Grape
growing and winemaking has been a large
part of the Zema Family history and
heritage dating back to the 1800's. It was
at this time that the Zema family first
became involved with vineyards and
winemaking not only for personal
consumption but also on a commercial
basis.
Demetrio's
great grandfather Matteo opened the first
wine bar/tavern in Armo, Reggio Calabria
in 1835, much to the angst of the local
authorities at the time. Although the
tavern no longer exists, it was this
legacy and a passion for wine that has
been passed down from generation to
generation.
In the
early 1950's Demetrio Zema and Francesca
Zema began a love affair that would last
not only more than fifty years but also
across two continents. Soon after becoming
engaged, the couple were separated as
Francesca and her family departed Italy to
escape the aftermath of war and to seize
the opportunities that a strange and
peaceful new country 'Australia' offered.
At the time of Francesca's departure the
young couple had an understanding that she
would return to Italy for her marriage,
once her family had settled in
Australia.
Upon
arriving in Coonawarra, Francesca's family
went about establishing a home, securing
work and adapting to a new language and
culture. In 1953 Nicola Zema (Francesca's
father) started working for Wynns, hand
pruning, picking and planting, a job that
continued through until his retirement in
1975.
Back in
Italy, Demetrio who was impatiently
awaiting his fiancée's return,
decided to travel to Australia to marry
Francesca and to bring her home to Italy.
After more than twelve months apart the
couple were re-united in May 1959 and
married in Penola in June that year.
Francesca was reluctant to leave her
family and convinced Demetrio to stay, at
least in the short term and the couple
settled in Penola.
Demetrio
soon found work helping a local painter
and after a short period established his
own painting business. In March 1960
Demetrio and Francesca's first son Matteo
(Matt) was born and in 1966 Nicola (Nick)
arrived. Demetrio worked hard, painting
houses and buildings throughout the south
east, with Francesca and later Nick and
Matt often helping late at night, on
weekends and wherever possible.
Demetrio
gained a reputation as a meticulous
painter and also a very engaging one, as
there was always a good story to be told
and one of his home-made wines to be
shared. Whilst painting was the family's
livelihood, the passion for wine never
diminished and their dream was to one day
own a piece of Coonawarra's famed terra
rossa soil and create their own world
class wines.
In 1982
the dream became a reality when the family
was able to purchase a small block of
mature vines in the very heart of
Coonawarra. The first vintage of Zema
Estate wines was made with very little
equipment, a tin shed and an old milk
tanker under the generous guidance of
veteran Coonawarra Winemaker Mr. Ken
Ward.
Matt moved
away to undertake studies in Electrical
and Computer Systems Engineering whilst
returning to Coonawarra on weekends to
work in the vineyards and in the winery.
Nick was in High School at the time of the
vineyard purchase and found that his
education was instantly transferred from
the classroom to the vineyard.
The family
moved in to the small home on site and
went about establishing their new venture
with assistance from their extended group
of family and friends who rallied, helping
out with planting new vines, hand pruning
and picking.
Additional
buildings were added over time, from the
initial winery and Cellar Door sales
constructed in time for the 1983 vintage
to the recently added new Cellar Door,
office complex and warehouse which was
opened on April 19, 2006.
The
bottling of all Zema Estate wines
is done on-site at the winery. The family
has for many years operated its own
bottling line however due to increasing
demand this has recently changed to using
a large and modern mobile bottling
facility which sets up on-site on demand.
Bottling times are determined by the
maturation and development of the wines,
with all aspects overseen by Winemaker
Greg Clayfield and the family. The new
warehouse provides ideal storage
conditions for wines awaiting
release.
Today
Zema Estate is managed by Nick and
Matt Zema with Demetrio and Francesca
never too far away, either helping out in
Cellar Door or cooking up a storm for
visitors, staff and guests. Nick is based
at the winery and Matt in Melbourne and
the brothers are in daily contact and work
very closely together.
Matt and
Nick are enormously proud of their
family's achievements and they wish to
build on this legacy for future
generations. Matt and his wife Teresa have
one son Demetrio Jnr and Nick and his wife
Jackie have two daughters, Olivia and
Georgina.
There is
also a small team of dedicated staff, many
of whom have worked with the family for a
number of years and contributing
enormously to the success of the wines and
the business.
Although
the Zema family deservedly takes
great pride in their achievements they
have not lost sight of their original
philosophies - Estate grown, hand pruned,
minimally irrigated, hand crafted, Estate
bottled - consistently produced
exceptional wines.
Address:
Riddoch Highway, PO Box 12, COONAWARRA SA
5263
Telephone: +61 8 8736 3219 Facsimile: +61
8 8736 3280
www.zema.com.au
