Cristina Ziliani

Cristina Ziliani is Managing Director of Guido Berlucchi & C. S.p.A. in Borgonato, Franciacorta, and takes care of Corporate Relations.

She is the first-born daughter of Franco Ziliani, the pioneer who created the first bottle of Franciacorta in 1961. Cristina joined the family business in 1981, with a formative placement in the administrative department. Ten years later she oversaw the opening of the Communication and Marketing department, which she still leads today. In 2007 she was awarded the title of Knight of the Italian Republic, and in 2015, on the occasion of Expo, she decided to undertake the project of wine tourism activities, thus structuring the Hospitality department, which today welcomes more than 21,000 visitors a year. In 2019, she started the Academia Berlucchi project, a virtuous circle of knowledge, and became a spokesman for the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Together with his brothers, Arturo and Paolo, she led the winery into the new millennium and strengthened a brand now recognized worldwide as a symbol of Franciacorta and its quality wine. In 2021 she celebrated the 60th anniversary of the first bottle of Franciacorta with important Italian and international awards, including the “Winery of the Year 2022” award by Gambero Rosso and being named by Wine Spectator to its “TOP 100 Italian Wines 2021” list.

Readers don’t care about sustainability

This talk will explore the topics and trends surrounding wine and beverage that American readers are most interested in right now. The session will concentrate on three main points.

1. Readers are looking for stories that connect them more closely to the beverages they enjoy.
2. Current trends include a focus on stories about underrepresented communities and wines they may be unfamiliar with.
3. Do not assume the only thing readers want to know about though are obscure regions and wines. There is still great interest in the well known wines and wine regions of the world.