Grape Varieties
65% Corvina 30% Rondinella 5% Molinara
Winery
The Allegrini family estate comprises 90 hectares of vineyard situated in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico area. The family has been growing grapes in Valpolicella for several generations, and the estate in its current form was founded by Giovanni Allegrini. When he died in 1983, it passed to his three children, who ran it together until Walter’s death in July 2003. Franco now looks after the vineyards and is the winemaker, while Marilisa is director of marketing. From the 2007 vintage, Franco sacrificed the Classico status of the Valpolicella and bottled the wine under Stelvin in order to eliminate as much as possible the problems of cork taint and random oxidation.
Winemaker
Franco Allegrini
Viticulture
As in Soave, the growing season started well and continued into the hot summer. Just the right amount of rain fell in early July, as veraison started, giving the vines some relief. More rain in mid- September was less welcome but stopped in time for the grapes destined for drying which are picked earlier. The harvest in Classico finished for Allegrini on 20 October. Franco Allegrini is pleased with the wines, saying “it is a good if not great year. The wines have lovely weight but lack a bit of elegance.
Winemaking & Maturation
The grapes were de-stalked before crushing, after which fermentation occurred at 25-31ºC. Maceration lasted 7 days and malolactic fermentation took place in December. The wine was held in stainless steel tanks until bottling in mid-February.”
Short Tasting Note
The 2009 Valpolicella is juicy and soft, with lively cherry and berry fruit characters on the palate and a fresh, lifted finish.
