Heritage
A century of Transylvanian heritage
ZETEA is rooted in Medieșu Aurit — a village in Satu Mare County, northwestern Transylvania — where the Zetea family has practiced fruit distillation for more than four generations.
Origin
Transylvania & Medieșu Aurit
Northwestern Transylvania has one of Europe's oldest continuous traditions of fruit distillation. The region's orchards, cold winters and long-standing rural knowledge shape a distinctive Romanian style of Țuică and Pălincă.
The Zetea family has maintained a working distillery in Medieșu Aurit across generations. Each generation refined the same core principles: honest fruit, careful fermentation, and unhurried distillation.
In their words
A tale that cannot be told in a few words.
Romania is somewhere in Europe. Transylvania is somewhere in Romania. The famous drink Zetea de Transilvania is produced here.
For many generations the Zetea family has produced natural beverages by fruit distillation in traditional kettles with direct-fire heating — continuously improving the ZETEA recipe while preserving its traditional nature.
After the revolution in 1989, Silviu Zetea reorganized this activity within S.C. Privat Silviu Zetea SRL, wishing to pass on the secret of the "Zetea" recipe from father to son.
Țuică "Zetea de Transilvania" has been awarded numerous decorations, including the Silver Medal at the World Contest in Brussels, 2001. Handmade and seasonal, it is used in Romania for protocol and diplomatic meetings — a select luxury product valued around the world.
— Silviu Zetea
The Family
Four generations, one uninterrupted craft.
From a masons' guild in northwestern Transylvania to a family enterprise recognised internationally, the Zetea line has kept fruit distillation as its constant.
"The last bastion of plums."
I
Ioan Zetea
Builds the first documented family pălincie at 'Pe Groapă,' Viile Apei, c. 1900.
II
Valer Zetea
Expands to Viile Racșei and, in 1964, to Medieșu Aurit — where the workshops still operate today.
III
Silviu Zetea
Founds the modern enterprise in 1990, registers the ZETEA trademark in 1994, and launches the luxury line in 2000.
IV
Teodora, Gerard & Tanita Zetea
Carry the brand into its next chapter — production, promotion, and the family's restaurant La Pălincie in Baia Mare.
Timeline
More than a century of production.
01
c. 1900
Ioan Zetea builds the first family pălincie
In Viile Apei — an area known as "the last bastion of plums" — Ioan Zetea builds a distillery at a spot symbolically called "Pe Groapă," drawing on knowledge from a region documented for pălincă-making for more than 500 years. The spring-fed cooling well still remains today.
02
c. 1940–1964
Valer Zetea expands the family workshops
Ioan's son Valer builds several distilleries — in Viile Apei, Viile Racșei, and, in 1964, in Medieșu Aurit — operating under the state Vinalcooluri framework of the era. He also opens a fruit collection center at the family home.
03
1975
A tradition preserved by the family
After Valer's passing, his wife Florica and their five children carry the tradition forward. Silviu Zetea — still a schoolboy — takes over the Medieșu Aurit workshop alongside his mother.
04
1990
Founding of Privat Silviu Zetea
After the Romanian Revolution, Silviu establishes the family's first independent enterprise, fulfilling his father's dream. In 1991 the company registers its own coat of arms.
05
1994
The ZETEA trademark is registered
The ZETEA name is officially registered and the first branded products reach the Romanian market — a decisive move from service work to full-fledged production.
06
Late 1990s
Refinement of the ZETEA method
Adoption of triple distillation in still-fire (direct-fire) boilers, paired with a proprietary simple deflagration system of the family's own design. Later formally named the "ZETEA method," it remains unique in the Romanian tradition.
07
2000
Launch of the luxury line
Together with his wife Teodora and children Gerard and Tanita, Silviu launches ZETEA's premium expressions — positioning traditional Romanian fruit spirits in the international luxury and niche category for the first time.
08
2001
Silver Medal, Brussels
Țuica Zetea de Transilvania receives the Silver Medal at the World Profile Competition in Brussels, one of many international distinctions that follow.
09
Today
A family enterprise, fully engaged
Every member of the Zetea family is involved in creation, promotion and sales. Gerard Zetea also runs La Pălincie in Baia Mare's historical district, a restaurant dedicated to showcasing the brand.
10
Current Initiative
Introduction to the United States
ZETEA is preparing a considered U.S. introduction through appropriately licensed importers and distributors, bringing more than a century of Transylvanian craft to the American trade.
Continue
From heritage to craftsmanship.
Explore how the ZETEA method translates a century of tradition into each bottle produced today.
Explore the Craft