Vineyards Magazine

Cantina Valpolicella Negrar announces the appointment of Christian Zulian as Managing Director, who will also oversee the technical division. Supporting Zulian in the oenological area is Carlo Callari, appointed as Head of the Oenological Department.

“This appointment marks a strategic step for Cantina Valpolicella Negrar,” states President Giampaolo Brunelli. “Christian Zulian brings with him a strong technical vision and a deep understanding of the sector, developed in structured, quality driven environments. His experience will be essential in guiding the cooperative into a new phase of growth, strengthening organizational integration, territorial identity and market positioning.”

Throughout his career, Zulian has distinguished himself as a rigorous specialist dedicated to wines that express the authenticity of their place of origin, with a constant focus on stylistic consistency and on the quality recognized by the market.

“I take on this role with a strong sense of responsibility,” says Christian Zulian. “Wine will be at the center of my work. The goal is to fully enhance the extraordinary potential of Valpolicella, translating it into contemporary wines deeply rooted in the territory yet capable of engaging with international markets. Quality is not a final destination but a continuous process, shaped by technical rigour, listening to members and a shared vision.”

With this in mind, technical leadership is rooted in teamwork, with Zulian working in close synergy with Carlo Callari. Not two separate divisions, but a single integrated team, united by complementary expertise and a shared vision for winemaking.

“We will work together with a highly technical and results oriented approach,” says Zulian. “We share a common method, a deep understanding of the region and a meticulous attention to quality. Our aim is to create wines that express the identity of Valpolicella with ever greater precision, evolving styles and expressions without losing authenticity.”

Carlo Callari, an oenologist with more than twenty years of experience and an in depth understanding of the winery’s operations, comments: “I will contribute the experience gained over the years to ensure that every stage of the production cycle is managed with rigour and attention to detail. Ongoing dialogue and technical alignment will be essential to further raising quality standards and stylistic consistency.”

With these appointments, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar strengthens its technical and managerial structure, placing wine – in its sense of place and its ability to reflect the present – at the centre of its future strategy.

Short Biography – Christian Zulian

Born in Trento and now based in Verona, Christian Zulian has extensive experience in the wine sector and corporate management. He holds a degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Padua and enriched his academic background with specialist training in chemistry at the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Chemistry of the E. Mach Foundation in San Michele all’Adige. Over the course of his career, he has gained significant experience within wine companies, taking on roles of increasing responsibility and developing a deep understanding of corporate dynamics and the global wine industry.

Short Biography – Carlo Callari

Carlo Callari is an oenologist with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology and more than twenty years of experience in the wine sector. He built his professional career within the winery environment, overseeing the entire production cycle from vinification of fresh and dried grapes to the management of oenological and regulatory processes, gaining a solid understanding of operational and regulatory dynamics. After an extensive period at Cantina Valpolicella Negrar and further managerial roles within leading local companies, he now takes on the position of Head of Oenology, with the aim of enhancing internal expertise and strengthening quality, control and production sustainability.

CANTINA VALPOLICELLA NEGRAR

Founded in 1933 by seven winegrowers determined to protect their work during a challenging period, the Cantina has remained faithful to its mission: safeguarding the territory, enhancing its identity and preserving its excellence. Today it produces around ten percent of all Amarone Classico in the appellation, confirming its central role in the story of Valpolicella. Cantina Valpolicella Negrar is the living expression of a collective history which, from 1933 to the present day, is renewed daily through the commitment of 245 winegrowers and a governance capable of embracing change without losing its identity.

With more than 140 hectares of certified organic vineyards, an annual production exceeding eight million bottles and a presence in sixty two countries, Cantina Valpolicella Negrar is today one of the most respected and recognized names in the Italian wine landscape.