Sustainability

Territoriality, climatic and morphological peculiarities of the production areas, experience and professionalism of agronomists and oenologists, identification of dynamic commercial strategies are the guiding principles of our philosophy.

A philosophy based on preservation of the soil and the ecosystem that welcomes us locally. Our flagships are Castello di Albola and Rocca di Montemassi, the first estates of the group to have obtained Equalitas and organic certifications. In 2023, ZONIN1821 drafted its first Sustainability Report of the Group with the aim of reporting on the activities carried out in the field of sustainability and describing the achieved objectives and the plans adopted for improvements.

THE PRINCIPLES THAT INSPIRE AND GUIDE US

MAIN AREAS OF INTEREST IN SOIL AND ECOSYSTEM CONSERVATION

The impact in viticulture

Limiting the use of technical means that are sometimes necessary, in order to reduce their impact.

We decided to reintroduce the traditional technique of natural fertilization, called “green manure”, to provide the soil with nutrients for the vine.

We are limiting as much as possible the use of herbicides in our estates, preserving life in the soil. Today 60% of the vineyards are cultivated without herbicides. Among other activities, we use cover crops to increase the amount of organic matter in the soil and to provide nitrogen and natural carbon to 40% of the total vineyard area.

WATER RESOURCES

Drought years and arid territory: when the vine needs emergency irrigation.

In order to counter the effects of global warming, in three of our estates we use the ‘drip’ irrigation method, managed through the digital program ‘Vintel’, a forecasting model based on weather reports which allows us to rationalize the irrigation of vineyards. In addition, we use weather stations to prevent vine diseases, through the precise control of the amount of water falling and other atmospheric variables.

In Sicily, at the Feudo Principi di Butera and in Puglia, at the Masseria Altemura, ZONIN1821 has created artificial lakes within the property, to collect rainwater and make the company self-sufficient for any water needs, without affecting the aquifers.

Energy

Producing grapes in harmony with the environment around us

Regarding the energy aspect, the wineries of the Zonin family aim at complete self-sufficiency. Currently, the various wineries produce up to 44% of their individual needs by using photovoltaic systems – so-called “clean energy” – as, for example, in the case of Tenuta Il Bosco in Oltrepò Pavese and Tenuta Castello del Poggio in Monferrato.

The Companies are located in a landscape of great value, therefore the panels are placed on the roof of shelters or cellars in order to reduce their visual impact.

Biodiversity and reforestation

Ensuring the integrity and the ecosystem restoration of the places we inherit for future generations.

Biodiversity is protected in ways that involve especially some of our estates, such as Rocca di Montemassi, where the typical Mediterranean scrub made of olive trees and cork oaks has been preserved and, at the same time, woods, broom shrubs, strawberry trees and mimosas have been replanted, making the area both a local flora and fauna presidium and a landscape of rare beauty.

THE CLIMATIC AND MORPHOLOGICAL PECULIARITIES OF THE PRODUCTION AREAS BRING US FACE TO FACE WITH EVER-CHANGING CHALLENGES

Find out how our conservation experts implement specific initiatives in each of the estates, meeting Zonin 1821's commitment towards biodiversity, sustainability and local communities.

DISCOVER THE ZONIN BRAND

“A daily connection with the territory and its traditions, a deep respect for nature and environment, enables the company to capitalize on the heritage of years of activity in the world of wine, and at the same time to successfully open up to the new challenges of globalization.

All of this will enable the new generations to continue to meet the challenges of the future.”

Domenico Zonin, President Find out more about us