Visitors to Zo Wines Estate, a family-owned vineyard and winery estate in Sonoma County, California, have a unique space to enjoy the award-winning wines while taking in spectacular views of Dry Creek Valley. 

A pavilion designed with inspiration from Japanese pagodas was added to the property in mid-2019, 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 Sawmill redwood.

David Eckert, owner, winemaker, and grower at Zo Wines, 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 main house, followed later by the tasting pavilion. 

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’ 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.  

“One of the things we really liked was Humboldt Sawmill Company’s alignment with our sustainability philosophy. We also love the look and feel of the redwood: it keeps cool on hot days and adds a nice texture to our winery environment,” Eckert continues. 

Zo Wines Estate tasting deck overlooking Dry Creek Valley

Typical wear and tear associated with the hospitality industry meant that durability was also an important factor in choosing to build with redwood. 
With a long-term commitment to sustainability, Humboldt Sawmill grows more redwood than is harvested 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 Sawmill has a variety of redwood products for different construction needs.

Redwood specification information including CSI 3-part and Canadian CSC formatted specification, BIM objects, CAD drawings, product catalogs, and LEED credit information, along with American Institute of Architects (AIA) LU/HSW credit hour webinars may all be found by visiting https://www.getredwood.com/architects.

Photography: BOURNE Photography

Zo Wines Estate tasking pagoda.