The Azienda Zenato has always forged strong links with local history and culture, both that of centuries past and that still forming today, and links just as deep with the land that gives us the wines we produce. Equally important to us is a passionate dedication to vigorous research and innovation, to relentless quality improvement. All of this has made Azienda Zenato an ambassador for quality, for dedication, for a frank and simple way of life.
"We are proud to represent, too, the area of Lugana, where our unremitting efforts have contributed to its recent growth and rediscovery. Alongside our passion for the land, we have also shown far-sighted business acumen by investing in nearby Valpolicella; our presence in this area will give us the welcome ability to improve and grow our presence in Italy and in the world. Our family is proud to cling to those values, that dedication, that frank and simple approach that have helped us become such a thriving enterprise. For all these reasons, we believe that we are ideally suited to completely satisfy every wine-lover looking for an affordable wine of superb distinctiveness and exceptional quality."
The winery is in San Benedetto di Lugana, in the municipality of Peschiera del Garda, about 25 km west of Verona. Its location on the Veneto side of Lake Garda affords it an extremely favourable microclimate. It comprises 70 hectares, in the best vineyard sites of Lugana and in the Valpolicella Classico, right in the midst of areas richly laden with important historical, economic, and cultural events and memories.
The Azienda Zenato is owned by the Zenato family. Sergio Zenato founded it in 1960, motivated by his passion for wine and by the devotion to quality he had learned from his father Silvino.
This family wine business is founded on the values of the human factor, of time, and of tradition, each and all of these linked indissolubly with Valpolicella and Lugana, areas pregnant with history.
Sergio Zenato pours into the making of his wines his energy and his talent, animated by an absolute passion for quality and by the determination to constantly eclipse past results. He has poured his efforts into the land as well, experimenting with new vineyard plantings. The crafting of his wines becomes a kind of ritual, which he celebrates together with his two children, Alberto and Nadia.
His wife Carla is responsible for the winery's image.
Their father's passion animates both Nadia and Alberto. Alberto oversees European sales and assists his father on the production side.
" ... Even when I was just a boy, becoming a winemaker was all that I wanted to do when I was grown up. During vacations, I always tried to help my father in the cellar or in the vineyards..." (Decanter, May 2003)
Nadia is responsible for public relations and for sales in Italy and the United Stares.
"... Our overriding goal is to make the best wine possible from each vineyard, and at the same time to coax the maximum expression from every single site in each area..." (Decanter, July 2002)
"... My grandfather was a farmer. My father was the one who launched our business. For myself, I felt very early that my calling was to communicate what it was we were achieving. My talents have always run to communication, and to do so for my family was a moral obligation, besides being quite fulfilling personally...(Gambero Rosso, September 2003).