1821-1898

Gambellara is located just before the foothills of the Lessini mountains, in the heart of Veneto, between Verona and Vicenza, an area renowned for centuries for its wine production. In a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century AD, traces of an ancient harvest date the tradition of vine cultivation in this area to more than 2000 years ago. An historical link exists, therefore, between the village of Gambellara and wine, intertwining later with the epoch-making story of the Zonin family: if the history of wine is linked to this land, the history of the family is interwoven into both, since various historic documents date the earliest traces of the Zonin family in this area to the sixteenth century. Moreover, cadastral documentation dating to 1821 cites Giovanni Battista and Girolamo Antonio as the owners of a vineyard, marking the spot in which the Zonin family’s venture into the world of wine began, and has continued up to the present day.

1899-1921

THE BEGINNINGS OF A COMPANY

The challenge taken on by Domenico Zonin has resulted in a remarkable achievement, represented today by the Zonin brand and by the values that underpin it, transforming a dream into a very substantial reality. To understand his story, it should be remembered that as a child, the second of 10 children, Domenico developed a passion for the family’s agricultural activities and especially for producing wine. In the early post-war period, while still young, Domenico exhibited an eager, enterprising spirit and set up his own small-scale production of wines and spirits. His venture was to prove formidable, spanning three centuries and two millennia, from the year of his birth in 1899 to his death in 2001: the timeline of his life was as extraordinary as the results he achieved over many decades.

1922-1967

THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE

In 1957, aged only 19, Gianni Zonin, Domenico’s eldest nephew, joined the company and immediately gained the trust of his uncle Domenico, who considered him the linchpin for the future development of the company he had founded. This was the turning point. In post-war Italy, the years of the economic boom changed patterns of wine consumption, with growing demand for quality and reliability: in 1965, not coincidentally, new rules governing the DOC appellations were introduced. Zonin wines also began to emerge on overseas markets at this time: Germany, the United States, Belgium and Switzerland were the testing ground for the great project that would come to fruition in the next few years.

1968-1995

CONSOLIDATING THE ZONIN BRAND

The 1970s was the decade of consolidation: Zonin wines spread and were regularly purchased by Italian consumers, affirming the brand as a household name. A new corporate logo was launched, featuring the Lion of Saint Mark, a bond between the Zonin family and the Veneto region, its native home. The solely local dimension was abandoned in order to expand horizons and cross national borders, reaching out to countries not only in Europe but beyond, stretching seamlessly across all five continents.

1996-TODAY

THE NEW GENERATION AND THE PROCESS OF INTERNATIONALIZATION

The 1990s were crucial for business development: since Zonin’s position on the domestic market was well consolidated, the process of international development took on strategic importance and before long, Zonin wines were available in over 100 countries around the world. This was also the period in which Domenico, Francesco and Michele, Gianni’s sons, joined the company. The successful international challenge was also the result of their enthusiasm and innovative drive, which built upon the traditions that underpinned the family’s operations, revealing their ‘added value’ for the present. The new generation represents a new and crucial step forward in the company’s evolution, which embraces ancient wisdom but shapes it with dynamism and entrepreneurship for the world of today. Taking up the challenges presented by today’s new developments forms the bedrock of Zonin’s modern yet artisan-like approach to business in the run up to the company’s 200th anniversary.