Treviso, May 5, 2025 – The Marzotto Family’s investment in Direct from Italy marks the beginning of a new phase of growth and innovation in the direct sale of wines, spirits, and beers. With a shared vision and a strong focus on international compliance, Direct from Italy is set to strengthen its position as a leading player in the direct export of Italian wine sector products.
A journey born from resilience, now ready to scale
With the entry of Marvit Srl, the holding company of the Marzotto family branch led by Stefano Marzotto, Direct from Italy opens a new chapter in its story, aiming to strengthen its leadership in providing solutions for the direct, independent, and compliant sale of wines, spirits, and beers abroad. The goal is to offer producers a tool that enables them to independently develop their own direct-to-consumer (D2C) channel, simplifying the management of international regulatory complexity and ensuring full compliance.
For Denis Andolfo, co-founder and CEO of Direct from Italy, the word that best describes this moment is “responsibility”: responsibility for such a significant investment, but above all, towards the clients. “It is essential for Italian producers to understand the importance of always operating in full compliance with current regulations, moving beyond outdated habits and approaches,” says Denis.
When Denis and his business partner Francesco Prizzon founded Direct from Italy in 2019, the project was born from the idea of bringing wineries closer to their end customers. No one could have imagined back then the impact of the pandemic, which made the need for new tools in the sector even more evident. “Covid was a difficult time,” Denis recalls, “but we reacted immediately, providing wineries with a system that allowed them to keep selling, even remotely.”
Another challenge soon followed: the introduction of the OSS regulation in Europe, which completely changed the way tax compliance is managed for international sales. “We had to rethink all our processes from scratch,” Denis emphasizes, “because the new regulatory framework required radically different solutions compared to the past.”
Many producers and retailers, unfortunately, remain tied to outdated operational methods, unaware of the real risks they are exposing themselves to. Today, it is essential to stay informed, update one’s approach, and adopt tools that enable compliant and secure international sales. D2C practices are not the same as those used in B2B.
“Timeliness has been our strength,” Denis continues, “and thanks to it, in 2022, we successfully launched the software for independent direct sales to private customers abroad, which is now the most well-known in Italy.”
A strategic partnership to innovate wine tourism and export
The connection with the Marzotto family was forged in the field, when they decided to adopt Direct from Italy’s technology for their various estates. From there, a shared vision made it natural to consider a strategic partnership. “Having a name like Marzotto by our side sends a strong message to the entire wine sector,” explains Denis. “It’s no longer just a single winery choosing to innovate while respecting the rules, but one of the most prestigious players promoting a cultural shift in the industry.”
Looking at the wine and wine tourism landscape, Denis sees a potential that remains largely untapped. “Wine tourism shouldn’t be seen as the end point, but as the beginning of a virtuous cycle,” he explains. The goal is to create an experience that continues even after the winery visit, through simple and accessible remote sales services—on-site or online—meeting the expectations of an increasingly international audience.
This vision is the foundation of the work behind D2C Customs, Direct from Italy’s proprietary software, which turns regulatory complexity into operational simplicity. “We spent years analyzing every single law and building a system that, behind an intuitive interface, handles all the customs and tax complexities,” Denis explains. The goal is to give wineries the freedom to independently manage their relationships with private customers, simplifying every bureaucratic aspect without adding operational complexity or interfering with their daily work.
The future of Direct from Italy now looks beyond national borders. “We want to continue standing by Italian wineries, but also bring our model to other European wine-producing countries,” says Denis. And to those wondering whether it’s the right time to start selling directly abroad, Denis sends a clear and simple message: “Do it! Do it as soon as possible. But do it the right way.”
