The Zonin 1821 crisis: first proposal to take over the assets

However, the list of assets does not include the estate comprising some ninety hectares of vineyards in Barboursville, Virginia, in the United States, which was sold last February.

According to data from the Mediobanca wine study , Zonin recorded a turnover of 188 million euros last year, down 10.2 per cent compared with 2024 . Almost 83% of this turnover was generated abroad, but the company also suffered a setback in its international sales (-10.2%).

The news comes at a particularly delicate time for Zonin 1821, which is currently engaged in a process of negotiated settlement of the crisis at the Court of Venice. The case files reveal that the group is facing a situation of severe economic and financial instability, due to a decline in international wine consumption, difficulties in the US market, the high level of debt accumulated over the years and pressures on working capital.

The Court of Venice has ruled, at this stage, that “a restructuring plan is not manifestly implausible”. But time is running out.

In financial circles, questions continue to be raised about the group’s actual ability to carry out, within the planned timeframe, the asset valuation and disposal operations deemed crucial to its financial recovery.

The group of entrepreneurs that has come forward in the last few hours could be the factor capable of reshaping the balance of power and setting a new course.

It remains to be seen whether the Zonin family and 21 Investimenti (a shareholder with significant influence over the group’s governance) will rise to the challenge of opening the door to a dialogue that could mark a positive turning point in the group’s history.

“The family, the shareholders and the management,” reads a statement from Zonin 1821, “confirm their full commitment to carefully assessing all possible options and appropriate courses of action to safeguard the company’s future, as established and envisaged since the start of this process at the end of April.”