By David Prestipino
I've made no secret of my love for Coonawarra and its famed strip of terra rossa soil, which produces some of Australia's finest and unique-tasting red wines.
And now, God is (literally) on the side of two of the region's most respectable producers – Zema Estate and DiGiorgio Family Wines.
Holy water... Nick Zema's family wines will be drunk by Pope Benedict XVI on Australia Day.
The two wineries are the chosen ones at Australia Day 2010 celebrations near St Peter's Basilica in Rome, on January 26 next year.
This means everyone from Pope Benedict XVI down will be raising a glass of Coonawarra red in honour of Australia at the special lunch on the banks of the Tiber River.
Whether the Supreme Pontiff participates in a game of friendly cricket is yet to be confirmed, but Triple J's Hottest 100 will be playing at the ceremony.
It is pertinent Zema Estate has been chosen to represent Australian wines at the event.
The family's Italian heritage and migrant story is one of hardship, persistence and ultimately success.
Grape growing and winemaking have been integral to the Zemas since 1835, when family descendants opened a wine bar in Calabria in Italy's south.
Knowledge and passion have been passed down the lines and, after migrating to Australia after World War II, the family purchased a small block of mature wines in Coonawarra in 1982.
The first vintage was made with little equipment under a tin shed with an old milk tanker and today it's all very much still in the family, with an extended group of friends of family helping plant new vines, hand pruning, picking and bottling.
The great Zema story is one of many in the region and nearby Barossa – a small family-owned vineyard, mature grapes, simple winemaking philosophies and hard work.
Instead of knocking back a few tinnies with the BBQ this Australia Day, join the Pope and salute Australia with some classic Coonawarra reds.
Though not the preferred grape of the terra rossa soil of Coonawarra, shiraz from the region is starting to make a name of its own. This version takes a while to open but, once it does, has lovely peppery flavours with strong, ripe tannins.
Matured in small French oak casks for 16 months, this wine is classic Coonawarra, with sweet red berry fruits and a touch of cassis. It will develop gracefully in the bottle for a further five years.
The Family Selection wines represent the cream of the Zema crop. Maturation in small French oak casks for two years has helped produce rich cabernet flavours of ripe dark berries, mint, cassis and nutty oak. It’s wonderfully-refined and intense on the palate with a lingering finish. A real corker from Coonawarra.
A warm vintage provided quality fruit and it shines already in this current release. It’s a cracker - very very sweet, with real elegance, a pleasure to devour. The fruit is integrated perfectly with fine tannins, providing for a well-rounded red. You can cellar this for up to 10 years but it’s drinking very well now.