Ca’ dei Zago

Origins & Legacy

Ca’ dei Zago is a family-run estate in the heart of the Valdobbiadene zone in Veneto, Italy, with roots dating back to 1924. Over five generations, the Zago family has cared for their vineyards with humility and persistence. Today, siblings Christian Zago and Marika Zago represent the fifth generation, carrying forward the family’s dedication to tradition, authenticity, and terroir.

The estate remains small and intentional, with about 6.5 hectares of vineyards planted on steep, sun-exposed slopes in the Valdobbiadene hills.

Terroir & Viticulture

• Soils & Exposure: A complex mix of clay, sand, quartz, marl, and limestone, with parcels enriched by flint and sandstone in areas such as Saccol.

• Vine Age & Planting: Many vines are mature to old, replanted over time through careful massal selection.

• Farming Practice: Certified biodynamic since around 2010, the estate avoids synthetic inputs. They rely on natural composts, cover crops, and lunar cycles in vineyard work.

• The terrain is steep, so nearly all work—pruning, canopy management, harvesting—is done by hand.

Winemaking Approach & Style

• Fermentation & Vessels: All fermentations are spontaneous, using only native yeast. The winery avoids stainless steel when possible, preferring neutral vessels such as old vats, concrete amphora, or chestnut wood.

• Sparkling Techniques:
  • Col Fondo: Their signature expression. After primary fermentation, a second fermentation takes place in bottle, leaving the natural lees (the “fondo”) and resulting in a cloudy, textural frizzante.
  • Metodo Classico / Disgorged Sparkling: Produced from their top vineyard sites, bottled after extended lees aging and disgorgement, offering a more refined, structured style.

• Philosophy: Minimal intervention, no fining or filtration, very low sulfur. Racking and cellar work follow lunar phases. The goal is purity, vitality, and a clear reflection of site.

Signature Wines & Expression

• Col Fondo Prosecco (Frizzante): Rustic, unfiltered, lively, with savory mineral depth and lees texture.

• Metodo Classico Prosecco: Complex and age-worthy, more structured, from their finest parcels.

• Overall, the wines highlight floral aromatics, energetic bubbles, salinity, and minerality, with a strong sense of vintage and terroir.