Citra Vini — the leading winery in Abruzzo, founded in 1973 and comprising eight wineries and 6,000 hectares of vineyards cultivated by 3,000 winemaking families — has reappointed Sandro Spella as president, renewing the term he began in 2022 and reinforcing confidence in the continuity of management.
Citra Vini: Sandro Spella Reappointed as president
Sandro Spella, a certified public accountant, auditor, and former mayor of Arielli, is serving his second term as president of Citra Vini. This is what he said:
“This reappointment is a victory for everyone; it means we have jointly and jointly pursued our objectives. The applause and credit for this renewed trust goes to all the members of the Board of Directors, to General Manager Fabio De Dominicis, and to all company employees. These have been three intense and exciting years, with the celebrations of our 50th anniversary in 2023, and, at the same time, very challenging on the management front, during a challenging period marked initially by post-pandemic scenarios and rising raw material prices, and then by the current challenges linked to war, feared US tariffs, and a significant decline in wine consumption. However, with a sense of belonging, responsibility, and driven by the true values of cooperation, we have achieved significant goals, with record revenue growth of 55% in the last three years.”
This year, the consolidated financial statements of the Citra Vini Group, which includes its subsidiaries: Abruzzo nel Mondo srl, Casal Thaulero, and Nododivino, recorded an unprecedented financial result of €62 million in consolidated revenues, compared to €40 million in 2022.
“This is the result of great teamwork, in which everyone has shown the utmost professionalism in their daily work, starting with all the workers, to our team of winemakers who, combining genius and technical acumen, consistently pursue both high quality standards and the authenticity and uniqueness that have always characterized Citra wines,” continued Sandro Spella.
“But certainly, the architects of these successes are our 3000 winemaking members, the true soul of the company. Only thanks to their dedication, resilience, passion through work and passing the baton from father to son, on the one hand they ensure us high-quality grapes, without which it would be unthinkable to make good wines and on the other hand they are the true champions of our territory.
The future of the Abruzzo cooperative: unity and harmony
Looking ahead, Sandro Spella continues:
“Although the future scenarios appear bleak and marked by the many uncertainties, difficulties, and challenges facing the manufacturing sector, my second term, like my first, will continue to be marked by frank and constructive dialogue. I am convinced that by all pulling in the same direction, aware of the history, solidity, and strengths of our company, we will be able to face the challenges that await us.”
I draw inspiration from a very significant and emblematic quote from Sallust, an exhortation that reads: ‘Concordia parvae res crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur’ (In harmony even small things grow, in discord even the greatest fade, ed.). Unity and a strong spirit of harmony are needed, to work together and united to contribute with our own efforts to the achievement of a common and higher goal, all contributing to achieving shared objectives and ensuring fair compensation for all our members.
Joining Sandro Spella in this renewed role will be Vice Presidents Dino D’Ercole and Alessandro Scarlatto, and the other members of the Board of Directors: Domenico Bomba, Canziano La Rocca, Licio Colantuono, Pino Candeloro, and Valentino Di Campli.
For the Board of Statutory Auditors, Luciano De Angelis is the President, with the reappointments of the Auditors Miranda Scarinci and Simona Del Popolo. The appointments for the subsidiaries of the Citra Group also reflect continuity: Domenico Bomba was reappointed President of Casal Thaulero, Canziano La Rocca was elected President of Abruzzo nel Mondo, and Licio Colantuono was confirmed as President of the boutique winery Nododivino.
Citra Vini: 2024 turnover and exports
During the shareholders’ meeting, General Manager Fabio De Dominicis (pictured below, right) had the opportunity to illustrate and share the company’s financial data, the strategies implemented to reposition and expand its product lines, and, above all, to emphasize last year’s exceptional results, despite the critical issues facing the entire wine industry.
He stated:
“We are very satisfied with having achieved our objectives, both with a double-digit increase in revenue and an improvement in our net financial position, which allows us to guarantee highly appreciable levels of remuneration for our members.”
Despite a decline in overall consumption, the Citra Vini Group has been able to rely on its consolidated, broad product portfolio, expanded with the launch of new brand lines, aimed at current trends in easy-drinking wines. In the large-scale retail channel, the revamped Niro line, the launch of Caos and the Trabocco DOC sparkling wines, have ensured positive performances significantly above the industry trend and a significant increase in both weighted and numerical distribution.
Our presence in the Horeca channel, through a revamped offering of wines and sparkling wines specifically designed for restaurants and wine shops, has also been rewarding, with significant growth in the super-premium lines, Ferzo and Fenaroli Metodo Classico sparkling wines.
Even more significant are the export figures, which have always been Citra’s strong point. With a presence in approximately 50 countries, exports account for over 60% of revenues, with significant sales growth both in its most historic markets, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Benelux, and in Asia, particularly Japan.
Underscoring the values that inspire Citra and demonstrating the careful operational strategies implemented by the company over the last three years, the Sustainability Report certifies the virtuous path not only in economic terms but also in social and environmental ones. This is a tangible commitment, starting with energy savings. The bottling lines are powered by two zero-impact photovoltaic systems. Maximum attention is also paid to reducing CO2 emissions, reducing interventions in the vineyards and related soil protection, avoiding the accumulation of pollutants in groundwater. This results in the production of wines that respect the territory (in addition to lines such as Organic, Biovegan, and Sulphite-free) with eco-friendly packaging (lightweight bottles, recyclable capsules, etc.) that are more in line with consumer needs. Furthermore, we compile both Carbon and Water Footprint Reports, and display the Equalitas certification logo on the back label of each bottle.
Fabi De Dominicis also highlighted his experience at the helm of the company thus far:
“Over the past few years, Citra has undergone a process of consolidation and growth, facing complex challenges with determination. We are committed to actively contributing to the economic and social progress of the region while respecting and protecting the environment. The Equalitas sustainable company certification is an important milestone that underscores the standards achieved and is part of the broader project “Cultivating Values for the Future.” Citra is and will remain a driving force for the development of winemaking in Abruzzo, as the numbers demonstrate: in 2024, we redistributed 79% of our turnover to our stakeholders.”
