How it all Started

A man with curly dark hair, wearing sunglasses and a striped polo shirt, stands on stone stairs with two young children, a boy and a girl, both smiling and leaning into him. The background shows other people on the stairs.

Back in 2005 John Zahoudanis was on the hunt for vineyard property. Growing up on a farm near Mount Olympus in Greece, his childhood was dotted with olives, citrus groves, and a small plot of grapes for homemade wine. His dream had always been to have a vineyard and winery of his own for his family to enjoy. Upon finding this property it was love at first sight. John and his wife Sandra purchased the estate and named it after their daughter Demetria, who herself was named for the Greek goddess of harvest, Demeter.

A man is standing in a winery or brewery, holding a long pole and smiling, surrounded by large metal tanks and wooden barrels.

Demetria Today

We are still very much a family operation. John and Sandra’s son, Alexis, has lived and worked on the estate full-time since 2009. He works closely with winemaker and vineyard manager Ryan Roark, who came on board in 2019. We’re proud to be one of the first vineyards in Santa Barbara County to be farmed biodynamically – with forty-five acres planted to Rhone varietals, five white and five red. Demetria also makes Burgundy-style wines, sourcing organic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from trusted vineyards in cooler appellations here on the Central Coast.

Three people standing on a shoreline, observing the Statue of Liberty across the water.

Roots in Greece

John Zahoudanis was born in Greece, near the foothills of Mount Olympus, where life revolved around the land. His childhood was spent among olive trees, citrus groves, and vineyards tended by his family for generations.

Wine was always present. His father made simple, honest wine from the family’s grapes — wine meant not for commerce, but for the table. It was shared with friends, neighbors, and family. Those early memories of agriculture, community, and the rhythm of the land quietly shaped John’s future.

At the age of thirteen, John left Greece for the United States, carrying little more than his work ethic and the memory of the land he loved.

Four men wearing suits and construction helmets on a dirt site with a river and buildings in the background, holding shovels.

Building a Life in America

Like many immigrants, John’s path in America began with hard work and ambition. Over the years he built a successful career as a businessman and real estate developer in Southern California.

Through vision, determination, and an entrepreneurial spirit, he helped develop major projects and established himself as a respected figure in the business community. Yet even as his career grew, the memory of his childhood in Greece remained close.

The dream of returning to the land — of growing grapes and making wine — never left him.

A man holding a baby near a swimming pool in an outdoor setting with trees in the background.

Finding the Mountain

In the early 2000s, John and his wife Sandra began searching for property where that dream could take shape.

When they first arrived at the mountain property in the Santa Ynez Valley, something felt instantly familiar. The rugged hillsides, the Mediterranean climate, and the sweeping views reminded John of the landscapes of Greece.

Together, John and Sandra founded Demetria Estate, naming it for both their daughter and Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest and fertility of the earth.

What they envisioned was more than a winery. They wanted to create a place that honored the old-world traditions of agriculture, family, and hospitality.

A vintage photograph of four people dressed in formal attire, possibly at a wedding or special event. The woman in the coral dress appears to be about to kiss the man in the tuxedo, who is wearing glasses and has dark hair. Two other women are observing, one with large sunglasses and light-colored clothing, and the man on the right is smiling, dressed in a tuxedo with a boutonniere.

A Family Estate

Demetria Estate was always meant to be a family endeavor.

Sandra helped shape the warmth and hospitality that guests experience at the estate today. Their children grew up alongside the vineyard, watching their parents transform a rugged mountain property into a thriving agricultural estate.

The vineyard was planted with care and intention, guided by a deep respect for the land and a belief that great wine begins with thoughtful farming.

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Today, the vision John began continues through the Zahoudanis family, with his son Alexis playing a leading role in stewarding the estate.

Alexis carries forward his father’s commitment to biodynamic farming, thoughtful winemaking, and authentic hospitality. Under his guidance, Demetria continues to evolve while staying rooted in the values that inspired its founding.

A man with two children standing outdoors near a body of water and snowy cliffs, with bushes in the foreground. The man is wearing a brown leather jacket and glasses, the girl has a colorful jacket, and the boy is in a green and black jacket.

A Full Circle Story

John Zahoudanis’ life came full circle.

A boy who once worked the land in Greece eventually crossed an ocean, built a life through perseverance and entrepreneurship, and returned to the soil decades later.

On a mountain in the Santa Ynez Valley, among vineyards shaped by sun, wind, and time, his legacy lives on — not only in the wines of Demetria Estate, but in the family and community that continue to gather there.

Group of seven people posing on stone stairs in an outdoor setting, dressed in casual summer clothing, with a rocky hillside in the background.
Black and white photo of an older couple dancing together outdoors during a celebration or event, with trees and hanging lights in the background.
A vintage photo of two women standing on a stone pier by the water with boats and yachts docked in the background. They are smiling, one wearing a white t-shirt and red shorts, the other in a red dress and sunglasses. Several people are walking along
A woman with short hair and pearl earrings hugging a man with glasses and curly hair, both smiling at the camera, at a table with glasses and a bottle.
A man with glasses, a yellow hat, brown jacket, and red shirt is standing on a boat, smiling at the camera. The boat is moving through water, creating waves behind him.
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Meet the Team

  • A man wearing a jacket and boots is power washing a metal surface outdoors. Another person in the background is working near large tanks, and there is cleaning equipment and hoses around.

    Ryan Roark

    WINEMAKER

    Ryan grew up in Marshall, TX, a small town in the northeast part of the state. He studied at Texas A&M and graduated with a degree in Bioenvironmental Sciences. During a summer agricultural internship program in Angers, France, Ryan was introduced to vineyard work and was immediately hooked. He then worked at Domaine Taillandier, which further spurred him into wine, eventually leading him to Napa Valley, New Zealand, and finally Santa Barbara County

    In 2009 he started his own small company, Roark Wine Company, making wine and farming small vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley. Looking to expand his farming, he took over the vineyard management at Demetria in 2019 and in 2021 added the role of winemaker. In 2025 he transitioned to Director of Winemaking and Viticulture. To be able to farm a historic vineyard and make wine for owners with a shared vision is truly a dream come true. 

  • A man with a beard and wearing overalls is pouring liquid into a large tank filled with small dark objects, indoors near a window with sunlight shining in.

    Logan Livermore

    DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY

    Logan carries it in his spirit. Born and raised in beautiful Santa Ynez, Logan entered the wine world in 2018 when he joined Demetria after years in bar and restaurant management.

    As Director of Hospitality, Logan has long been at the helm of the events and weddings that move through Demetria in a thoughtful and seamless way. He created the in-house catering, bar, and planning experience to offer couples a fully integrated approach, intentionally designing a structure that makes each celebration smooth from start to finish. He knows gatherings here are more than events. They are experiences. Some people carry hospitality in their title.

    When he is not welcoming guests and orchestrating celebrations, you will find him hiking, making music, barbecuing in his backyard, and spending time with his family. If you are lucky, you may hear another side of him on the mountain. Logan is a talented musician @loganlivermoreandthe154 .

  • A man with a beard, wearing a cap and casual clothes, is smiling and bending down to pet a large brown dog just outside the doorway to a yellow stucco house with light blue shutters and a large arched window.

    Nick Marchi

    WINE CLUB MANAGER

    Born and raised in the Santa Ynez Valley, Nick spent his childhood between Los Olivos and the town of Santa Ynez. He joined the Demetria team in 2015 and has since become a familiar and welcoming presence for our wine club members.

    Beyond wine, Nick is also the talented maker behind @losolivosmetalworks, crafting beautiful brass, copper, and silver pieces by hand. His jewelry and metalwork can be found in the Demetria tasting room…the perfect discovery to take home after picking up your wine club order or tasting through our newest releases.

    We love celebrating the creativity within our community, and Nick’s artistry is just one more reason to linger a little longer at the estate.

The Land

Directed by: Kyle Loskamp |
Music: 'Jaybird' - Charlie Parr

‘Demetria Winery and The Art of Biodynamics’ a 5-minute documentary by Kyle Loskamp where Vineyard Manager/Winemaker Ryan Roark gives insight into our farming practices.

Our property consists of 213 acres of rolling hills with 45 high elevation hillside acres currently under vine.   We’re proud to produce biodynamically grown Rhone-style wines from our estate in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Aerial view of a grassy field with white and brown goats grazing and walking along a dirt path.

Biodynamic Principals

Biodynamic farming is based on the philosophy that our entire property is a living organism.  We use no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers (much like organic farming), and, in addition, we farm by the phases of the planets and the moon and treat our vineyards with various preparations to promote health and vitality in the soil, plants, and animals.

Sustainability

One key goal of the philosophy is to reduce our dependence on imported inputs of all types and increase the living dynamics of the entire farm: just as minimal handling in the cellar promotes a purity of expression in our wine, so too does this deeply traditional form of agriculture.

Livestock Management

Ryan Roark (Vineyard Manager/Winemaker) has been transforming our livestock management into a more holistic approach. Inspired by Allan Savory and progressive ranchers, we move our sheep almost daily to replicate the natural grazing movements of herds in the wild.

Our Process

We seek to make wines acoustically, meaning as natural and authentic to the land as possible. The majority of our fruit comes off of our biodynamically farmed estate. 

We use native yeast for our fermentations, which we believe adds to the sense of terroir for our wines. You can’t have a full expression of a place without the microbiology coming into play. Native fermentations can be more stressful to work with in winemaking due to the unpredictable nature of a native yeast population, but we think the juice is worth the squeeze.

Red wine being poured into a tank filled with crushed grapes, part of the wine-making process.
Man in t-shirt and cap operating grape harvester, transferring grapes into a container at a vineyard.