Zaan was born on the Eastern Coast of South Africa and moved to the US with his family when he was 10 years old. During high school, he began working in restaurants and soon discovered a passion for food and beverage. After a failed basketball career, he quickly followed his heart back to food and wine, moving to New York City in the summer of 2010.

In 2012, Zaan was given the opportunity to represent a growing South African wine portfolio for Invoer and has now become a Junior Partner and Sales Manager. In his spare time, he can be found testing out new recipes or wandering off the beaten path. Zaan is a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and lives in Chelsea, NY.