The Zonin family have been Vintners for seven generations with their roots firmly placed in the heart of the vineyards and roaming hills of the Veneto region of North Eastern Italy. Since 1821, the Zonin family has been making wine and owns almost 4,500 acres of vineyards, divided among 11 estates in seven of the country’s most highly regarded winemaking regions. Zonin is renowned for making wines that highlight the exclusivity of their terroirs, varietal characteristics and – ultimately – the personality of each individual wine.
We are delighted to share with you an interview with Michele Zonin, one of the seventh generation of the family to work in the business and currently Vice President of the group.
Michele (among many other things!) is responsible for the development of wine corners/wine bars around the world, one of which is Edinburgh’s The Wine House 1821. Read on to find out more.
Please Tell Us A Little Bit More About Yourself And The Role You Play Within The Business.
As Executive Vice President of Casa Vinicola Zonin S.p.A. (about 200 ML euros consolidated turnover), I am responsible for the Legal and Control departments and the Wine Bars Division which involves the development of wine corners around the world, serving Zonin wines and promoting events related to the wine group. I’m also responsible for the legal structure of the group (corporation and partnerships), coordinating reviews according to fiscal and laws, and directly coordinating law firms and accountants involved in such reviews.
I have been actively involved in the oldest and most prestigious Italian wine association for eight years, together with another 19 major wine producers, promoting Chianti Classico, a symbol of the Tuscany region, worldwide.
Promoting Your Wines To Sommeliers And Journalists Is An Integral Part Of Developing The Presence Of Zonin On The International Wine Bar Scene. Tell Us More About Your Approach.
Promoting our wines is promoting Italy, its culture and its great variety of species, plants and grapes. Our philosophy has always been to invest in and emphasise this amazing variety, and in every estate of ours (from Piedmont, to Tuscany, to Veneto and Sicily) to focus on local varieties and local wines. Our approach to sommeliers, journalists and consumers therefore is to speak about this and through our wines, create a better knowledge of our country.
What Is/are The Key Differentiator/s Of Zonin Wine?
I would say authenticity and elegance. We like to say that – no matter the bottle you have, Amarone, Prosecco, Primitivo – our wines are easy to enjoy.
Which Is Your Own Personal Favourite Wine And Why?
I am more a red wine type; I would say the Chianti Classico, for its elegance (due to the altitude – almost 600 metres above sea level – where our grapes are cultivated, which brings a fantastic acidity to our wines), and the Amarone, the iconic red wine from Verona, the city where I live.
Who Is Your Typical Zonin Wine Drinker?
There is not a single type of drinker due to our vast portfolio coming from different estates in Italy and the US. Our Prosecco and Moscato appeal to young consumers who want to enjoy the fresh and sparkling Italian wine, while with Chianti Classico, Amarone and Nero d’Avola, we talk to a different consumer, who enjoys the ageing of wine and a deeper structure.
Edinburgh Is A Vibrant City With A Buzzing Scene For Food And Drink Connoisseurs, Tell Us About The Decision To Make Your Mark Here And How You And The Team Are Delivering The Zonin Experience.
Edinburgh – and I would say the whole of Scotland – has become a market of wine connoisseurs. More and more consumers are not only interested in Italian wines in general, but now also in our different wine appellations and categories. Due to the huge variety of grapes and appellations existing in Italy, we think that the Scottish consumer will enjoy more and more Italian wines. In addition, Edinburgh is so vibrant, we decided to start our first wine bar project here – together with our friend, the restaurateur, Sep Marini.
There Are Lots Of Exciting Expansion Plans For The Business – Can You Share Further Details With Us?
Regarding the wine bars project: one already exists in Sao Paulo, one opened a few weeks ago in Moscow, behind the beautiful Church of Christ the Saviour, with a further bar to follow in Russia this year; we also opened in Milan (near the Cathedral) in June; with one to open in the upcoming prestigious Hilton Resort in Sicily. As regards the Zonin1821, we are seeking further expansion, by an acquisition or a joint venture.
Any Events Coming Up At The Wine House 1821 Our Readers Would Be Interested In Finding Out More About?
Our Wine Dinners have proved to be a huge success and very popular with novices and aficionados alike and we plan to have a mix of these dinners as well as wine tasting events throughout the year – keep a look out on our Facebook page or ask a member of our Wine House team.
From Your Time In Edinburgh Where Have You Enjoyed Most?
Difficult to say; you can literally breath art, history and culture in every street of this beautiful city; and people are really friendly and welcoming. If I had to pick one, I would say the splendid old castle!
Finally, What Is Your Life Motto (If You Have One)?
“If you don’t climb the mountain, you won’t be able to enjoy the view” (Pablo Neruda)
Address: 4 Picardy Pl, Edinburgh EH1 3JT
Web: www.winehouse1821.co.uk
