Helping Legend Phyllis Zouzounis – Wine Blog

Where to being, when I’m helping legend Phyllis Zouzounis: Pioneer, Trailblazer, and Visionary of Sonoma County Winemaking? She’s as independent as any woman I’ve ever know, which includes my own tendencies, and I’m fierce. I learned this, when I began to construct her biography. This is where I first learned about her stellar journey.

Phyllis Zouzounis is a pioneering, female winemakers, in Sonoma County. In 1980, Phyllis began her winemaking career at Dry Creek Vineyard, in Healdsburg. In the world of wine, her story is a perfect example of how passion, education, and determination led to her fulfilling career. Phyllis had a friend who introduced her to the allure of wine, while living in San Francisco. They often tasted wines, ultimately leading to attending public wine events. This all happened before she moved north into Sonoma County.

In 1979, she followed her friend, when he decided to move to Sonoma County.. Once there, she dreamed about becoming a winemaker, because Sonoma County was appealing. Without that job and a lot of enthusiasm, she was determined, so she spent well over a year not giving up on her dream and pushing forward.

Phyllis Zouzounis’ Awakening

The Awakening

She awakened one day in 1980, and became determined to find that job. Phyllis went to Dry Creek Vineyards, where owner David Stare was. She told Dave her story, and he listened carefully. He saw her value, as they had an engaging time talking. He believed in her, and even though she didn’t realize she was in a job interview, he launched her career.

This was when Phyllis Zouzounis passionately began strategizing her entry into the wine industry, in 1980. She drove to Dry Creek Vineyards and  owner David Stare was tending shop. He listened and understood her passion. It wasn’t an interview for a job, still he understood her passion and immediately  hired her. She next attended tastings and networked with other wine professionals,  expanded her knowledge and found inspiration. She confidently acted and laid a solid foundation for her successful transition into the wine business, with expert advice in hand.

Along with all her tasks of tasting room, then manager, to assistant winemaker, she also too courses at U.C. Davis Viticulture and Winemaking.. She even taught a winemaking course class at Santa Rosa Junior College.

Phyllis Zouzounis’ subsequent steps.

Subsequent Steps

In 1987, Phyllis Zouzounis and her former partner, Phyllis Zouzounis’ Duex Amis partner Jim Penpraze, set up Deux Amis Winery in Dry Creek Valley. Initially, they produced 100 cases of Zinfandel from a single vineyard. Over time, the winery expanded production to over 1,500 cases of Zinfandel, sourcing grapes from both Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys in Sonoma County. Jim retired in 2013, but Phyllis continues to lead the winery, now rebranded as Zouzounis Wines, and is still committed to producing award-winning wines. She performed enough tasks to realize she could strike out on her own.

From here, Phyllis Zouzounis then segued into winemaker and general manager at Mazzocco Sonoma. This is where she fell in love with both Zinfandel and growers. They took great interest in her curiosity, explaining all the elements of terroir. This education connected her dots between loving wine, appreciating soil, and a passion for producing wine from these empowering components.

Phyllis walking the vineyards, where she sources grapes.

Briefly: Zouzounis Wines

Further accomplishments: Winemaker for West Wines, next was Bedarra Vineyards, and Tre Ricci Wines in Dry Creek Valley. She also worked for Starlite Vineyards, in Alexander Valley. In 2016, she was the winemaker for Raymond Burr Vineyards in Raymond Burr Vineyards in Dry Creek Valley. The transformation at Deux Amis, morphed into Zouzounis Wines. This is where you will find her on Fridays and Saturdays, as the sole winemaker and owner of Zouzounis Wines, at Windsor’s Beverage District.

Today, Phyllis Zouzounis at her Zouzounis Wines tasting room, in Windsor’s Beverage District.