Historical Trademarks: Canella

This month’s feature tells the story of Casa Vinicola Canella, an Italian icon that has been sharing the culture of wine and Venetian style with the world for nearly eighty years through products that blend tradition, creativity, and innovation. A family-run business founded in the postwar period, it has grown over time to become a symbol of the Italian aperitif around the world.

The company’s history began in 1947, when Luciano Canella, a young Venetian entrepreneur, founded his own winery in San Donà di Piave with the goal of turning his passion for wine into a true business venture. Starting with the production of still wines such as Tocai, Merlot, and Verduzzo, Canella built its foundation on quality, authenticity, and a deep connection to the local territory.

In the 1960s, the Canella family entered the world of Prosecco, recognizing the potential of a product destined to become one of the most recognizable symbols of Italian winemaking worldwide. The company’s growth has been guided by a philosophy that has remained unchanged over time: celebrating the simplicity of things done well, with passion, care, and attention to detail.

The turning point came in 1988, when Canella introduced the first bottled Bellini di Venezia. Inspired by the famous cocktail that originated in Venice in the 1940s, the product combines Prosecco and white peach juice, transforming a recipe that symbolizes Venetian tradition into an experience ready to be shared. Over the years, its characteristic pink color has become the brand’s hallmark, bringing the elegant and convivial atmosphere of Venice to the world.

Today, Casa Vinicola Canella is led by the third generation of the family, which continues to uphold the company’s founding values: family, authenticity, independence, and a spirit of innovation. This vision has allowed the brand to maintain its own distinctive identity, navigating the balance between winemaking tradition and new ways of enjoying wine, between the world of Prosecco and that of cocktails.

This connection to the brand’s history is also reflected in its most recent projects, such as the collection of six labels dedicated to Prosecco and inspired by the historic graphics preserved in the company’s archives. This project, designed to highlight Canella’s heritage, combines tradition with contemporary design, demonstrating how creativity remains one of the cornerstones of the brand’s identity to this day.

Today, Canella operates in over 40 countries, with key markets in Italy and the United States and a long-standing connection to Austria, where Canella Prosecco has been a highly regarded and well-known product for decades. The headquarters in San Donà di Piave also houses a space dedicated to the company’s history, featuring historic bottles, original labels, and archival materials that chronicle an entrepreneurial journey spanning nearly eighty years.

In 2025, Casa Vinicola Canella was recognized by the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy as a “Historical Trademark of National Interest,” officially entering the Special Register of Historical Trademarks. This recognition highlights an entrepreneurial history built over time and the company’s contribution to promoting Italian excellence around the world.

The history of Casa Vinicola Canella demonstrates how a family tradition can become a symbol of “Made in Italy,” bringing to the world not only the quality of Italian wine, but also the culture, style, and conviviality that characterize our country. Through nearly eighty years of passion, creativity, and innovation, the company continues to celebrate Italy’s winemaking heritage with products that embody an authentic and recognizable identity.

Historical Trademarks that continue to demonstrate how a connection to one’s roots, combined with the ability to adapt to change, represents one of the most valuable aspects of Italian entrepreneurial excellence.

Stay with us to find out about the next star of Historical Trademarks of Made in Italy.