According to the renowned wine writer Robert M. Parker Jr., “Winebow is one of America’s most successful and well-knownimporters/ distributors of fine wines. Leonardo LoCascio, who has never been content to rest on his laurels, continues toexplore Italy’s backwaters, discovering increasingly intriguing wines from areas outside the two renowned viticultural regionsof Tuscany and Piedmont. LoCascio has pressed his producers to move away from interventionalistic winemaking, towardmore natural bottling and less traumatizing wine producing techniques. To his credit, he has never hesitated to represent

producers who may have only a handful of cases to sell, recognizing there is always a healthy market place for high quality, limited production winesfrom unknown producers.”

In the mid 1990s, Carla Zenato and her daughter Nadia acquired a large 18th-cen-

tury farm in the Sirmione area called Sansonina. With this purchase they accepted

a challenge to disprove a number of preconceptions. Their goal was to produce

great red wine in a zone traditionally known for its whites, as well as to show that

making a well-structured red wine wasn’t necessarily men’s work. The name Sansonina

is derived from Samson, a nickname earned by the property’s former owner, owing to

his dynamic character. Biblical history recalls that Samson was the judge called by God

to defeat Israel’s enemies. He performed incredible feats because of his superhuman

strength. He was a virile, masculine hero, but his strength came from his long hair, a

typically feminine trait. Sansonina maintains this masculine-feminine dualism. The property

is located in the zone that produces Lugana, one of the most famous white wines of

the Lombard-Veneto region and by definition a feminine wine. Additionally, Sansonina

is the only vineyard in the area to have old Merlot vines, a highly-valued grape used to

make some of the world’s most important red wines. With determination and

sensitivity, Carla and Nadia have succeeded in producing a hearty,

powerful and elegant red wine. Their wine may have a

feminine name, but don’t let it fool you.

“Sansonina is a maverick producer of

high-quality reds in Veneto, the land

of Lugana. Powerful, yet elegant,

these wines are simply unparalleled.”

BEHIND THE

ScenesOwner

Nadia Zenato is actively involved in

the management of her family win-

ery, which was founded in 1960 by

her parents, Sergio and Carla. Nadia

earned a degree in law, with a con-

centration in wine business law.

Upon graduating, Nadia began her career at the winery, manag-

ing the legal aspects of the business, as well as overseeing Sales and

Public Relations in the Italian and American markets. Nadia’s bound-

less energy, enthusiasm, and strong communication skills have made

her a very effective advocate for the Zenato winery. One of her key

roles has been to ensure that the winery lives up to the values elabo-

rated in its Mission Statement: Quality, Passion and Tradition.

Nadia also works hard to ensure that the Zenato winery stays on

top of market trends and continually innovates to guarantee quality

improvements and customer satisfaction. She is vigilant about keep-

ing an eye out for new ideas that can improve the business.

In addition to her work at the winery, Nadia also represents the

Veneto region in the Association of Women in the Wine Business. She

is a Member of the Association of Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs.

Nadia Zenato

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LUGANA DI SAN BENDETTO DOC90 pts Wine Advocate – February 2012 (Vintage 2009)

"The 2009 Lugana is all white flowers, citrus, pears and peaches. The Lugana is made entirely in steel and does

not undergo malolactic fermentation, both of which serve to maintain considerable freshness and cut. This is an

unusually refined wine from the shores of Lake Garda."

MERLOT VERONESE IGT93 pts Wine Advocate – February 2012 (Vintage 2007)

"The 2007 Merlot Veronese is a singular wine loaded with considerable charm and no shortage of personality. Layers

of mocha, white flowers, French oak and sweet spices add complexity and nuance to the racy, super-ripe dark fruit.

Despite its overt, lush personality, the 2007 also has plenty of focus and length. Sansonina’s Merlot has come a long

way over the last few vintages as the estate seems to be finding its stride. This is a great showing."

91 pts Wine Enthusiast – May 2011 (Vintage 2006)

“Sansonina is a beautiful wine with a distinct personality and elegant tones of cherry, blackberry, spice and leather

integrated over a rich, plus mouth feel. It also shows a clean, linear approach with a tight but long-lasting finish.”

91 pts Wine Enthusiast – May 2011 (Vintage 2005)

“Sansonina offers this unique Merlot with warm and complex characteristics of the territory that shaped it. The

Verona winegrowing area is influenced by Lake Garda and the Dolomites; consequently this wine shows pristine

aromas of cherry, spice and leather backed by a soft, silky texture.”

4/12

VenetoThe Veneto region is located in the

north-east part of Italy, bordering

Trentino-Alto Adige and Friuli-

Venezia-Giulia. Veneto’s most

intensely cultivated vineyards are on

the Alpine foothills: from Lake

Garda to Conegliano Veneto includ-

ing Colli Berici and Colli Euganei -

where the soil is rich, volcanic and

calcareous. These hills in turn sur-

round the fertile plain, with its rich

alluvial soil, the wetlands of the Po

delta and the Venetian lagoon. The

climate on the coast is much influ-

enced by the Adriatic, while the

central plain is hot in summer and

harsh and foggy in winter. Few

Italian regions can boast such rich-

ness in food sources—fertile plains,

lush hillsides, woods, lakes, streams,

the Adriatic—which locals combine

with easy artistry. Dishes can be lav-

ish, ornate or exotic (the Venetians

introduced spices to Italy), but the

elements of the cooking are simple:

rice, beans, polenta, sausages, sala-

mi, poultry, game, mushrooms and

mountain cheese. Venice is the

showcase, but the food is every bit

as delicious in the interior provinces

and perhaps most of all in Treviso, a

sanctuary of Venetian gastronomy.

The Veneto produces around

78 million cases of wine per year, with

DOC wines accounting for over 30

per cent of this vast production. The

most renowned red wines are

Valpolicella, Amarone and Recioto

della Valpolicella; they are all pro-

duced a few kilometres north of the

Verona, on the foothills of the Lessini

hills. Produced mainly from

Garganega grapes southeast of

Verona, Soave is probably the most

famous Italian white wine in the world.

LUGANA DI SAN BENDETTO DOCThis 100% Trebbiano offering is intense yellow in color with golden high-

lights. A glorious floral bouquet with notes of tropical fruit. Full on the

palate, with good minerality and crisp tropical flavors. An ideal pairing

for appetizers, vegetable soups, poultry, seafood and a variety of cheeses.

MERLOT VERONESE IGT This wine is pure, 100% Merlot from 25-year-old vines and is the

special project of Nadia Zenato and her mother Carla. The grapes

are hand-harvested, and fermented in temperature-controlled wood

uprights. Sansonina is aged in eighteen month old Allier barriques for

two years, further adding elegance and finesse. After an additional

year in bottle, the Merlot is released from the winery.

Sansonina Merlot is a deep ruby red and gives off a full, rich, and

complex aroma. On the palate, it is broad with elegant and sweet

notes. There is a perfect balance between tannins and acidity that

is expressed when the Merlot is paired with blue cheese or game.

Winesw i n e s

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