The 2026 harvest will mark the operational debut of one of the most significant industrial innovations implemented by Vitevis in recent years. At the Montecchio Maggiore production site, the new bottling line has now come into operation — an investment that has radically transformed the production spaces and introduced advanced technologies for quality, efficiency and sustainability. This project enables the Veneto cooperative to increase productivity by 25% and reach a capacity of up to 10,000 bottles per hour, strengthening the competitiveness of a group that brings together over 1,200 members and produces nearly 18 million bottles a year.
The new bottling line: an industrial transformation looking ahead to the 2026 harvest
Completed in spring 2026 after four weeks of intense work, the project represents a strategic milestone for Vitevis and for the entire associated supply chain.
The intervention deeply reshaped the Montecchio Maggiore production site, where the bottling hall was completely redesigned. The new layout nearly doubled the size of the operational area, improving workflow management, working conditions and process control.
The investment will be officially presented to members during today’s open day, 10 July, an opportunity to observe firsthand the functioning of the new technologies dedicated to labelling, capsuling and the handling of bottles and cartons.
The modernization of the plant translates first and foremost into a significant increase in production performance.
The new infrastructure allows a 25% productivity gain compared to the previous configuration, thanks to greater automation and more efficient management of the entire process.
“With this investment, our company positions itself at the forefront of winery technology,” says Gianfranco Gambesi, General Manager of Vitevis, “because the +25% productivity gain compared to the previous configuration results in greater efficiency per unit produced, lower resource consumption and reduced process waste — a figure perfectly aligned with the production approach outlined in our sustainability report. In other words, it means qualitative improvement, process implementation and greater competitiveness in the markets.”
The goal is not only to produce more, but to produce better, reducing waste and consumption within an industrial sustainability framework.
Total quality control on every bottle, non‑stop labelling and full traceability
One of the most innovative elements introduced by the project concerns the quality‑control system.
The new line eliminates the concept of sample checks, replacing it with continuous, automated monitoring throughout all production phases.
Before labelling, each bottle undergoes an optical inspection to verify the presence of the capsule, with automatic removal of any non‑compliant items. A second station then checks the corking and fill level using camera‑based systems.
The process continues with a sophisticated 360° analysis of the applied label, achieved through full reconstruction of the bottle’s rotational solid. Any defects are identified and discarded without interrupting the production flow.
Every phase has been designed to ensure operational continuity and consistent quality standards.
Among the main innovations is the new labelling machine, equipped with seven operating stations in non‑stop mode.
This configuration eliminates downtime for format changes, further improving line performance and allowing even more precise control by operators.
Cartoning is handled by an automatic monoblock with divider insertion, designed to preserve label integrity during handling.
The process is completed by the automatic application of the SSCC label on each pallet, ensuring full supply‑chain traceability and extremely precise logistics management.
The new Vitevis bottling line: dedicated technologies for still wines and sparkling wines
The new configuration takes into account the different technical requirements of still wines and sparkling wines.
For sparkling wines bottled at cold temperatures, a new climate‑control unit has been installed to ensure strictly regulated conditions of temperature and air speed — parameters essential for the quality of the final product.
For still wines, a capsuling machine with electronic pneumatic regulation has been introduced, ensuring uniform application at any production speed.
Particularly significant is the new double‑skid microfiltration system, which allows rapid transitions between wines of different colors and enables sanitization of the inactive circuit during production, reducing downtime and the risk of cross‑contamination.
Vitevis: sustainability and innovation within a single strategy
The investment is part of Vitevis’ broader sustainable‑development path, already underway through the Sovano and Condiviso projects. The shared goal is to reduce the environmental footprint of the supply chain and accelerate innovation both in vineyard management and in winery operations.
In this perspective, production efficiency and sustainability are not separate objectives but integral components of the same corporate strategy.
Founded in 2015 from the merger of Cantina Colli Vicentini, Cantina di Gambellara and Cantina Valleogra — later joined by Cantina di Castelnuovo del Garda — Vitevis is today one of the leading wine cooperatives in Veneto.
The strength of the group lies in its ability to coordinate hundreds of growers across the Vicenza area, Verona and Lake Garda, enhancing four distinct territories through unified management and increasingly advanced technological resources.
With the new bottling line, Vitevis inaugurates a new phase in its industrial journey, confirming that innovation, quality and sustainability are now essential elements for addressing the challenges of the contemporary wine market.
