In the beginning, there were woolen mills in Valdagno (Vi), then Gaetano Marzotto, a multifaceted entrepreneur and a step ahead of his time, decided to diversify the business and invest in the agribusiness sector, creating a modern agricultural hub that would become an asset for the development of the are. Thus, Cantine Santa Margherita was founded, the first brick of what has become one of the most important players in the wine sector at the Italian and international level. In 2025, to celebrate its first 90 years, the company gave itself a new name: Herita Marzotto Wine Estates.
The roots of success
But let us take a step back. It is 1935, and Marzotto senses the potential of the area between Fossalta di Portogruaro and the Venetian Lagoon to meet the growing demand for food. The goal is to enhance agriculture, using modern farming methods and technology, but always preserving nature. Vines, a traditional land crop, are being reintroduced on the estate, and a state-of-the-art winery is being built.
Innovation and sustainability
In the postwar period, the winery rode the wine qualification wave and began producing only DOC labels. This period witnessed a change in consumer tastes and habits, which sought wines that were less structured and more suited to modern cuisine. The company grasped this change and showed its pioneering spirit, with the sparkling of the Glera grape variety on the hills of Valdobbiadene since 1952 and the launch in 1961 of Pinot Grigio, a new wine that radically changed the Italian wine market and became an icon of Made in Italy. With its innovative vinification, which involves the removal of skins to obtain a transparent, fresh and fruity wine, Pinot Grigio Santa Margherita became a perfect companion for Italian, Mediterranean and Asian cuisine dishes. Later came new interpretations of Chardonnay and Müller Thurgau, offered in a sparkling version.
Looking ahead
Today, with the name change, the company not only celebrates its past (Herita, from the English “heritage”), but also looks enthusiastically to the future, confirming its commitment to quality and sustainability. With an investment of 35.7 million euros in 2024, Herita Marzotto Wine Estates continues to develop and implement organic farming practices: more than half of its 782 hectares are cultivated according to sustainable methods, practices adopted since its origins. Using low-impact technologies – such as drip irrigation – and renewable energy (including self-generated), testifies to the company’s commitment to protecting the environment and promoting agriculture that respects biodiversity.
A mosaic of excellence: the estates and vineyards
Herita Marzotto Wine Estates’ portfolio encompasses ten prestigious estates – Santa Margherita, Torresella, Kettmeir, Ca’ del Bosco, Cà Maiol, Lamole di Lamole, Vistarenni, Tenuta Sassoregale, Cantina Mesa, and Roco Winery. Alongside the estates distributed in some of Italy’s most iconic wine regions-from Valdobbiadene to Franciacorta, from Chianti Classico to Maremma-which represent the beating heart of a business that combines tradition and innovation, there are the more than 40 productive hectares in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, which underscore the interest in such a prestigious wine market as the United States.
Looking ahead: 90 years of success
The year 2025 is not only a milestone to celebrate but also the beginning of a new chapter. With its rebranding, Herita Marzotto Wine Estates is preparing for the future with the same spirit of innovation that characterized its first 90 years of history.
Herita Marzotto Wine Estates is not only a wine group but an authentic ambassador of Made in Italy around the world. Led by the four Marzotto brothers, who represent the third generation of the family, and with sales exceeding 255 million euros and more than 27 million bottles sold in more than 90 countries, the company is recognized for its ability to bring Italian wine excellence to international markets.
Congratulations to those who innovate and bring Made in Italy wine to the world!
Discover other outstanding companies of the Veneto region.