1835 - Begins in Calabria

The story began in 1835 when Demetrio’s great-grandfather Matteo opened the first wine bar and tavern in Armo, Reggio Calabria, Italy.

1952 - From Italy to Coonawarra

In 1952 Nicola Zema (Francesca’s father) left their hometown of Armo, Italy to escape the aftermath of war and seize the opportunities that a strange and peaceful country called ‘Australia’ offered.

Soon after arriving he started working at Wynns Coonawarra Estate in the vineyards and cellar – a job that he continued through until his retirement in 1975.

Establishing the new wine region was very hard work: “Everything was done all by hand…. When planting the vineyard, it used to be all dug by hand. The Italian people built up Coonawarra,” Demetrio later said.

1958 - A Family Reunited in Coonawarra

Back in Armo, love blossomed between Francesca and Demetrio, and in 1957 they became engaged.

However not long after in April 1958, after six long years of separation, Nicola was able to bring his wife Domenica and children (including Francesca) to join him in Coonawarra.

Back in Italy, Demetrio was impatiently awaiting his fiancée’s return and decided to travel to Australia to marry Francesca and hoped to bring her home to Italy.

1959 - Francesca & Demetrio Reunited

After more than 12 months apart the couple was reunited in May 1959 and married in Penola in June of that year.

Francesca was reluctant to leave her family and convinced Demetrio to stay, at least in the short term, so the couple settled in Penola.

For Demetrio the move was a major loss – unlike Francesca, all of his family remained behind in Italy and he felt the separation acutely.

1959-1979 - Building a Life in Penola

Over the following decades, Francesca and Demetrio raised their sons, Matt and Nick, while running their painting business and contributing to the local community. All the while, they held tight to their dream – to own a vineyard and bottle wines under the Zema name.

1982 - Zema Estate is Founded

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.

1983 - The First Zema Estate Winery

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.

1984 - First Cabernet Vineyard Planted

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. Today the family have 61 ha of vineyard across three Coonawarra properties.

1988-1989 - Family Selection & the Cluny Vineyard

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

1990 - Matt & Nick Take the Winemaking Lead

In 1990, after many years of working alongside winemaker Ken Ward – Matt and Nick combined to lead the Winemaking for Zema Estate.

Ken’s knowledge, experience, and willingness to share were invaluable and his meticulous attention to detail is a legacy that remains today.

1992 - The Winery Continues to Grow

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.

1993 - The First Vintage of Cluny

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.

1994-99 Vineyard & Winery Expansion

This period 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.

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.

2000 - Tom Simons Appointed Winemaker

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.

The first Family Selection Shiraz and Estate Merlot were made in 2000.

2006 - Celebrating 25 Vintages of Zema Estate

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, 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.

2006 - A New Cellar Door Opens

In April, 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 November, family and friends celebrated the 100th birthday of Francesca’s mother Domenica at the new venue.

2009 - Celebrating 50 Years of Marriage

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.

2016 - Remembering Matt Zema

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.

2017 - Joe Cory Appointed Winemaker

In June 2017, following Greg’s retirement, Joe Cory joined Zema Estate as Winemaker.

Joe had experience in many different wine regions including; the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Sonoma Valley (California), Mount Benson, and also Coonawarra.

2018 - A New Look for Zema Estate

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.

2020 - Remembering Demetrio Zema

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.

2022 - Celebrating 40 Years of Zema Estate

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.

2024 - Francesca Zema Celebrates 90 Years

In November 2024, more than 200 people came together to celebrate Francesca Zema’s 90th birthday. 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.

2024 - Investing in the Future of Our Vineyards

A significant investment in the future of Zema Estate saw the redevelopment of the iconic Winery Block vineyard.
After more than 60 years of producing exceptional fruit, the original Shiraz vines were carefully removed and replanted with an improved Shiraz clone, selected to complement Zema Estate’s distinctive wine style and continue the tradition of producing premium Coonawarra Shiraz.

This project reflects the Zema family’s long-term commitment to sustainability, innovation, and ensuring future generations can continue crafting wines.

2026 - Lewis White Appointed Winemaker

Lewis joined Zema Estate with more than a decade of winemaking experience across Australia and internationally. Most recently, he served as Head Winemaker at Rymill Coonawarra.

His experience spans vineyard work, cellar operations, production planning and managing harvest teams – all grounded in a strong understanding of cool-climate wine styles.