Allegrini, `La Grola`

Allegrini, `La Grola`

Vintage: 2020

VintageProduct CodeFormatClosureAvailability
2020AL204B206 x 75Agglomerated CorkAvailable
2020AL204M206 x 150Natural CorkAvailable
Producer

The Allegrini family estate comprises 120 hectares of vineyard in the heart of Valpolicella Classico. Although the family has grown grapes here for several centuries, Giovanni Allegrini was the first to start bottling wines from the family’s vineyards. When he died in 1983, he passed his passion and commitment to quality winemaking onto his three children, Walter, Marilisa and Franco. Together, they worked to build on Giovanni’s quality ethos until Walter’s death in 2003. Franco looked after the vineyards and winemaking, while Marilisa continued to manage sales and marketing. From the 2007 vintage, Franco sacrificed the Valpolicella Classico classification by bottling the Allegrini wines under Stelvin to eliminate cork taint and reduce oxidation problems. Franco sadly passed away in 2022. He was an inspiring figure who led the way in Valpolicella’s quest for quality, forging a path many others have followed. In 2023, Franco’s sons Francesco, Giovanni and Matteo, alongside their cousin Silvia Allegrini (Walter’s daughter), became custodians of their family’s historic estate.

Allegrini’s Valpolicella has a lovely intensity of red cherry fruit, lifted perfumes and a ripe yet zesty character on the palate. ‘La Grola’, sleek and beguiling, sets the standard by which all other wines from Valpolicella are judged. The ‘Palazzo della Torre’, a ‘baby Amarone’ produced by Allegrini’s modern approach to the ripasso method, is plush and rounded. Their Amarone is outstanding, offering an expression that is intense yet balanced. The ‘Giovanni Allegrini’ Recioto Classico, named after the winery's famous founder, is bursting with fruit and notes of cherry intertwined with pepper and thyme.

In 2018, Allegrini purchased 40 hectares of land in the municipality of Pozzolengo after years of scouting the Lugana area around Lake Garda. They created a Lugana defined by lively acidity, which balances the natural richness of the Turbiana grape. The resulting wine is stylish and elegant, defined by classic floral aromas and hints of almonds.

Vineyards

La Grola was bought by Allegrini in 1979. It is situated at 310 metres above sea level. The 30-hectare vineyard has a south-easterly aspect, well-drained calcareous and clay soils, and vines were planted between 1979 and 1998. The vines are double Guyot trained at a density ranging from 4,240 to 6,500 vines per hectare. The high plant density and resulting low yields give this wine its unique concentration.

Vintage

Overall the 2020 vintage was a good year, despite some challenges in neighbouring regions. A few summer showers slowed the ripening process, but the warm temperatures picked up in September, providing an excellent opportunity for the grapes to ripen fully before harvest.

Vinification

The hand-harvested grapes were destemmed and gently crushed before fermentation in stainless-steel tanks. Maceration lasted for 15 days at temperatures between 20-28°C during which pumping over took place daily. Malolactic fermentation took place naturally in barriques. The wine was aged for 16 months in oak before being blended and spent a further two months in tank before bottling, with an additional 10 months in bottle before release.

Tasting Notes & Technical Details

La Grola is a full bodied, intense, and elegant wine. Dark ruby red in colour, it has aromas of wild berries, black pepper, with subtle notes of forest floor and tobacco.

Alcohol (ABV)

14%