Visitors to ZO Winery, a family owned farmstay winery in Sonoma County, California, have a new space to enjoy the award-winning wine while taking in spectacular views of Dry Creek Valley. A pavilion designed with inspiration from Japanese pagodas was recently added to the property, providing an intimate area for tasting and relaxing. When selecting materials for the project, the winery looked no further than locally sourced and sustainably produced Humboldt Redwood.

David Eckert, owner, winemaker, and grower at ZO Winery, recalls his thoughts when first purchasing the property in 2012: “There were a few key things missing. For one, we didn’t have a great place to enjoy views of the vineyard, so we decided to create a deck and pavilion.” A large redwood deck with a pergola was first added to the historic 1906 main house, followed by the tasting pavilion, which was recently completed in 2019.

At the heart of ZO Wines’ winemaking philosophy is the requirement of the 'right fruit, from the right places, grown with the right people.' The vineyard on the property, established in 1999 as 'Triple Ten Vineyard,' accomplishes this and further carries through a Japanese theme. The Japanese word ‘Ten’ (天), means heaven or heavenly.

“We had a vision of connecting to the vineyard’s roots, which are of Japanese origin, yet we also wanted it to match the Sonoma County aesthetics. So, when it came time to choose the materials for our pavilion, redwood was a no brainer,” adds Eckert.

Sustainably harvested Humboldt Redwood was the perfect match for ZO Winery, which is also a CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE winery focusing on small-batch production using environmentally friendly practices. David recalls the reasons he chose Humboldt Redwood specifically: “One of the things we really liked was their alignment with our sustainability philosophy. We also love the look and feel of the wood: it keeps cool on hot days and adds a nice texture to our winery environment.”

With their long-term commitment to sustainability, Humboldt Redwood grows more redwood than they harvest annually. The company maintains Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133) certification for its timberlands in Northern California. From decking and siding to timbers and uppers, Humboldt Redwood has a variety of products for different construction needs. Please visit GetRedwood.com for more information.

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Sip Wine in This Japanese Pagoda-Inspired Pavilion