The Allegrini family has played a leading role in the history of Fumane and Valpolicella Classica since the 16th century and has handed down the culture of the vine and wine ever since.
The company, which is among the most important landowning families, experienced a profound period of transformation starting in the 1960s with Giovanni Allegrini. Recognized as one of the greatest architects of the rebirth of Valpolicella, Giovanni perfected the art of winemaking, meticulously selecting the grapes and introducing some important innovations in viticulture and oenology.
One of the most prestigious winegrowing districts in Italy, Valpolicella has been dedicated to viticulture since ancient times, as the etymology of its name confirms: ‘val polis cellae’ – the ‘valley of the many cellars’. Located in western Veneto, between Verona and Lake Garda, it is bordered to the north by the Lessini Mountains.
The area called Valpolicella Classica, the most supremely well-suited to the production of fine, prestigious wines due to its predominantly hilly location, is made up of 5 municipalities: Sant’Ambrogio, San Pietro in Cariano, Fumane, Marano and Negrar. The soil is mainly calcareous, and, geologically, scholars believe it dates back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The climate is generally mild and temperate with between 900 and 1100 mm of rainfall per year. The area is steeped in history and culture: those who visit easily come across ancient churches, Renaissance villas and important examples of rural architecture.
Allegrini has achieved Biodiversity Friend certification year on year since 2017. This recognizes the care dedicated not only to the vines but also to the animals and insects that inhabit the countryside and to their natural habitat. In 2019, the Company also acquired Equalitas certification, which attests to the sustainability of the supply chain with regard to the environment, society, economy, and the entire network of suppliers. 2021 saw the introduction of constant monitoring of water consumption in the vineyards and the traceability of the Company’s carbon footprint, which quantifies CO2 emissions with the aim of rationalizing and potentially neutralizing them via other agronomic operations.
The Allegrini Company can be considered the result of the intelligence and industriousness of Giovanni Allegrini, an unpretentious, spontaneous man who gave rise to a solid, efficient and innovative agricultural concern.
He began working at a very young age and perfected the art of winemaking, demonstrating superb skills and impassioned enthusiasm. He was referred to as ‘the barrel spider’ because of the image he conjured up: he would proudly allow his wines to be tasted in his wine cellar and whilst absorbing opinions and impressions, he would spring like a spider from one precious barrel to the other. Giovanni’s lifestyle, history and culture are still the key to understanding the philosophy and success of the Allegrini Company. After his death in 1983, the Company passed into the hands of his sons and daughter.
Marilisa Allegrini is the co-director/CEO of the Allegrini Group. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Order of Merit for Labour by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The first Italian woman to appear on the cover of Wine Spectator, she has always been an untiring ambassador of Allegrini wines in the world. She has also taken up a number of institutional roles, the last, chronologically speaking, as member of the board of directors of the Fondazione Arena, which manages Verona’s Amphitheatre. She is president of ISWA, an association that brings together 9 of the most important Italian wine producers.
Franco Allegrini took up the baton from his father in 1983, starting to take care of the winemaking operations in the Family business. Like Giovanni before him, he immediately showed great enthusiasm and passion for his land. Driven by the aim of enhancing its potential, a sort of revolution began in the winemaking tradition of Valpolicella.
Walter passed away unexpectedly in the summer of 2003. His candid, straight-forward character was the most classic expression of those who live in intense symbiosis with nature. He personally took charge of viticultural management, and it is also in his memory that Marilisa and Franco Allegrini have dedicated the commitment and energy that have enabled the company to achieve a leadership position throughout the area.