Meet
Rudy & amy
Rudy
Amy
Amy has a degree in developmental psychology from Cal Poly SLO, and a background in customer relations and marketing.
After a few years of exciting San Francisco and Napa Valley adventures, Amy and Rudy married in St. Helena in 1998. Amy continued in marketing for Araujo Estate and Robert Craig Winery, while learning the intricacies of the wine industry. Since then, they have launched Zuidema Wine Co. consulting, their own Zuidema wine label, and the innovative Flash Wine Technologies.
By partnering with Rudy, wife Amy brings a healthy dose of acumen and perspective that supplements Rudy’s artistry. True partners in business and in life, Amy and Rudy share a commitment and a love for the Napa Valley. Their most cherished and enduring project, however, has been the raising of four beautiful children, now grown into wise young adults.
Zuidema Wine Co. is a full-service consulting firm that specializes in working with boutique wineries to help them create an environment of success and achieve full quality potential. Wines of the highest character can only come from healthy, balanced, and well-cared-for vineyards. Though we specialize in biodynamic, organic and sustainable viticulture, we are equally adept at conventional farming practices.
Rudy brings a gentle, non-manipulative approach to winemaking that leads to powerfully structured wines with layers of character and vineyard-inspired complexity. His focused winemaking practices and techniques consistently produce increased aromas, concentrated flavors, and lengthened finishing textures in wines that become beautiful expressions of our clients’ brand.
Ultimately, the scope of our winemaking and vineyard services depends on the needs of our clients. As a Napa Valley winemaking and vineyard consulting company, we are fortunate to work with exceptional vineyard sites and grow world-class fruit. We love what we do and approach our work with joy and integrity. It is always our goal to achieve the highest standards of stewardship and profitability for our clients.
From Humble Roots to Napa Valley
Exploring the Transformative Path of a Winemaking Visionary, Rooted in Tradition and Innovation
UC Davis - Class of 1991
B.S. Plant Science and Viticulture
France (1990) - Australia (1993)
Harvest abroad work experiences.
Stock Boy at oakville grocery (1992)
Taste tested every wine in Napa Valley
Robert Craig (1996-2003)
Head winemaker at 28 years old, developed 14 acres of mountain vineyards, designed new production facility
4 Kids in 3 years
Owen in 2001, Mara in 2002, and twins Josie and Elliott in 2003
Launched new businesses (2012 - present)
Launched private consulting business and Flash Wine Technologies and never looked back.
Shadybrook estate (2012 - present)
As Winemaker, grew boutique brand from 75 cases to 6000 cases, while expanding vineyard holdings to over 150 acres