Zuidema Wines is a full-service consulting firm that specializes in working with small wineries to help them achieve their full quality potential. Guided by acclaimed winemaker and vineyard consultant Rudy Zuidema, who comes with 20 years of industry experience, we focus on creating an environment of success for our clients.  Our consulting services range from enhancing existing winemaking programs to completely building in-house teams from the ground up for new start-up wineries.

 

Rudy specializes in working with exceptional Napa Valley grapes, most notably red Bordeaux varietals. His expertise also extends to other varietals, including Petit Sirah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.  As a winemaker, he starts with a gentle, non-manipulative approach that leads to powerfully structured wines with layers of character and vineyard-inspired complexity.  From this point he applies focused winemaking practices and techniques that can increase aromas, concentrate flavors, and lengthen finishing textures to ultimately bottle wines that are beautiful representations of our clients’ brand.

 

Rudy’s wines have received many 90-plus scores from all of the major wine publications, including Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast.

We are pleased to offer a small selection of past press for wines crafted by Rudy:

 

-1996 Robert Craig MT Veeder CS – 94 pts WS

-1997 Robert Craig Carneros Chardonnay – 93 pts WS

-1998 Robert Craig Affinity Red Blend – 90 pts WA

-1998 Robert Craig Howell Mt CS – 91 pts WA

-2001 Robert Craig Mt. Veeder CS – 91 pts WS

-2002 Ehlers Estate Merlot – 92 pts WS

-2002 Ehlers Estate “1886” CS – 92 pts WS

-2005 Ehlers Estate “1886” CS – 91 pts WS

-2006 Ehlers Estate Sauvignon Blanc – 91 pts WS and feature article

-2007 White Cottage Ranch Howell Mt. Merlot – 94 pts WE

-2007 White Cottage Ranch Howell Mt. Sangiovese – 92pts WE

 

 

We also know that making great wines isn’t always enough in today’s competitive marketplace. Those wines also need to be sold. Whether we are working with our clients to develop effective PR and marketing campaigns, helping them to build distributor relationships, or networking with our numerous trade and press contacts, we have the expertise and connections to help our clients succeed.