Why I Chose Zenato’s Holiday Gift Pack
Holiday wine choices need range, not redundancy. Zenato’s two-bottle holiday gift pack, which includes Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019 and Zenato Lugana Brut Classico, delivers that: a refined sparkling white for celebratory openings and a powerful, age-worthy red for the table’s main event.
Lugana Brut Classico brings freshness, finesse, and aperitivo appeal, while Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019 offers depth, warmth, and long-form pleasure. Together, they cover the full arc of the holiday season, from first toast to final pour, making this pairing both practical and elevated.
Roots + Terroir
Zenato was founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato and his wife Carla on the southern shore of Lake Garda, in the village of San Benedetto di Lugana.
From modest beginnings, the estate expanded steadily over the decades. Today, Zenato owns approximately 95 hectares across two key sites: the Santa Cristina estate in Lugana, devoted primarily to the indigenous white grape Trebbiano di Lugana, and the Costalunga estate in the hills of Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella, located within the Valpolicella Classico zone, where soils are rich in limestone and clay and distinctly mineral-driven.
This dual identity lies at the heart of Zenato’s philosophy: “The soul of Lugana and the heart of Valpolicella.”
The vineyards benefit from the moderating influence of Lake Garda for white wines, while the varied, elevated terrain of the Valpolicella hills provides ideal growing conditions for red varieties, contributing both structure and complexity.
Under the stewardship of Sergio’s children: Alberto Zenato, who manages production, and Nadia Zenato, who oversees sales and marketing, the estate has refined and expanded its portfolio, blending respect for tradition with modern winemaking precision.
Zenato stands among the most recognized family-owned estates in northern Italy, offering a range that spans crisp whites and sparkling Lugana to structured Ripasso and opulent Amarone, embodying both regional heritage and strong international appeal.
Wine Tourism
Zenato offers winery tours and tastings from San Benedetto, an ideal setting for wine tourism, combining lakeside ambience, vineyard tradition, and easy access from Verona.
With its dual terroirs, Lugana and Valpolicella, visitors can experience two distinct expressions of Veneto wines: refined sparkling and still whites from the lake region, and serious, age-worthy reds from the hills.
As global interest in Italian native grape varieties and sustainable, terroir-driven wines continues to grow, particularly among wine travellers and influencers, Zenato’s long history, regional focus, and family-run authenticity provide a compelling and credible narrative.
Tasting Notes + Holiday Pairings
Zenato Lugana Brut Classico
This wine is made from 100% Trebbiano di Lugana (Turbiana), sourced from lakeshore vineyards.
Tasting Notes:
Fine perlage and an elegant mousse. The colour is pale straw-yellow with subtle golden highlights. On the nose, the wine is bright and clean, showing notes of white flowers, green apple, pear, citrus, a hint of soft stone fruit, and delicate biscuity nuances. On the palate, it is vibrant, with a soft, pleasant mousse and a mineral-tinged finish.
Food Pairing:
Seafood, shellfish, light seafood pasta, and sushi. An excellent aperitivo for the holiday season.
Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2019
Zenato’s flagship red is crafted from a selection of Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta, and a small proportion of Croatina, sourced from vineyards in Sant’Ambrogio. The grapes are dried for approximately four months, pressed in January, and undergo slow fermentation with extended skin contact. The wine is aged for 36 months in large-format Slavonian oak casks, followed by further refinement in bottle prior to release.
This meticulous process results in a complex, full-bodied, and age-worthy wine that stands as a classic expression of Amarone della Valpolicella.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, the wine is elegant and spicy, with aromas of dark cherries, prunes, and dried fruits, layered with warm spice undertones. On the palate, it is full-bodied, rounded, velvety, and enveloping, offering layers of dark plum, cherry, and cocoa, with a long, lingering finish.
Food Pairing:
This rich Amarone pairs beautifully with grilled or roasted meats, hearty pasta dishes with meat sauces, game, aged cheeses, and rich risottos. It is also excellent as a contemplative “meditation wine” on its own.
Final Perspective
Zenato serves as a strong model for what a mid-century regional winery can evolve into: a producer that successfully balances tradition with modern marketing, local identity with global reach, and focused vineyard expression with diversified terroir experiences – appealing equally to seasoned connoisseurs and the next generation of curious wine travellers.