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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Friday, October 11 2024

Anselmi Wines

By: Anthony Gismondi
Lisa Anselmi and her familiy's journey from Soave Classico to a Veneto Classic.

Our latest video takes you inside the Anselmi family business in northern Italy’s Veneto region.

Post World War II, Marino Anselmi launched a thriving négociant business at the family home in Monteforte d’Alpone. First, he used his grapes, but eventually, after selling off his vineyards, he employed grapes and wines from across the country.

In 1975, Marino’s son Roberto Anselmi returned to the family business. Having worked with some of the region’s most singular and iconic producers, Roberto was inspired to get involved in upping the quality of the Soave and, more importantly, the Anselmi brands. Roberto planned to reacquire the family’s vineyards and currently has a title on 70+ hectares of high-density vines trained to a modern cordon, producing high-quality, low-yielding fruit.

Roberto was keenly aware that making high-quality wines wasn’t the ambition of most locals who were happy to wave the Soave flag around the world trading on quantity rather than quality. That led to a difficult decision to leave the Soave DOC in 2000 to live in the IGT Veneto world, where he could make white wine from what many would say is the best property in the Soave Classico zone without the restraints of the current regulations.

Today, Roberto is regarded as one of Italy’s leading white wine producers. While he is still the “big boss,” he is in the throes of handing over the day-to-day Anselmi business to his daughter Lisa and son Tommasso. We caught up with 3rd generation family member Lisa Anselmi, Director of Sales Worldwide, to talk about the continuing modern-day story and what lies ahead for Anselmi Wines. 

Written By: ag
Anthony Gismondi
Anthony Gismondi

Anthony Gismondi is a Canadian wine journalist and one of North America's most influential voices in wine. For over 30 years, he has been the wine columnist for The Vancouver Sun. The twice-weekly column is distributed across Canada through the Postmedia Network to millions of readers. In addition, Anthony hosts the BC Food & Wine Radio Show, broadcast in 25 markets across B.C. and available as a podcast on major platforms. He launched Gismondionwine.com in 1997, attracting one million monthly users from 114 countries. It continues to be a valuable resource full of tasting notes, intelligent wine stories and videos for the trade and consumers. Conversations with wine personalities are available on his  YouTube Channel.