Cecil Zerba was born and raised in the Walla Walla Valley. The Zerba family’s roots in the Walla Walla Valley can be traced back to the 1850’s. Marilyn was born in Redmond, Oregon and moved to the Walla Walla Valley when she was nine years old. Cecil and Marilyn were married in September, 1981. At the time, Cecil was an electrician and Marilyn was a registered nurse. Soon after they were married, Cecil and Marilyn established Zerba Gardens, a local nursery producing quality plants and produce. “We started the nursery to keep the boys busy in the summer”, says Cecil. Over the next 20 years, Zerba Gardens grew into one of the valley’s most successful and trusted local nurseries. In 2001, Cecil and Marilyn Zerba left the nursery business and founded Winesap Vineyards.

A native of Oregon, Dan Paynter grew up helping his grandparents with their retail nursery business. After graduating with a degree in Production Horticulture he went on to farm outside Portland. A total departure led to a successful career in the hospitality industry. The budding Oregon Wine Industry provided Dan with a pathway to work both with plants and customers. For the past twenty five years he has been striving to promote wines from the Pacific Northwest. Over the past decade Dan has focused on building the Zerba Cellars brand and currently holds the position of general manager.