Gold catalysts supported on ZrO 2 and ZrO 2 -SiO 2 were prepared by incipient impregnation and depositionprecipitation with urea (DPU) with 1 % of nominal gold loading. The solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), N 2 -physisorption and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). Catalytic activities were investigated in cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation. The selectivity towards the desired product was influenced by the crystalline or amorphous phase support and method of gold deposition.