At the dawn of the 20th Century, in the countryside of Valdobbiadene, the wine production of Zambon winery kicked off – on the hills – alongside farms, vineyards and live stock production.

Those were the years when vines cultivating initiated, when it was clear that crops of wheat and hay where established to feed the family and little more. Those were the years when the family realised that grapes grown on the hills made good popular wine, leading them slowly to abandon all other crops and concentrate solely on vine cultivation.

Angelo Zambon threw himself into carefully pruning the vines, one by one, with the same love he would have used to comb a little girl’s hair. He worked hard alongside his family, sons and labourers, just like a pragmatic teacher in a primeval school of wine-making. The sun was harsh, the grapes grew on neat lines of vines, voluptuously.

It was amongst the shades of green and gold- with the air busy with curious and avid insects- that the harvesting approached. Picking grapes happened uniquely by hand, the only way to collect with respect the generous gift of the magnificent vines and to give it our undivided attention. Moreover, the hills are not ideal for harvesting mechanisation.

Angelo and his family, helped by friends, found that picking grapes is a long and hard job, but the strong bonds that are born at this time of the year are worth the effort. The bunches are taken off one by one, cut with respect and tact, almost asking permission and giving thanks for the precious reward. Angelo managed to pass this respectful approach on to his son Vittore, and the legacy moved on.