Courtesy by Davidoff & Cie., Gen�ve, Switzerland

Zino Davidoff - his philosophy Zino Davidoff: a man with a great sense of humour and a well-developed feeling for the beautiful things in life. An artist; who understood people, and respected them. Who never lost sight of his purpose; to enrich life through enjoying its good things. Who even as a successful businessman remained true to himself and to his principles. Zino Davidoff believed in simplicity, in the complete enjoyment of life. People who knew Davidoff knew this. They came from all over the world to share his philosophy, to enjoy his finest, purest cigars. They understood what Zino Davidoff meant when he said: "Smoke less, but better and longer - make a cult of it, even a philosophy!"

Zino Davidoff - the man 1906 Zino Davidoff was born March 11th, 1906, in Kiev, Russia. In 1911, the political situation forced him and his family to emigrate. A journey lasting more than three months eventually brought the Davidoff family to Geneva, and that same year Zino's father, Henri, opened a tobacco shop on the Boulevard des Philosophes. Among his first customers was a certain Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov, better known as Lenin.

1924 Early on, Henri Davidoff showed his son how to produce blends of tobacco for cigarettes and pipes, and after he left school in 1924, the young Zino moved to South and Middle America, where he devoted himself to learning about tobacco. It was in Argentina, Brazil and Cuba that he grew to know and love tobacco plants. He familiarized himself with the art of cultivation, drying and fermentation; and became a master of blends and flavours.

1929 After his return to Switzerland in 1929, he opened a special cigar department in his father's shop in Geneva. For more efficient storage, he built a cigar cellar - the first of its kind in Europe. His passion and his enthusiasm, together with a profound and extensive knowledge of his subject, helped to bring him the fame he enjoys today. Worldwide.

1946 "Enjoying a cigar is culture, savoir-vivre," Zino Davidoff said in the middle of this century. As a dedicated "bon vivant" and highly successful businessman, he created in 1946 his famous "Ch�teau Line", cigars he named after some of the most sought-after "Grands Cr�s" from Bordeaux.

1970 In 1970 Zino Davidoff joined forces with his long-standing friend Dr. Ernst Schneider, Chairman (since the 1960's) of the Oettinger Group Basel, a family enterprise founded in 1875. Dr. Schneider shared the business and life philosophy of his friend Zino and developed an international marketing concept. With Oettinger as head quarters of the operation this partnership started the expansion of Davidoff into a globally successful brand.

1991 In 1991, Zino Davidoff and Ernst Schneider delivered a new creation to the market: the "New Generation of Davidoff Cigars", which was launched worldwide. True cigar lovers and connoisseurs, as well as a "new generation" of people who enjoyed cigars, understood the excellence of these high-quality cigars, which are produced by experts in the Dominican Republic and made from the finest Dominican tobaccos.

1994 Zino Davidoff died, January 14th.