Collis Veneto Merger Creates Italian Wine Giant With €220 Million Revenue and 7,200 Hectares of Vineyards

On November 21, the Collis Veneto Wine Group approved the merger by incorporation of Cantina Sociale di Monteforte d’Alpone, a move that creates one of the largest wine cooperatives in Italy’s Soave region. The decision was made during the group’s general assembly and marks a significant step in the ongoing consolidation trend among Italian wine producers. The new entity will manage 7,200 hectares of vineyards and represent 2,450 member growers, making it a major player in both the local and national wine industry.

Cantina Sociale di Monteforte d’Alpone, founded in 1952, is one of Verona’s most established wine cooperatives. It brings together 450 members who cultivate 1,200 hectares of vineyards, mainly in the Soave and Valpolicella areas. The winery produces about 140,000 hectoliters of bulk wine and more than four million bottles annually. Its turnover for the 2024/2025 period is expected to exceed 17 million euros. With this merger, Collis Veneto Wine Group’s consolidated revenue will surpass 220 million euros.

The integration had been anticipated since last summer when Collis leased a branch of Cantina Sociale di Monteforte, taking direct control of production for the upcoming 2025 harvest. According to Collis Veneto Wine Group, this move will strengthen its position as a leader in white DOC wines based on Garganega grapes and create a premium production hub in one of Italy’s most important viticultural areas.

Monteforte d’Alpone is notable for having over 95% of its agricultural land dedicated to vineyards, with 65% planted with Soave Classico grapes. The area is known for its steep terraced vineyards and long-standing winemaking traditions. The addition of Cantina Sociale di Monteforte allows Collis to expand its offerings to include Soave Classico wines, which are highly regarded both in Italy and abroad.

Collis Veneto Wine Group has pursued an ambitious growth strategy in recent years. In June 2023, it incorporated Cantine dei Colli Berici and Cantina di Colognola ai Colli through a reverse merger, becoming one of Italy’s top ten wine companies and transforming into a first-level cooperative. In December 2023, it created Collis Heritage by merging Cantine Riondo and Sartori di Verona.

The group’s financial results reflect its expanding scale. For the 2024/2025 fiscal year, consolidated profits nearly doubled from the previous year to reach 4.162 million euros, despite challenges in the global wine market. Consolidated turnover remains above 200 million euros. Member growers received a total of 60 million euros for their harvests at an average price of 66 euros per quintal.

The general assembly also confirmed the group’s leadership team through July 2028, with Pietro Zambon as president and Pierluigi Guarise as CEO. Zambon emphasized that the merger strengthens both local roots and Veneto’s ability to present itself internationally as a unified voice focused on quality. Guarise highlighted that bringing Cantina di Monteforte d’Alpone into the group not only increases size but also adds production excellence and supports further quality improvements, especially in Soave Classico wines.

Collis Veneto Wine Group now operates six wineries and four bottling centers across Verona, Vicenza, and Padua provinces. It also manages 36 Cantina Veneta-branded wine shops throughout Italy. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Monteforte d’Alpone (Verona), Collis holds majority stakes in Cielo e Terra 1908 Benefit Corp and Collis Heritage Spa.

This latest merger underscores the growing importance of scale and collaboration for Italian wine producers facing increasing demands from both domestic and international markets. As competition intensifies globally, larger groups like Collis are positioning themselves to maintain quality while achieving greater efficiency and market reach.