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With organic farming practices that date back to the early 1980’s, ZD Wines is proud to have been at the forefront of the sustainable wine movement. In 1983, Norman deLeuze, ZD’s founder, adopted a philosophy that is still firmly in place today: “Organic farming is based on maintaining healthy soil and healthy plants by working directly with nature.” A simple statement with a powerful truth behind it.
At ZD we are stewards of the land and it is our duty to take responsibility for the crop we grow and the impact it invariably has on the surrounding environment. As winemakers and farmers, what better legacy to leave the generations to come than healthy, thriving vines with a history rooted in organic practices. Our soil is rich in nutrients that we take pride in cultivating and the grapes, a product of that soil, are thoughtfully crafted into wine. The bottled product is evidence of our commitment to creating the best possible wine using the best possible ingredients. We strive daily to make ZD Wines better, improving our practices and thinking globally while doing our part to act locally.
Today, ZD Wines uses a multi-pronged, environmentally-sensitive approach to our grape growing and winemaking processes. These efforts include organic farming, solar power, recycling, and the use of earth-friendly alternatives in pursuit of our ultimate goal, the production of great tasting, world-class wines.
With 6 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon in Rutherford and 34 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Carneros, ZD Wines takes pride in maintaining the health and vitality of our vineyards while doing our part to protect the environment. A number of our growers also farm organically, adding to our overall ecological awareness. At the end of the day, healthy vines make great wines and we will gladly drink to that!
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HOW WE BEGAN: ZD Wines began in Carneros in 1969 with a small farm building, buying grapes from Winery Lake Vineyard. In 1978, the winery moved to its current location in Rutherford where we planted Cabernet Sauvignon in 1979. Years later (in 1982) the vines produced the first crop and with this came leafhoppers. Norman contacted the Farm Advisory who suggested chemicals to eradicate the leafhoppers. A broad spectrum insecticide was applied that prohibited re-entry into the vineyards for three days, a regulation that went against Norman’s beliefs. There had to be a better way. Thus, a version of our organic farming was born. The next year, the leafhoppers returned but Norman chose not to spray the vines. Instead, he let Mother Nature run her course. By the third year, the leafhoppers had simply vanished and the vines were thriving without the intervention of chemicals.
From that moment on, Norman’s enthusiasm for organic farming grew exponentially and he began attending the Organic Farming Conference in Asilomar. During this time, ZD Wines experimented with biodynamic farming under the guidance of a biodynamic consultant. The vineyard was in decline and the consultant believed that he could turn things around. In the end, ZD developed its own unique approach by marrying principles of biodynamic farming with the methods that best applied to our philosophies.
Now, working directly with the environment, organic farming has become one aspect of our interest in biodiversity and ecological practices. Vineyard Manager, Rafael Llamas, continues to carry on the techniques and traditions established by Norman years ago.
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Every year, the average American uses seven trees in paper, wood and other tree-based products, amounting to 2 billion trees worldwide! Or, from another perspective, the average household throws away 13,000 pieces of paper each year, mostly in the form of packaging and junk mail. Lighten your paper load, and help ZD Wines do its part, by opting to receive this newsletter electronically.
By receiving the e-version of this newsletter, you will help recover landfill space, eliminate carbon dioxide from the air, save trees, conserve energy and support our commitment to providing a healthier environment for generations to come.
Email info@zdwines.com and type “E-News Only” in the subject line.
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Solar energy is the cleanest, most abundant, renewable energy source available. It has been determined that more solar energy reaches the Earth’s surface in one hour than the world will use in an entire year.
Active solar energy systems, such as ZD’s photovoltaic panels, convert the sun’s light to another form of energy. Having installed our system in the fall of 2007, ZD Wines is now running exclusively on solar power; another step towards reducing our carbon footprint.
ZD’s 712 solar panels are 18 feet wide and span an imposing 500 feet along the edge of the Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. In total, the solar panels equal roughly 1 1/2 football fields in length! Oriented at 229 degrees, facing south by southwest, the solar panels have a peak generating capacity of 124,773 watts. To translate, the ZD Wines solar panels could power roughly 22 homes annually. Ecologically, that equates to removing 16 cars from the road or removing the same amount of CO2 from the atmosphere that 32 acres of forest would consume.
For a small facility in the heart of wine country, ZD is proud of its contribution to providing a cleaner environment and smaller carbon footprint that in no way compromises the quality of our wine. So, raise a glass and let the sun shine!
Visit us online to view a real-time display of our photovoltaic energy usage and production.
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 Following ZD’s signature style of producing big, ripe, powerful yet balanced Cabernet Sauvignons, we sourced the fruit from several small, intensely farmed Napa Valley vineyards, each with its own unique “terroir”. Each lot was fermented separately in small open top stainless steel fermentors, and punched down three times a day to ensure an effective but gentle extraction of color and tannins. This wine was aged for two years in American oak. Dark and dense, this wine is bursting with complexity. The core of ripe fruit integrates beautifully with subtle hints of vanilla, clove and mocha, and the lush, silky tannins round out the long, rich finish.
~ Chris Pisani, Winemaker
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE
$50 (Case Discount Available)
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8383 Silverado Trail |
Napa |
California |
94558 |
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T: 800 487 7757 |
F: 707 963 2640 |
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Note from deLeuze Family
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2009 definitely was a year to remember. For ZD Wines, we ended the year on a high note as we celebrated our 40th Anniversary, an impressive milestone and something that our family is very proud of achieving. 2009 also marked a decade of certified organic farming, an integral part of our quest to make great tasting, ecologically friendly wines.
Over this past year, the ZD Wines extended family welcomed a beautiful baby girl, engagements were announced, new wonderful people joined the ZD staff and everyone took time to express their thanks for the friends, family, health and happiness in our lives.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very bright New Year.
Here’s to 2010!
The deLeuze Family
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NEWS & EVENTS
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ZD's ECO Tour
Sign up today for our brand new ECO TOUR and delve deeper into ZD’s ecological practices while sipping our great tasting wines. Comfortable shoes are recommended as this tour will include a walk through the vineyard. Call today to learn more or to reserve your place or visit us online to learn more about our Tours and Tastings. T: 800.487.7757
$30 per person / $25 for First Taste
February 26
Cabernet for Connoisseurs
Join Barbie at the 14th Annual Cabernet for Connoisseurs wine auction benefiting Family House. This year’s event will take place at the St. Regis in San Francisco and will feature wine tastings, a four course dinner, silent auctions and a live auction.Learn more online.
March 14
Family Winemakers of CA
The Family Winemakers of California hosts wine tasting 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 us at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for this singular event. Learn more.
March 25
High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction
The Eighteenth Annual High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction is engineered for classic perfection. This year’s revved up events are designed to get your motor running, from new Dine Around Dinners to the Vintners’ Cup golf tournament. And of course the road map isn’t complete without classic vintages like in-home Winemaker Dinners, the Vintners’ Reception, and the grand finale Live Auction.
Join Brett deLeuze, President of ZD Wines, for an unforgettable experience. Learn more.
May 15
Cycle for Wine Celebration
Join us as we support Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America that challenges the worlds’s top professional riders. Napa Valley is proud to host the likes of Lance Armstrong to compete along a demanding course. ZD will host an Open House - cycle the event, cheer the competitors on, or stop in to hydrate, snack and enjoy! Check website for details.
To view more upcoming events, visit us online.
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