Much of that recognition can be credited to one man who, along with the hopes and uncertainty of migration, carried with him a lifelong love for the Prosecco of his native Valdobbiadene, the heartland of quality Prosecco production.

“I’m surprised by how popular Prosecco has become. I wanted to grow a little because it’s what I grew up with,” shares Otto Dal Zotto, the founder of Dal Zotto Wines in the King Valley and the first person in Australia to take a chance on Prosecco grapes, now known as Glera.

“I used to walk through the vineyards on my way to school, eating bunches of Prosecco grapes—it’s a flavour that’s part of my culture.”

His deep connection to his roots found fertile ground in Australia, sparking what has become a genuine local phenomenon with numerous festivals now dedicated to the sparkling wine.

What Otto never expected, however, was to win the prestigious Wine Communicators of Australia’s ‘Legend of the Vine’ award, presented each year at the close of the Melbourne Royal Wine Show—one of Australia’s most significant wine competitions—in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the wine industry in Victoria.

A migrant from Veneto who travelled via Switzerland, Otto arrived in Australia in 1967, where he met his wife, Elena.

The couple settled in Chesthunt in north-east Victoria and, like many families at the time, began growing tobacco. When that industry was no longer supported by government policy, Otto turned to producing Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot for major local wineries.

After the recession of the 1980s, the Dal Zottos decided to go independent, focusing on Italian varieties. Of their four children, Michael and Christian joined the family business as winemaker and marketing manager respectively.

Michael and Christian proved essential in taking the Dal Zotto brand nationwide, securing a presence in restaurants and bottle shops across Australia.

Left to right: Christian, Otto, Elena and Michael Dal Zotto

“One day Michael and Christian asked me the tough question, ‘What’s next?’ I told them that, since I’d grown up with a bottle of Prosecco on the table, I wouldn’t mind making one,” Otto recalls.

In 1999, the family planted their first Prosecco vines, with Elena carefully tending them through their slow, delicate growth. In 2004, the first Dal Zotto Prosecco, L’Immigrante, was released.

“A dear friend of ours, Sir James Gobbo, came to visit when he found out we were making Prosecco. I still remember him saying, ‘Otto, if you share it, it will grow.’”

The rest is history. Today, Dal Zotto Prosecco—now celebrating its 21st vintage—stands as the pioneer of Australian Prosecco, remaining a benchmark for quality beyond Veneto.

When asked about his reaction upon hearing his name announced at the Melbourne Royal Wine Show, Otto says he still feels stunned.

“When we started, it was just something that reminded me of home in Valdobbiadene,” he says.

“I have to thank my wife and the boys, who did a fantastic job promoting and modernising the brand. There’s been so much work behind the scenes. Walking up to the stage, I got a bit emotional. The warmth in the room really moved me.”

Since 2018, Michael and Christian have taken over the running of the business, giving Elena and Otto more time to enjoy retirement. “The problem is, when you slow down, you get bored,” Otto admits with a smile.

At 77, he still has plenty of energy—and never forgets to keep a bottle of Prosecco on the table.