Marrone di San Zeno

Marrone di San Zeno PDO covers 'locale Marrone' chestnuts of the species Castanea Sativa Mill, selected and propagated agamically by producers within the Monte Baldo territory of Verona. The fruit must contain no more than three per husk, fall within a count of 50 to 120 per kilogram, and display a thin episperm that peels easily.

About this designation

Marrone di San Zeno was registered as a PDO on 12 October 2001 under file number PDO-IT-0209 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013518). The designation covers chestnuts of the 'locale Marrone' variety, belonging to ecotypes of Castanea Sativa Mill, propagated agamically by local producers within the Monte Baldo area of the Province of Verona. The production and processing area lies between 250 and 900 metres above sea level, comprising parts of the municipalities of Brentino-Belluno, Brenzone, Caprino Veronese, Costermano, Ferrara di Monte Baldo and San Zeno di Montagna, all within the homogeneous Monte Baldo mountain community area. Grove density must fall between 30 and 120 trees per hectare, and yield may not exceed 30 kg of fruit per tree or 3.6 tonnes per hectare. Before release for consumption, chestnuts may undergo the traditional 'novena', a nine-day water treatment without additives with water changed every other day, or the 'rissara', in which fruit and husks are left in open-air piles for 8 to 15 days. Each pack must carry the designated logo and state the weight, year of production and location of the packing station. The inspection body is CSQA, Via San Gaetano 74, Thiene (VI).

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PDO on 12 October 2001 under file number PDO-IT-0209, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013518.
• The production area is confined to parts of six named municipalities on Monte Baldo, between 250 and 900 metres above sea level.
• Yield is capped at 30 kg of fruit per tree and 3.6 tonnes per hectare; grove density must be between 30 and 120 trees per hectare.
• The traditional pre-market treatment 'novena' consists of a nine-day water treatment without additives, with water changed every other day.

Tasting notes

Veneto chestnut from Lake Garda foothills (San Zeno di Montagna), large mahogany shell, sweet aromatic flesh.

HoReCa use

Caldarroste, candied, and in Veneto autumn dishes.

Packaging

• crate-10kg
• crate-15kg

Seasonality