Zenato is the Veneto family winery behind some of the best-known Amarone and Lugana in Italy. Founded by Sergio Zenato in 1960 on the southern shore of Lake Garda, it makes everything from crisp Lugana to the Amarone Riserva Sergio Zenato.
Zenato winery: from Lugana to Valpolicella Classico
Sergio Zenato and his wife Carla started the winery in 1960 in San Benedetto di Lugana, when the Lugana appellation was barely established. Sergio championed the local white grape, Trebbiano di Lugana (also called Turbiana), at a time when few producers took it seriously. Later he bought the Costalunga estate at Sant'Ambrogio in Valpolicella Classico and laid out its vineyards himself. Today the second generation runs the house: Alberto Zenato in the cellar and vineyards, Nadia Zenato in sales and marketing. The Santa Cristina estate by the lake is the source of the family's Lugana.
Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella and Riserva Sergio Zenato
Amarone is made from Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and other local grapes that are dried for months after harvest before fermentation. The drying concentrates sugar, colour and flavour, and the result is a full, dry red with dried cherry, plum, chocolate and spice. Zenato's Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2021 shows the house style: generous, polished and warming, with fine-grained tannins.
The Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Sergio Zenato is the flagship, made from a selection of the best grapes and given longer ageing before release. Vintages 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019 are here, with 2016 also in magnum and double magnum and 2017 in magnum. These are wines for the cellar and for long autumn and winter dinners.
Ripassa, Valpolicella and Recioto: the rest of the Zenato range
Zenato Ripassa is one of the best-known Valpolicella Ripasso wines. Valpolicella is refermented on the skins left over from Amarone, which gives more body, dried fruit and spice than a straight Valpolicella while staying fresher than Amarone. The Ripassa 2021 is a fine everyday partner for pasta and roast meat. Zenato Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2022 is the lighter, juicier red of the family, and the Recioto della Valpolicella Classico 2020 in half-litre bottle is the sweet sibling of Amarone, made from the same dried grapes but with fermentation stopped early.
Zenato Lugana: the white wines of Lake Garda
Lugana San Benedetto 2025 is the classic: fresh, mineral and fragrant with white peach, almond and citrus. The Lugana Riserva Sergio Zenato 2022 is fuller and more layered, with a long, saline finish, and Azienda Agricola Santa Cristina Lugana 2025 comes from the family's lakeside estate. All three are excellent with fish from the lake, risotto and light poultry dishes.
Serving Zenato wines
Serve Amarone at 16 to 18°C and give it an hour or two in a decanter. It is made for braised beef, game, risotto all'Amarone and aged cheeses such as Monte Veronese or Parmigiano. Ripassa suits slightly cooler serving and roast pork, lasagne or mushroom dishes. Lugana is best at 8 to 10°C. Find more of the region in Valpolicella wine and Veneto, discover the grape in Corvina, or explore all Italian wine.
FAQ about Zenato
What is the difference between Zenato Amarone and Ripassa?
Amarone is made from grapes dried for months before fermentation, which gives a fuller, more concentrated wine. Ripassa is Valpolicella refermented on Amarone skins: lighter than Amarone, richer than Valpolicella.
What is the Riserva Sergio Zenato?
The top Amarone of the house, named after the founder, made from selected grapes and aged longer before release.
How long can Zenato Amarone age?
The Classico is enjoyable from release and keeps for ten to fifteen years. The Riserva Sergio Zenato can develop for twenty years or more, especially in magnum.
Where is Zenato located?
The winery is in San Benedetto di Lugana on the southern shore of Lake Garda, with red-wine vineyards at Sant'Ambrogio in Valpolicella Classico.
What food goes with Zenato Lugana?
Lake and sea fish, shellfish, risotto, white meat and fresh cheeses.