Pedro Venturo Zapata

Pedro Manuel Venturo Zapata (born February 18, 1896, Lima, Peru; died December 12, 1952) was an entrepreneur, engineer, agronomist, paso horse breeder, vintner and Minister of Agriculture. He was the CEO of Hacienda Higuereta y Anexos - Negociacion Vinicola Pedro Venturo S.A. from 1925 to 1952.

Venturo was born the son of an Italian immigrant Pedro Celso Venturo Toledo (1821-1925) and his wife Elia Zapata.

He completed his primary and secondary studies at the in Lima. In 1912, he enrolled at the National Agrarian University in Peru and studied agriculture and veterinary medicine, finishing his studies in 1917.

After graduation he was immediately appointed assistant at the National Institute of Microbiology where he worked on his dissertation on "cattle tuberculosis in Peru".

At 21 he was elected to the City Council of the Barranco district in the popular election of 1918.

He became president of the Peruvian Association of Agricultural Engineers and was a member of the Departmental Census Board, a member of The Miraflores City Council and a chairman of the board of the Cattlemen's Association Peru on two occasions.

He belonged to the Technical Body of Appraisals, the Higher Council at the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Board of Food of Peru. He was Vice President of The Rotary Club of Lima and was linked to various agricultural societies, Livestock and Industrial.

In 1925 Venturo acquired "The Hacienda Higuereta" from his father who had died that same year. He led the Hacienda to increased levels of productivity of Pisco, Brandy, Cognac, Champagne, red and white wine (Albilla Superior, Oporto, Moscato Dulce), Vermouth and other products such as balsamic vinegar, grape juice and Martini.

...
Wikipedia