Zenato

Zenato's story began in 1960 when Sergio Zenato recognized the untapped potential of the Trebbiano di Lugana grape on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Founding the estate in San Benedetto di Lugana with his wife Carla, Sergio pioneered premium white wine production in a region then largely overlooked by the international wine trade. He later expanded into Valpolicella Classica, purchasing the Costalunga estate in Sant'Ambrogio and personally planning the layout of every vineyard row. Carla extended the family's reach further still, purchasing a 3.8-hectare parcel in Bolgheri, Tuscany, in 2003. Today the winery is run by the second generation, with Alberto directing winemaking and Nadia overseeing global sales, guided by three pillars: quality, passion, and tradition.

• Founded 1960 by Sergio and Carla Zenato in San Benedetto di Lugana; Sergio is widely credited with putting Lugana on the global wine map by championing the indigenous Trebbiano di Lugana grape
• Expanded into Valpolicella Classica with the purchase of the 35-hectare Costalunga estate in Sant'Ambrogio; Sergio personally designed the vineyard layout, including row orientation for optimal sun exposure
• Carla Zenato purchased a 3.8-hectare Bolgheri estate in 2003 along the Via Bolgherese, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, producing the family's personal interpretation of Bolgheri DOC
• Second generation, Alberto (production) and Nadia (sales and marketing), continues the estate's commitment to indigenous varieties and sustainable viticulture, celebrating 65 years of harvests in 2025

Zenato matters because it demonstrated that wines from two historically underestimated northeastern Italian regions, Lugana and Valpolicella, could achieve serious international recognition. Before Zenato's advocacy, Lugana was virtually unknown outside northern Italy and Trebbiano di Lugana was rarely associated with age-worthy, structured whites. Sergio Zenato's investment in the Costalunga estate planted Zenato at the heart of the Valpolicella Classica zone, producing Amarone alongside established names and earning a coveted place in the Famiglie Storiche association. The winery's ability to operate at meaningful scale across two distinct wine styles, elegant mineral whites and powerful appassimento reds, while maintaining critical acclaim and consistent quality, sets it apart as a model family estate.

• Credited with elevating Lugana DOC from local novelty to internationally recognized appellation, with the Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2021 receiving 92 points from Wine Spectator
• Member of Famiglie Storiche (Historic Families of Amarone), a prestigious association of long-established Amarone producers accounting for roughly 22-23% of the denomination's total turnover
• The Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore, first produced in the 1992 vintage, helped popularize the ripasso technique internationally, bridging everyday Valpolicella and premium Amarone
• Zenato Academy, founded in 2019, supports young photographers through residencies at the winery's Garda and Valpolicella estates, connecting wine, land, and contemporary art

Zenato's 95 hectares span two contrasting terroirs that define the winery's dual identity. The Santa Cristina estate in San Benedetto di Lugana covers approximately 40 hectares devoted entirely to Trebbiano di Lugana, benefiting from Lake Garda's moderating influence and the appellation's distinctive deep-reaching, humid clay soils formed by glacial moraines. These mineral-rich soils underpin the grape's natural acidity and capacity for texture and age. The Costalunga estate in Sant'Ambrogio, Valpolicella Classica, covers 35 hectares on hillside terraces with limestone-rich soils at 300 to 350 meters elevation. Dry stone walls support the terraced vineyards, ensuring optimal sun exposure and ventilation. The small Bolgheri parcel adds a Tuscan dimension, with sandy, marine-influenced soils producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot under Mediterranean skies.

• Santa Cristina estate (Lugana): approximately 40 hectares; deep clay soils of glacial moraine origin; Lake Garda's microclimate moderates temperature extremes and extends the growing season with retained freshness
• Costalunga estate (Valpolicella Classica, Sant'Ambrogio): 35 hectares at 300 to 350 meters elevation; predominantly limestone and limey clay soils; dry stone terrace walls manage drainage and sun exposure; vineyards were in fallow when Sergio purchased the estate and have been planted with Corvina, Rondinella, and Oseleta
• Bolgheri parcel: 3.8 hectares along the Via Bolgherese; sandy, sea-influenced soils; planted to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; this Podere Prospero estate represents a small but prestigious Tuscan complement to the core portfolio
• Across all sites, hand-harvesting, high vine density, and low-intervention cellar philosophy prioritize site expression and varietal character over winemaking artifice

Zenato's portfolio is anchored by two flagship styles. In Lugana, the entry-level Lugana San Benedetto offers crisp citrus, stone fruit, and mineral character from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana grown around the village of San Benedetto di Lugana. The Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato, sourced from the historic Podere Massoni vineyard, is aged in a mix of oak and steel, achieving greater complexity and aging potential. In Valpolicella, the Valpolicella Classico Superiore provides an approachable, fruit-driven red, while the Ripassa della Valpolicella Superiore (first vintage 1992) uses re-fermentation on Amarone skins for greater body and depth. The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Oseleta and Croatina combined; 36 months in Slavonian oak; 16.5% ABV) is the benchmark red. The Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato, produced only in exceptional vintages from the oldest Sant'Ambrogio vines and aged at least four years in oak, is the estate's prestige expression. The limited-edition Archivio Storico, released after more than 10 years of aging in exceptional vintages only, represents the ultimate statement of the estate's Amarone ambition.

• Lugana San Benedetto: entry-level Lugana, 100% Trebbiano di Lugana, emphasizing freshness, citrus, and mineral character; intended for early consumption
• Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato: sourced from Podere Massoni vineyard, aged in oak and steel; demonstrated age-worthiness of Trebbiano di Lugana; received 92 points from Wine Spectator for the 2021 vintage
• Amarone della Valpolicella Classico: 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Oseleta and Croatina; 4-month appassimento; pressed in January; 36 months in large Slavonian oak; 16.5% ABV; flagship red wine
• Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato: Corvina, Rondinella, and Oseleta from oldest Sant'Ambrogio vineyards; minimum 4 years in oak plus at least 1 year in bottle; released only in top vintages
• Archivio Storico: ultra-limited Amarone released after 10-plus years of aging in exceptional vintages only; inaugural release was 2008 (tribute to Sergio Zenato, who passed away that year); 2013 was the second release, produced in 2,500 bottles and 200 individually numbered magnums

Zenato distributes to over 60 countries, with Winebow serving as the US importer. The estate has earned consistent critical recognition across its portfolio, with the Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2021 receiving 92 points from Wine Spectator, the Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato 2013 scoring 99 points from James Suckling, and the Amarone Classico receiving gold medals at competitions including Mundus Vini 2024. As a member of the Famiglie Storiche, Zenato participates in the collective promotion of Amarone as a world-class denomination. Under Nadia's leadership, the estate has identified Asia, particularly China, as a key new growth market, complementing established strongholds in the United States, Germany, and northern Europe. In 2025, Zenato celebrated its 65th anniversary at Vinitaly with the debut of the Archivio Storico 2013 and a photography exhibition by Zenato Academy artist Julia Carrillo.

• US distribution via Winebow; wines sold in over 60 countries with growing presence in Asia, particularly China, as identified by Nadia Zenato in 2025
• Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato 2013 awarded 99 points by James Suckling; Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2021 awarded 92 points by Wine Spectator
• Member of Famiglie Storiche (Historic Families of Amarone); Alberto Zenato has served as president of the association, which collectively accounts for approximately 22-23% of Amarone's total denomination turnover
• 65th anniversary celebrated at Vinitaly 2025 (57th edition) with the official presentation of the Archivio Storico 2013, a limited edition of 2,500 bottles and 200 magnums

Since 2021 Zenato has pursued a formal sustainability program rooted in a holistic vision encompassing environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and biodiversity conservation. The winery participates in biodiversity monitoring protocols and has joined programs focused on pollinator conservation, including the BEE OUR FRIEND project in Valpolicella. The Zenato Academy, founded by Nadia in 2019, supports young artists through vineyard residencies, with a particular focus on photography as a medium for documenting the relationship between landscape, wine culture, and family identity. At Vinitaly 2025 the Academy presented a photography exhibition titled Sole Pioggia Vento by Mexican artist Julia Carrillo, developed during a residency across the estate's Peschiera del Garda and Valpolicella properties. The winery also operates La Zarabba, a nine-room boutique guesthouse overlooking Lake Garda.

• Formal sustainability path adopted since 2021 covering environmental, social, and biodiversity dimensions; participant in BEE OUR FRIEND pollinator conservation project in Valpolicella
• Zenato Academy (founded 2019 by Nadia Zenato): supports young photographers through residency programs at the estate's Lake Garda and Valpolicella properties; exhibitions presented at Vinitaly and internationally
• La Zarabba boutique guesthouse at Peschiera del Garda offers nine rooms with Lake Garda views, extending the estate's hospitality identity alongside winery visits and wine tourism
• Zenato's sustainability report published since 2022, covering vineyard and cellar practices, biodiversity indicators, and community engagement