Ermengildo Giusti (call him “Joe,” he says) was born in the Asolo area of the Veneto to a family dating to the 1600s in this region. His father, Augusto, was a winemaker as was the family of his wife, Maria Vittoria. In 1975 at age 17, Giusti left Italy for North America with twenty U.S. dollars, limited English, and a dream to seek his fortune in the United States. He told us about a fork in the road – and perhaps a misguided map- which brought him to Western Canada instead of the Lower 48. The story does have a successful ending. He founded Giusti Construction which has built major developments throughout Western Canada and expanded into oil and gas. He continues to have a presence both in Canada and Italy.
In 2002 Giusti and his wife returned to Asolo to pursue another dream, this time to farm. He founded Giusti Wines in 2004 by acquiring two hectares of vineyards outside Treviso in Nerveso della Battaglia. Through strategic acquisitions, he is now the largest single private vineyard landowner in the Prosecco region, with roughly 75 hectares under vine. He is still on the lookout to expand. Located in the Montello Hills, 45 minutes west of Venice, Giusti Wine produces excellent Asolo Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. wines, as well as in other prosecco production zones, and has expanded to produce elegant Ripasso, Amarone and “Super Venetian” blends at his Abazia Estate. Of note is Umberto Rosso, a Bordeaux red blend named for Giusti’s grandfather, Umberto Primo.
Entrance to Giusti Wines, Abazia Estate
Vineyards at Giusti Wines Abazia Estate
We had the pleasure of meeting and dining with Joe at Giusti Wines’ Abazia Estate during a visit to Asolo hosted by the Consorzio Vini Asolo Montello. The tour provided a thoughtful overview of the Asolo region that covered not only wine production but also Asolo’s strong connection to art, architecture, and literature. For centuries, Asolo served as a bucolic country retreat for Venetian aristocrats escaping the oppressive heat of the Venetian Summer. The Palladian villas dotting the countryside are a testament to their wealth.Giusti is passionate about art and is an avocational painter as well as a serious collector. He oversaw the renovation of the expansive winery structure and tasting room at Abazia Estate which includes vineyards built on the arched roof. He is also overseeing the restoration and preservation of the 12th century Saint Eustache Benedictine Abbey located on Abazia Estate.
Vines planted on the arched roof on the winery. The Abazia Estate country house is in the distance.
The 12th century Saint Eustache Benedictine Abbey on Giusti Wines’ Abazia Estate.
Visting Giusti Wines
As one of Asolo D.O.C.’s largest producers, Giusti Wines has several estates: We visited Tenuta Abazia “the Estate Abbey” where both Glera grapes for Prosecco and red international varieties are cultivated. This property has a country house, dining room and swimming pool with a beautiful overlook of the village and vineyards. The Saint Eustache Abbey is a short walk away. Reservations needed. www.giustiwine.com
Joe Giusti at the entrance to his Abazia Estate winery
Listen to our podcast with Joe Giusti, Founder, Giusti Wines, here: