Zerba Cellars

Prior to launching their winery, Cecil and Marilyn Zerba had a successful nursery business that served the Walla Walla Valley. However, their love of wine and the economics of growing premium cabernet sauvignon and other varieties convinced the couple to plant grapes in three vineyards: Dad’s Place, Cockburn Hills, and Winesap Road. In 2004, Cecil and Marilyn opened Zerba Cellars with their estate-bottled 2002 wines. It was a slow start — their 2004 release checked in at a paltry 200 cases. But production is on a roll now, with more than 6,000 cases released in 2008. This growth and other recent accolades have confirmed Cecil’s mantra, “It’s about the vines in the wines.”

When I first met Marilyn at the tasting room, I made the same mistake that nine out of 10 visitors make. Dyslexia must have hit me, because I referred to her winery as “Zebra Cellars.” The confusion is due, in part, to a drawing of a zebra prominently displayed on the label of Zerba’s “Wild Z” red table wine. Marilyn explained that the zebra-adorned label was “tongue in cheek,” because so many people make the mistake of referring to the Zerbas’ winery as Zebra Cellars. I wasn’t the first, and I won’t be the last.

The winery’s log-cabin-inspired tasting room was built with western juniper from central Oregon. This knotty tree consumes 40 to 50 gallons of water per day; consequently, vegetation is scarce surrounding a western juniper. The trees used to build the tasting room laid on the forest floor for years, allowing worms to attack and eat their way between bark and wood. The results are amazing patterns etched in the wood; as you sample Zerba’s finest, study the wood to see nature’s artwork. No two patterns are the same — just like the distinctive reds and whites of Zerba Cellars.

One of the real joys visitors experience at Zerba is its tasting extravaganza — especially if they are fans of Walla Walla’s big reds. Anticipate tastes of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, Malbec, sangiovese, chardonnay, viognier, semillon, port, and red and white blends. With this bounty, it’s little wonder that the zebra on Zerba’s Wild Z label is smiling.

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  Zerba Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Oregon as part of the Central and Eastern Oregon WineTrail on page 510!