Giusti Wine presents Gabriele, a new Manzoni Bianco Asolo Montello Doc dedicated to Gabriele Zanatta, oenologist and nephew of founder Ermenegildo Giusti. The new label will make its public debut at Vinitaly 2026 in Verona, from 12 to 15 April. The wine is produced from 100% Incrocio Manzoni and conceived as a tribute to Montello, the historical cradle of the variety created in the 1930s by Luigi Manzoni at the Conegliano School of Enology from Riesling Renano and Pinot Bianco. The vineyards are located in Tenuta Abazia—one of the family’s eleven estates—at the foot of the Abbey of Sant’Eustachio, a symbol of Montello restored and returned to the community thanks to Giusti’s patronage. The label features a woodcock, a bird typical of the area, symbolising a flight that represents both roots and future.
A bottle that tells the story of Gabriele Zanatta: a new‑generation tribute to Montello
Raised among the vineyards and trained at the Conegliano School of Enology and the University of Udine—graduating with top marks—Gabriele Zanatta gained experience in several wineries before returning to the family estate. Today, working alongside oenologist Mirco Pozzobon and under the supervision of Graziana Grassini, he embodies the blend of identity and technical precision guiding the winery’s new chapter.
“I fell in love with this wine immediately, even before its production was confirmed. That’s why my uncle decided to give it my name: a tenacious sip, a trait that defines me as well,” says Zanatta, highlighting the coherence between the Manzoni profile and Montello’s DNA.
Ermenegildo Giusti: “Montello can produce great white wines”
The launch of Gabriele marks a significant step in Giusti Wine’s strategy. “I must admit: at first, I didn’t want to produce this wine. I feared the international market wasn’t ready to understand it. But when I tasted it in the cellar during ageing, I changed my mind,” explains Ermenegildo Giusti. “I realised it expresses what targeted, healthy viticulture can achieve on Montello, debunking the myth that this land cannot produce structured whites. What convinced me to take the leap was my team of oenologists, especially Gabriele: their passion pushed me to invest in a project that honours a native variety fundamental to our territory.”
For the winery, this statement shifts Montello’s centre of gravity: not only iconic reds and sparkling wines, but also characterful whites with a strong territorial imprint.
Gabriele Manzoni Bianco Asolo Montello Doc: tasting notes
Gabriele Asolo Montello Doc shows a bright yellow colour with golden highlights and good texture. On the nose it offers elegance and intensity, with layers of ripe yellow fruit, white and yellow flowers, and aromatic herbs: plum intertwines with hawthorn, marjoram and thyme, while the finish moves toward chalk and sand, revealing a clean mineral backbone.
On the palate, the wine is balanced, with softness and savouriness in dialogue. The persistence is fine and continuous, with coherent returns of fruit, flowers and herbs that make the sip harmonious and satisfying. Commercial release is scheduled for mid‑April at €22 at the winery and in the online shop.
Giusti Wine: a Montello that looks ahead
The Giusti Wine project was born from the vision of Ermenegildo Giusti—originally from Volpago del Montello and who emigrated to Canada at a young age—to showcase the unspoiled corner of the Treviso Prealps where he grew up. On the slopes of Montello, with the Piave river at its feet, the winery produces labels with a clear territorial identity: Asolo Prosecco Superiore Docg Oro, crafted by Graziana Grassini; Montello Rosso Superiore Docg Umberto I, a Bordeaux‑style blend dedicated to Giusti’s grandfather; and Augusto, a red wine from Recantina, a rediscovered native grape. The underground winery, designed by architect Armando Guizzo, blends into the landscape and faces the Abbey of Sant’Eustachio, where Monsignor Giovanni Della Casa wrote the Galateo in the mid‑1500s—a heritage site restored to splendour thanks to the Giusti family. This is the symbolic setting in which Gabriele is born, a bridge between generations.
