Quick Facts
Biography
Phyllis Zouzounis is an American female winemaker based in Windsor, California known for Zinfandel wine.
She is one of the first pioneering professional female winemakers, having begun her career at Dry Creek Vineyard in Sonoma County in 1980. She started as winemaker who specializes in Zinfandels, and won recognition for wine produced using that grape in California. Her wines have garnered many local and international awards.
By 1987, she produced three distinctive Zins under the Deux Amis label (with co-proprietor and winemaking colleague Jim Pempraze) and five more as winemaker at Mazzocco Vineyards.
Wine Enthusiast stated in 1999 that "Phyllis Zouzounis has captured the essence of Zinfandel here", and their 2007 Sonoma County Zinfandel was particularly acclaimed by wine critics. She is also involved in Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc production at Raymond Burr Vineyards, Chardonnay at Bedarra Vineyards and Tre Ricci Wines in the Dry Creek Valley, and Viognier and Cabernet at Starlite Vineyards in the Alexander Valley. She has said of winemaking: "My focus is balance. Balance of the vine, balance of the fruit and balance in the wine."