The women of the 116-year-old ZLAC women’s rowing club would like to invite you to join them in a toast to celebrating its history at its 4th annual wine tasting Wednesday, Aug. 6.
The tasting will feature the Gabrielle Collection, a variety of small, handcrafted Cabernet Sauvignon from the sustainable vineyards of Napa Valley by winemaker Gabrielle Leonhard.
“I had read about women in wine and Gabrielle’s name was noted,” said ZLAC member Celia Sullivan. “We’re an all-women’s rowing club, so I thought it would be great to connect with a woman-owned winery. I solicited her and come to find out, she says, ‘Oh, I know ZLAC very well. I grew up in Point Loma, I went to Point Loma and my family still lives in Point Loma.’ So there was that tie, and she knows a lot of ladies that are part of ZLAC Rowing Club. So we’re thrilled.”
While the wine tasting will help raise money for the club, Sullivan said the event brings the neighbors together for a fun and entertaining night.
“We try to reach out to the community. We are a private club, so we like to open up our doors and invite our neighbors to come in and share our history, see the clubhouse and be a part of that,” she said.
Along with a variety of Cabernets, there will also be trays of meats, cheeses, breads and dried fruits to complement Leonhard’s collection.
Participants will gather for a glass of wine at the clubhouse’s terrace at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the guests will be seated at the decorated tables with flowers and covered with food before Leonhard opens up discussions about her wine and vineyard.
“Gabrielle will be miked so she can walk around and discuss the wine, how it is made and answering questions, so it’s very interactive. It’s not like your typical wine tasting where people come to a location, take a sip of wine and the person talks about it,” Sullivan said.
ZLAC was founded in 1892 by sisters Lena, Agnes and Caroline Polhamus and their best friend Zulette Lamb, who used the initials of their first names to name their rowing club. The original boathouse was located on San Diego Bay near the current location of Seaport Village. It was relocated to Sail Bay in 1932.
Their bayfront, award-winning clubhouse was designed by prominent San Diego architect Lilian Rice, a ZLAC member who was club president in 1915-16 and who is now best known for designing the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe and many residences in Rancho Santa Fe.
The club was also recognized as being the oldest women’s rowing club in the world. ZLAC has approximately 425 members, ranging in age from 14 to 96 ” the club’s oldest member has belonged to ZLAC for more than 80 years. The club offers rowing instruction to the public and to any women and girls who wish to enroll in their classes.
Sullivan said guests will also have the opportunity to wine a variety of door prizes, including restaurant gift certificates, zoo tickets and passes to a future wine tasting event at the Wine Vault & Bistro.
Tickets to the event are $25 and seating is limited to 80 people. Dress is casual.
For information or to purchase tickets, call Sullivan at (619) 435-3684 or visit www.zlac.org.