Decordi

1921: origins in the family tavern

Vinicola Decordi began in 1921 as a tavern run by the Decordi family. It served the food and wines of the lower Po Valley, and founder Quirico Decordi senior made several barrels of local red wine, including Fortana, Ancellotta and Lambrusco. These wines were intended to accompany the area's traditional cooking.

Their success encouraged the family to concentrate increasingly on wine. The tavern activity developed into a small artisanal business that vinified locally sourced grapes and sold wine both in bulk and in bottles. Quirico senior also bottled wine for villagers who came to the tavern to drink and spend time together.

1950s–1964: the first industrial expansion

During the 1950s, the family built its first substantial production facility. Commercial activity expanded beyond the immediate municipality into neighbouring provinces in Lombardia and Emilia.

In 1964, the plant was enlarged and equipped with one of the earliest automatic bottling systems then available. Automation significantly increased the pace of production.

1970s–1978: a new generation and the restaurant market

The 1970s marked another turning point. Quirico Decordi, the founder's grandson, entered the company and responded to changing market requirements by creating a new range of higher-positioned wines for restaurants. Further technological investment followed, culminating in the installation of a new automatic bottling plant in 1978.

1980s–1990s: international development

Exports to Europe and the Americas began during the 1980s. In the 1990s, the export network expanded to Japan.

2005–2017: the fourth generation and the new facility

Alessandro Decordi, Quirico's son, entered the business in 2005, beginning the participation of the family's fourth generation. A new production site was inaugurated in 2010, increasing the company's facilities and supporting expansion into emerging international markets.

Giulia Decordi, Alessandro's sister, joined in 2017, completing the fourth generation's entry into the company.

The family business today

Current management is led by Quirico Decordi together with Alessandro and Giulia. The modern operation retains a physical connection with its beginnings: guests and customers are received in the Decordi family home, within the same complex that once housed the original tavern.

The production business now selects wines from territories across Italy and handles still, semi-sparkling, sparkling, aromatized, fortified and organic products. Its Motta Baluffi facility combines automated production with manual and automatic controls, while a current development programme covers new production, storage and laboratory space, energy efficiency and digital traceability.

Sourcing and production model

Vinicola Decordi selects wines from different Italian territories, seeking to preserve the distinguishing character of each variety. Work begins with supplier selection and continues through wine processing, bottling, packaging and preparation for shipment. Supplier relationships are monitored, and raw materials, semi-finished products and finished products must meet applicable safety, hygiene, quality and denomination requirements.

The portfolio encompasses still, semi-sparkling and sparkling wines, organic wines, aromatized beverages and wine-based cocktails. It also includes DOC and DOCG, IGT, varietal, fortified and other wine categories. Production is sufficiently flexible to create market- and distributor-specific ranges.

Motta Baluffi plant

The Motta Baluffi facility has an automated production system overseen by specialist technicians. Its bottling line is automated from the arrival of empty bottles through the release of bottled, finished goods ready for shipment. Both automated and manual controls are applied during production, with traceability maintained through every phase and for individual bottles.

The plant can handle bottle formats from 0.375 L to 1.5 L, including the standard 0.75 L format. Capacity is 500,000 bottles per week and more than 20 million bottles per year.

Sparkling-wine and process investments

The SUSTAINWINE development programme includes a new building for vinification, storage and an analysis laboratory. Planned process equipment includes high-efficiency autoclaves for sparkling and semi-sparkling production and an automated connection system between autoclaves, intended to reduce water, energy and refrigerant use.

The programme also provides for a Velcorin®/DMDC dosing system intended to reduce the use of chemical preservatives, equipment for on-site nitrogen production to reduce transport requirements, and a customized Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP system to integrate internal functions and strengthen data management, production-flow control and traceability.

Quality systems

The production chain operates under UNI EN ISO 14001, BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Version 9 at Grade AA, IFS International Food Standard Version 8 at Higher Level, and certification for organic production. The quality system defines responsibilities, procedures, operating instructions and documentation for controlling products and customer services.

Tradition, adaptability and innovation

Vinicola Decordi defines quality as its central objective and presents passion, research and innovation as the means of bringing Italian wine to national and international markets. Its mission centres on semi-sparkling, sparkling and other wines associated with the Italian tradition, together with aromatized wine products.

Adaptability and versatility guide the business model: product lines are designed and diversified for particular markets, distribution channels and customer requirements. The company aims to identify market needs, translate them into technical and production requirements, provide an appropriate delivery service and maintain an accessible relationship between quality and price.

Tradition is understood as a foundation for continued development rather than resistance to change. The family's stated ambition is to combine its history and culture with technologies that improve production, expressing the character of its wines internationally while differentiating the offer through quality, accessibility and environmental responsibility.

Quality and customer relationships

Quality encompasses supplier selection, precise traceability, legal and food-safety compliance, production control and customer service. Dedicated staff assist customers with wine selection, packaging, labelling rules and export procedures. Product integrity, accurate consumer information and compliance with the production rules governing protected denominations form part of the company's formal ethical commitments.

Environmental and social commitments

The environmental policy prioritizes efficient use of energy and raw materials, renewable energy, waste reduction, pollution prevention and lower impacts on the surrounding territory. Chemical products must be handled so as to minimize ecosystem risks, while waste must be collected and stored without contaminating the environment.

The company's ethical principles include legality, integrity, transparency, diligence, fair competition, confidentiality and non-discrimination. Its employment commitments cover regular employment, equal opportunity, freedom of association, rejection of forced and child labour, safe and healthy working conditions, professional training and confidential reporting channels. Supplier relationships are expected to support product quality as well as social and environmental responsibility across the wine supply chain.