ABOUT US
Goldlande vinegars – natural power from your own garden
We produce natural fruit and berry vinegars made from organic ingredients and fermented naturally. They are unpasteurised, unfiltered and rich in live vinegar mother cultures. This pure, farm-produced vinegar, made without any additives, retains the full spectrum of enzymes, probiotics and nutrients.
At present, our main focus is on growing various berries and fruits, and selling them both fresh and in processed form. Healthy and tasty food and a healthy lifestyle have always been important to our family.
Certified organic production
Every bottle of GOLDLANDE vinegar comes from our garden. We know exactly which apples were grown there, and people can taste the flavour of the Latvian countryside, rather than an industrial sourness.
A 100% naturally organic product
GOLDLANDE vinegars are made at a leisurely pace. Natural fermentation takes months. During this time, the flavour becomes rich, mellow and aromatic.
A healthy product for an active lifestyle
GOLDLANDE vinegars are alive. Sediment and cloudiness indicate the presence of the ‘mother of vinegar’ – a natural complex of proteins, enzymes and probiotics.
HISTORY
"Dzilnas"
“Dzilnas” – an estate bearing this name has existed on this very site since the time of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. In 1926, the great-great-grandparents of the current owner of “Dzilnas”, Terēza Strauta – Miķelis and Minna Strauti – purchased this estate from Julius Smolne, their business partner in timber floating and trading (since the late 19th century, when industry began to develop rapidly, the most efficient way to transport timber prepared in the forests of Kuldīga to businesses in Kuldīga and Ventspils was via the Venta waterway). At that time, on his 158 purvietas or Lofstelle of land, he was engaged in agricultural production: livestock farming and cereal cultivation.
The last harvest on the ‘Dzilnas’ estate was brought in in 1949, after which the owners of ‘Dzilnas’, Miķelis and Minna, were deported to Siberia. The estate was nationalised and housed the barns of the ‘1.maijs’ collective farm and the Lejaskurzeme Experimental Station; the land was used for growing cereals. In the mid-1990s, the estate was reclaimed by Miķelis and Minna’s grandson, Andris, and his family. The family still runs the estate today.
Since then, extensive clean-up work has been carried out and the surrounding land has been managed.
The land at “Dzilnas” is large enough to grow a variety of berry bushes: redcurrants, blackcurrants and gooseberries, which are sold fresh at the market. A new orchard has also been established, which produces bountiful apple harvests every year; these are consumed both fresh and in processed forms: as juices, homemade wine and vinegar.
The idea of producing vinegar came about several years ago, when winemaking had been tried and a wish to experiment with something else using local ingredients and produce was there. An article on the beneficial and medicinal properties of fruit and berry vinegars was published in the magazine *Zintnieks*.
Rita Strauta, Terēza’s mum, is a food technologist by training with experience in fruit and berry processing and production, which is why she has the final say at the Goldlande home vinegar production facility. She learnt how to make wine from her own mum in Jēkabpils.
Various recipes were researched, and through trial and error it was found that the best fruit and berry vinegars are made from pure juice. We have identified a group of relatives and friends who have tried these homemade vinegars, adding variety to the flavour of their meals and improving their health.
It has now been decided to develop vinegar production, as it is a very useful and very healthy product, being made at home where it is not subjected to industrial processing, is not pasteurised, and contains no added chemicals. By now, the technology for vinegar production has been mastered, and a thorough understanding of the production process has been gained.
The home-based production business was established on 28 August 2020 (PVD No. 083254), specialising in the processing of plant-based products in a home setting. SIA Summus-T was founded on 2 October 2024, taking over the business of Terēza Strauta, a private individual, home-based producer and sole trader. Since the beginning of 2026, the vinegar distillery has been known as Goldlande,. The land here consists of fertile and productive sandy loam soil, which is why the slogan ‘My gold is my land!’ was created out of respect for the beautiful and fertile surroundings.
Goldland – my gold is my land!
-
People are gradually realising the truth about who we really are, as we increasingly connect with ourselves and others from the heart
-
People are becoming increasingly aware of our unhealthy relationship with the land, and we are taking steps to restore that relationship.
-
People are becoming increasingly aware of where our food comes from, and we are taking steps to bring it much more into harmony with the natural rhythms of our bodies, minds and the earth.
-
There is a growing demand for trustworthy and people-centred businesses.
-
Alternative natural medicine and holistic healing methods and practices are proving to be just as effective, if not more effective, than the Western medical approach.
-
Humanity is beginning to realise that an obsession with the material world and consumerist psychology are not as important as mutual support and love in a way that perhaps only our ancestors knew.
The Well-being of Mother Earth
One of the most important themes emerging in this new timeline is a greater focus on the wellbeing of Mother Earth. Mother Earth speaks loudly, leaving no room for doubt about her messages.
She makes us realise that we can no longer allow things to be imposed on us that run counter to the natural rhythm and flow of life. As humanity steps off the ‘hamster wheel’ of survival, Mother Earth breathes a huge sigh of relief and uses this time to heal herself. The world is awakening at such a pace that even the most sceptical people can no longer ignore or deny it. What we are currently witnessing in the world is a clear indication that the old patriarchal systems, based on fear, control, separation, survival and hierarchy, can no longer continue to exist as they once did.
BIRD DEEP
THE BIRD Picus viridis
The bird from which the name of the house derives: the woodpecker family (Picidae) is the largest family within the order Piciformes. The green woodpecker (Picus viridis) is a species of bird in the woodpecker family (Picidae). It is divided into three subspecies. It is found across most of Europe and in small regions of western Asia. The green woodpecker inhabits various types of woodland interspersed with open areas, and can also be observed in parks in built-up areas. The green woodpecker is a medium-sized bird, with a body length of 33–36 cm, a wingspan of 40–44 cm and a weight of 150–250 g. Both sexes of the green woodpecker have a moss-green back and wings (with grey flight feathers), and a pale greenish-grey underparts. Green woodpeckers form monogamous pairs that remain together for many years. The pair nests in self-dug hollows. The green woodpecker is a resident and overwinters within its breeding range. It inhabits forest edges, sparse deciduous or mixed woodlands, as the green woodpecker nests in old deciduous trees. There are usually anthills near its habitat, as ants are an important source of food. The green woodpecker also readily forages on the ground and can be observed in meadows, gardens and cultivated grasslands.
