Gianfranco Zanon, chief oenologist at Valdo and one of the top 100 winemakers of 2024 as recognized by The Drinks Business, was born in Farra di Soligo, in the heart of the Prosecco Superiore DOCG production area. A deep connoisseur of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region, Zanon developed a strong bond with the land and its rich winemaking tradition from an early age.
This connection is evident in his work, where his expertise in producing high-quality sparkling wines, such as Valdo Prosecco Superiore DOCG and the Valdo Marca Oro line, has brought the winery international success. His profound knowledge of the local terroir, combined with an innovative approach to winemaking, has established Valdo as one of the most renowned producers.
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What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your winery brand?
Growing up in a farming family, my path into the world of wine seemed almost predestined. My early experiences at a historic sparkling wine company in Valdobbiadene provided a solid foundation. Still, a pivotal moment came in 2015 when I met Dr. Bolla, who was looking for a new technical director for his esteemed company. From the start, we felt an immediate and deep connection, a synergy that was right from the start.
This alignment and the promise of personal and professional growth attracted me to join the Valdo family. Over the past 35 years, my journey in the wine industry has been one of deepening expertise and passionate commitment. At Valdo, I’ve had the privilege of refining my skills in the production of sparkling wine using the Martinotti method, gaining an intimate knowledge of the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG area, and building relationships with its producers and winemakers.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained. Sky’s the limit!
One of my greatest dreams is to maximize the oenological potential of the grapes from our beautiful hills in Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. In order to achieve this, I believe that we should start by directly managing the vineyards, in particular by selecting the most suitable areas within the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG denomination. This approach would allow us to implement all the essential agronomic practices to obtain raw materials of the highest quality. In particular, in order to face climate change, it is essential to have access to water, which unfortunately we do not have at the moment, as well as to resume the use of organic matter (manure), which is crucial for restoring the vitality and fertility of the soil. Achieving this is currently difficult and involves very high costs year after year, especially considering that the vineyards are located on slopes, which means that almost all agronomic practices have to be carried out manually. Once this viticultural project is properly established, we could proceed with manual and selective harvesting of the grapes in crates, followed by a low-temperature vinification by pressing the whole grapes. This method would allow us to achieve the highest level of quality and varietal expression. This would be followed by a classic primary alcoholic fermentation to produce the base wine, a prolonged aging on the lees, and finally a secondary fermentation in autoclaves, with the sole purpose of enhancing the unique and inimitable characteristics of the sparkling wine from the hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
I believe that our “Vigna Pradase” Valdobbiadene DOCG Classic Method represents the essence of this journey of oenological experience and knowledge. A Classic Method wine, aged on the lees for at least 24 months, is certainly a great challenge from a production point of view, especially when you consider that it is made from Glera grapes with the addition of Verdiso, Bianchetta and Perera grapes.
Bonus Question – What are your wholehearted convictions related to the wine business? Not your wines!
In the world of wine, relationships between people still matter greatly, as do mutual trust, consistency, and determination in pursuing medium- and long-term projects.