Our History

From humble beginnings to the heart of Coonawarra’s famed terra rossa strip, the Zema family’s story is one of love, resilience, and an enduring passion for wine. Since arriving in Australia in 1958, Francesca and Demetrio Zema, together with their sons Matt and Nick, have worked tirelessly to bring their winemaking heritage to life – culminating in the purchase of 20 acres in Coonawarra in 1982, and founding Zema Estate.

From Calabria to Coonawarra (1835-1979)

Demetrio’s great grandfather Matteo opened the first wine bar and tavern in Armo, Reggio Calabria, Italy in 1835.
In 1952 Nicola Zema (Francesca’s father) left Italy to escape the aftermath of war. He worked at Wynns Coonawarra in the vineyard and cellar.
In 1958 Francesca, with her mother, and siblings arrived in Coonawarra, reuniting the family after six years.
In 1959, Francesca married Demetrio, who had made the long journey from Italy with hopes of bringing her home – but Coonawarra won their hearts.
Over the following decades, Francesca and Demetrio raised their sons Matt and Nick, working hard in their painting business and immersing themselves into the Coonawarra community. The family never lost site of their dream to own a vineyard and bottle wines under the Zema name.

The Begin (1982-1989)

In March 1982 their dream became a reality when the Zema family purchase 20 acres right in the heart of Coonawarra’s famed terra rossa – 8 acres of which were already planted with mature shiraz vines.
In 1982 the first vintage of Zema Estate Shiraz was made with very little equipment, a tin shed, and an old milk tanker under the generous guidance of veteran Coonawarra Winemaker Ken Ward. The family moved into a small house on-site and opened Zema’s Cellar Door Sales from their kitchen.
In February 1983 – just in time for vintage – the Zema family complete the building of the original winery and Cellar Door Sales, a far cry from the tin shed and borrowed milk tanker used the previous year.
In 1984 the Zema family plant their first vineyard the, ‘winery block’ Cabernet Sauvignon. This proved to be extremely challenging due to the large amount of limestone present over the 4.8 ha of pure terra rossa soil. Today the family have 61 ha of vineyard across three Coonawarra properties.
In September 1985, Matt and Teresa married in Melbourne. Two years later in July 1987, Matt and Teresa welcomed their son Demetrio.
1988 Zema Estate produced their first Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon ‘the cream of the crop’ representing the best fruit selected for intensity of flavour and varietal definition. Also phase two extensions were made to the winery, providing extra oak barrel maturation and warehousing space.
In 1989 the family expanded their landholdings, purchasing 24.5 ha from the Abbey family at the southern end of Coonawarra. The Abbey family’s property was named ‘Cluny’ – and out of respect to them and their history, the name remained. Today 17.5 ha of vineyard is planted at the Cluny property including; Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc – the four classic varieties which are the backbone of Zema Estate’s Cluny blend.

Growth and Generations (1990s)

In 1990, after many years of working alongside winemaker Ken Ward – Matt and Nick combined to lead the Winemaking for Zema Estate.
In 1992, phase three extensions to the winery were completed, further increasing the barrel oak maturation area, tank and warehousing space. To meet the growing needs of the vineyard expansion, further fermentation space was also installed.
In 1993 the first vintage of Cluny was produced – 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Franc.
The family purchased their 80 ha Glenroy property. 10 kms north of the Coonawarra winery block, 28 ha of which is now established to Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz vines. The Zema family now has access to fruit from prime vineyards, strategically placed through three Coonawarra locations.
1994-1996 was a time of growth for the Zema family, with further winery extensions, vineyard plantings, and land purchases. 28.12 ha of vineyard plantings were made, including the first Sauvignon Blanc vines. A 54.76 ha property adjacent to Cluny was purchased in 1996.
1997-1999 following the vineyard expansion phase, major capital improvements were needed to the winery. Fermentation capacity was increased and the vintage area was upgraded – including new state-of-the-art rotary fermentation tanks, grape destemmer – crusher, and wine press.

Strengthening the Legacy (2000-2007)

July 2000 saw Tom Simons appointed Winemaker of Zema Estate. Tom, a Penola local, had previously completed 24 Coonawarra vintages at Mildara Blass and Rymill. Tom brought talent and experience to the winery – allowing Nick and Matt more time to focus on running the business, vineyards, marketing, and sales.
In September 2000, Nick and Jackie were married in Penola. In July 2002 they welcomed their first daughter Olivia, their second child Georgina in November 2004, and Zac in March 2007.
2006 marked the 25th vintage of Zema which was commemorated with the production of ‘Saluti’ – a Cabernet Shiraz blend celebrating the families’ milestones and achievements while representing the best attributes of these two classic Coonawarra varieties.
In March 2006, Greg Clayfield took over as Zema Estate’s Winemaker. Greg had an impressive 29-year track record at Rouge Homme and Wynns – including winning the 1988 International Winemaker of the Year award.
In April 2006, Demetrio and Francesca, officially opened Zema’s new Cellar Door Sales, administration, and warehousing complex. With bottling, and warehousing on-site, the new space provides optimal conditions for wine storage and bottle maturation.
In 2009 Demetrio and Francesca celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with family and friends at Zema Estate.
In July 2012, Demetrio celebrated his 80th birthday at Zema Estate with 110 guests including; family, friends, and local Vignerons. Demetrio’s love of a good party put everyone to shame and he was one of the last to leave.
In November 2014, Francesca celebrated her 80th birthday.

Loss and New Beginnings (2016-today)

On 23 July 2016, Matt passed away suddenly, aged 56. His tragic death shook the Zema family. Matt was a son, brother, and co-founder of Zema Estate. He also was the highly respected Managing Director and CEO of Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). The role Matt played at Zema Estate can never be underestimated, he was heavily engaged and involved in all areas of the company. Matt returned to Coonawarra frequently to help grow, shape and form Zema Estate into the successful family-run business it remains today. Matt will always be remembered for the way he touched and brightened lives – and for the vast impact and legacies he has left behind.
In late 2016, Matt’s son Demetrio followed in his dad’s footsteps joining the company.
In June 2017, following Greg’s retirement, Joe Cory joined Zema Estate as Winemaker. Joe has experience in many different wine regions including; the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Sonoma Valley (California), Mount Benson, and also Coonawarra.
In 2018 Zema Estate undertook a brand refresh – launching a new website, ‘Our Family’ loyalty program, and new wine label designs. The fresh look was a contemporary spin on Zema’s already well-established brand.
In 2018 Zema Estate released their first Sparkling Merlot, and in 2019 their first Rosé, which was made from estate-grown Shiraz grapes.
On 29 May 2020, Demetrio died at the age of 87. The eldest of 8 children, Demetrio loved returning to Italy and he spoke of his homeland with fondness. Demetrio’s passion was wine – his dream was to one day own a piece of famous Coonawarra terra rossa soil and make wine for people to enjoy. Without his vision and unwavering determination to build, grow and nurture a lasting family legacy, Zema Estate would not be what it is today. Demetrio was a much loved and respected member of the Coonawarra, Penola, and Australian wine community. He is deeply missed.
In 2022 Zema Estate celebrated 40 years. Celebrations included back-vintage tastings, a historical exhibition, and gala dinner. The family revealed the final stage of our brand refresh with the release of our 2018 Cluny, 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Estate Shiraz, and 2016 limited release Saluti.
In November 2024, more than 200 people came together to honour this incredible milestone. This speaks volumes about Francesca’s warmth, resilience, and passion – qualities that have made her an iconic figure in the Coonawarra / Penola community. Zema Estate’s, success is, in large part, thanks to Francesca and her love of family, stories, and culture.

We look forward to the future, continuing our care and attention to creating exceptional wines.