Cottonwood Creek Cellars

With a family history of viticulture and winemaking spanning over a century, there wasn’t a doubt about what career path Carol Franzia wanted to take. She had lived and breathed the business since she could walk her family’s vineyards and when the time came to become a part of it, she was more than ready to make her mark.

Carol has always had a deep-rooted appreciation for the land. From an early age, she was taught that great wine starts in the vineyards so knowing as much as she could learn would be critical. After graduating from UC Davis with a BS in Fermentation Science, she wanted to expand her knowledge of various climates and techniques, so she attended winemaking courses at Roseworthy Agricultural College in South Australia.

Carol came to understand that the subtle nuance of the land makes a large impact when crafting wines. With her focus on complex characteristics, Carol believes that people should drink wines they like. To avoid the pretentious and intimidating wine culture, Carol creates wines that reflect the vineyard's characteristics. Her wines are meant to be approachable and well-balanced - a complement to meals or good times with friends.

When Carol isn’t making wine, she can be found gardening, making preserves and soap, teaching Master Foods Preserver courses at the local agricultural extension office, or on gopher patrol on the farm. The mother of triplet girls, Carol is also the head of Zinc House Farm’s egg operation with over 30 happy hens.