Sustainability

PRESERVING HARMONY

Zonin 1821 is proud to promote sustainable development in all its aspects: environmental, economic and social.

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.

Castello di Albola e Rocca di Montemassi – Sustainability Report

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Group Sustainability Report

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THE PRINCIPLES THAT INSPIRE AND GUIDE US

01. Ethics and Responsibility Zonin 1821 is committed to carrying out its activities in compliance with ethical, professional and legal standards by integrating economic, social and environmental aspects into its decision-making and control processes.
02. Sustainable growth Zonin 1821 is committed to offering its customers high value-added services and products, which contribute to improve the prosperity in the territory and the well-being of the communities living in the neighboring areas.
03. Shared development Zonin 1821 intends to grow by adopting a business and operational model aimed at creating value for its stakeholders, through the pursuit of financial solidity, profitability and long-term sustainability goals.
04. Excellence and innovation Zonin 1821 actively collaborates along with its partners to develop the best production choices and to use the best available technological solutions in order to fully satisfy customer expectations.
05. Development of people and their protection Zonin 1821 is committed to creating stimulating and dynamic work environments, in which health protection, safety, respect for diversity, human rights and professional development are the priorities. An environment capable of attracting and retaining the best talents, thereby ensuring the achievement of the company's present and future goals.
06. Involvement of the supply chain Zonin 1821 intends to promote the adoption of sustainability practices among its suppliers, in order to constantly improve the overall performance of its activities and contribute to the diffusion of the sustainable development principles in the wine sector.
07. Socio-economic development of the territories Zonin 1821 adopts an operating model aimed at contributing to the growth of the areas in which it operates, through the creation of new jobs, professional training, the use of local suppliers, and initiatives in favor of the community.
08. Environmental protection and safeguarding Zonin 1821 conducts its activities by identifying the best technical and organizational solutions, in order to limit as much as possible the potential negative effects on the environment, contributing to the re-use of waste products.
09. Dialogue and transparency Zonin 1821 is committed to developing and maintaining solid and lasting relationships with its stakeholders, attending their legitimate expectations and adopting appropriate forms of involvement.

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.
Radda in Chianti, Tuscany, Italy Castello di Albola
Cervignano del Friuli, Udine, Italy Ca’ Bolani
Torre Santa Susanna, Sicily, Italy Principi di Butera
Torre Santa Susanna, Apulia, Italy Masseria Altemura
Zenevredo, Lombardia, Italy Oltrenero
Roccastrada, Tuscany, Italy Rocca di Montemassi
Asti, Piedmont, Italy Castello del Poggio
Barboursville, Virginia, USA Barboursville Vineyards
Santiago, Chile, South America Dos Almas

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