Zanzibar Cellars
The Vineyard
Sometimes a seemingly benign occurrence, in retrospect, is in fact a ‘tipping point’ that generates far reaching changes.
ZanZibar Cellars is a small boutique winery dedicated to creating unique wines that reflect not only the passion and the vision of its founders but also the terroir of the Columbia and Yakima valleys. We believe that which separates good wine from great wine is the obsession with details and the strive for perfection. From our extremely low yields (1.5 - 2 tons/acre), to our small batch fermentation and gentle handling process, our cradling efforts are reflected in the quality of our handcrafted wines.
We work tirelessly to create wines that are balanced yet exuberant, elegant yet powerful and unpredictably alive. Above all, our focus on high quality guides us in all of our decision making. We work closely with our vineyards to manage yields and closely monitor watering protocols to ensure the highest quality fruit. As Partners and friends, Ziad Keirouz and Glen Boyd collaborate on all aspects of the business. For over 20 years in the creative fields of Science and Engineering, both were fueled by the passion to succeed and create something unique. Today, the same drive and passion guide our work at ZanZibar Cellars. From selecting the best grapes and the best French oak barrels to making the wine and designing the packaging, everything is approached with the same level of precision and dedication to quality.
“Our inaugural vintage of a mere 2700 bottles marks the beginning of a journey for Glen and I. We are dedicated to bringing you the best and relentless in pursuing the extraordinary. Once you have tried ZanZibar Cellars wines we believe that you will come to agree.”
- Ziad Keirouz
The Winemaker
Ziad Keirouz
Ziad Keirouz, ZanZibar winemaker and co-owner, originally came to Portland at age 16 from his native Lebanon. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering from the University of Portland, working first at Freightliner and later at parent company DaimlerChrysler. But the rigors of corporate life took a toll on him. After years spent as an engineer and project manager, “I hit the wall one day,” he says. “I started working at 20 and burned out at 34. I was at the point where I said to myself – if I want to grow my hair long, if I want to wear jeans, I want to be able to do that.”
Perhaps appropriately, the burned-out Keirouz traveled to his first Burning Man that year, an experience he describes as transformative. His next move? Not winemaking – not quite yet.
First came an around-the-world tour with friend (and now ZanZibar Cellars business partner) Glen Boyd, a co-founder of the software analytics company WebTrends. Boyd, Keirouz and two other friends journeyed aboard a 142 foot yacht; the voyage included stops in Costa Rica, Mexico, Peru, Chile and the Caribbean.
“It was a once in a lifetime journey – you discover a lot about yourself when you do something like that,” says Keirouz. After he returned from the expedition, Keirouz promptly quit his job. Thus began the transition from engineer to winemaker, or as he prefers to phrase it, “from scientist to artist.”
Stats + Links
Location : Oregon, USA
Vineyard : Columbia and Yakima valleys
Winemaker : Ziad Keirouz
Tasting Room : By appointment
Website : Zanzibar Cellars
What They Say!
