, and if you are a fan of our wines, become a fan of our page!

- Brandon deLeuze, Assistant Winemaker

Summer is such a magical time of year in Napa Valley and this year is no exception. With summer comes an electric energy that radiates up Highway 29 and down the Silverado Trail, filling the valley with a contagious excitement. The grapes ripen, events such as Auction Napa Valley kick off, and the mood is upbeat as we sip our wine outdoors.

We hope you will come experience this time of year with us. After all, it’s summertime, so come kick up your heels in Napa Valley.

Best wishes,

The deLeuze Family

2007 Chardonnay
California $34

2007 Reserve Chardonnay
Napa Valley $55

2007 Pinot Noir
Carneros $40

2007 Founder’s Reserve Pinot Noir, Carneros $65

2007 Rosa Lee Petite Sirah
Napa Valley $30

2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley $50

August 9
SF Chefs. Food. Wine
Join ZD Wines for this four day food and wine event celebrating the unique flavor, diversity and bounty of Northern California. The main tasting tent in Union Square is where chefs, winemakers and distillers will offer an exploration of taste featuring local products. Benefiting Feeding America, ZD Wines hopes to you see under the big tent for a tasty weekend treat.

August 23
Family Winemakers of CA
The Family Winemakers of California host wine tastings throughout the year. These are the largest tastings of California wines in the world and showcases for the state’s small, family-owned wineries such as ZD Wines! Join Barbie Jamieson and Kendra Gillette of ZD Wines in San Francisco for this singular event.

September 5
Sundance Food & Wine
Featuring a roster of top restaurants and celebrated vintners, the Sundance Food & Wine Festival is an annual treat. With a focus on family-owned wineries with a focus on sustainable farming practices, this event compliments ZD’s philosophies. Join Robert deLeuze, CEO/Winemaster for ZD Wines, for this remarkable culinary event.

To view more upcoming events, visit us online.