La Poja in Venice – a milestone in our history
“La Poja – A Milestone in Our History” is an exclusive event that took place in Venice, the second stage of a project that already included an extraordinary vertical tasting organised in London, which marked the debut of a tour of this iconic wine on the main international stages. It was a marvellous opportunity to go back over the history of the Allegrini family and its indissoluble bond with the territory of origin, of which La Poja represents the highest expression.
The Venetian meeting began at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, where sommeliers, professionals and key opinion leaders at an international level had the opportunity to attend a guided tour of the renowned modern art collection, followed by an exclusive dinner at the Palazzina Grassi, the only 5-star hotel in Italy completely designed by Philippe Starck, where art goes hand in hand with design. After the welcome by Fabio Manni, Executive Chef of Relegance group, a special menu devised by Alajmo Group’s Quadri Restaurant was served. It was created to enhance the distinctive character of the Allegrini range’s flagship wines, thus combining food and wine excellence with the evocative atmosphere of Venice.
The central moment of the two days was dedicated to a blind tasting of seven La Poja historic vintages (1997, 2001, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2016 and 2018). The tasting event – masterfully led by wine educator and DipWSET Cristina Mercuri – took place on the main floor of Palazzo Nani, a setting of great historical charm. The Allegrini family accompanied the participants on this journey through the various La Poja vintages by sharing stories, anecdotes and experiences related to the history of their wines and winery.
The modern legend of La Poja originated over 40 years ago from an intuition of Giovanni Allegrini. In 1979, the visionary winemaker purchased a unique plot of land 320 metres above sea level, and there he applied revolutionary viticultural innovations. He conceived a large “cru” of Corvina grapes with the aim of enhancing the entire region of Valpolicella and above all its premium native grape variety. The high-quality viticulture and perfect microclimate of this plateau, framed by the dazzling white of the limestone soils, deliver the grapes for La Poja, an icon of Allegrini’s winemaking. After four years of maturation in the cellar, the wine released is intense and elegant, with ample aromas of fruit, herbs and spices, full-bodied and with a very long ageing capacity. This is how La Poja was born and, since its first release, it has been recognised by wine lovers and international critics as a landmark of Valpolicella’s highest quality. Over the years, popularity and demand have steadily grown in both local and international markets. The global distribution of this wine – one of the two Allegrini labels, together with Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Fieramonte, which has conquered La Place de Bordeaux, the beating heart of the international market for high quality wines – now covers over 50 countries, despite a very limited production.