Zorzettig opens Viva, a new 10-million winery designed to drive growth in wine tourism and premium wines
The investment also stems from the need to streamline and centralise promotion, production and bottling – activities which were previously spread across the region – in a single location
To bring about a leap in quality and boost the flow of wine tourists to Friuli. These are the objectives behind the investment made by the Zorzettig winery in the newly opened Viva winery. The Zorzettig family have been based in the Colli Orientali del Friuli for many years. “We found bottles dating back to 1874, with handwritten labels and produced by my family,” explains Annalisa Zorzettig. Until the 1970s and 1980s, everything was run by three brothers. Of the three, the one with the greatest passion for winemaking was my father, who took the reins of the winery from the late 1970s onwards.”
It was at this stage that the company expanded, acquiring vineyards (in Spessa, Ipplis and Prepotto) and new facilities. “The new winery,” continues Zorzettig, “arose from a need to streamline and centralise production and bottling in a single location, which had previously been spread across the area. I gave the architect very few instructions: spacious areas to ensure quality of work, a well-lit bottling area and wide corridors for moving goods. Then I asked him to retain the double atrium at the centre of the building to ensure humidity and ventilation that were as natural as possible. ‘We designed and built a winery with the people who work there in mind, but it almost seems as if it were made to live in.’
Cantina Viva has requested an investment of around 10 million from a company with 120 hectares of vineyards, which on average generates a turnover of five. The winery produces 850,000 bottles, 50 per cent of which are exported. The winery also has plans for wine tourism. “We Friulians may seem reserved and shy,” continues Zorzettig, “but in reality, hospitality is part of who we are. I’ve always spent time with customers, restaurateurs or friends who came to the estate to taste our wines. With the new winery, we’ll have space to host groups of up to 25 people.”
Over the years, Zorzettig has increasingly focused on native grape varieties, such as Friulano and Ribolla Gialla (including sparkling wine) amongst the whites, and Refosco, Pignolo and Schioppettino (from Prepotto) amongst the reds. “Thanks to investments in concrete and cocciopesto vats, and trials with various types of barrels, we will achieve significant improvements in quality. Above all, we aim to strengthen the premium Myò range, which we would like to expand from 25,000 to 50,000 bottles.”
