Allegrini revolution: "Separation from aunt has been in the air for years, we will reduce production." Interview with the new administrator

Three months have passed since Marilisa Allegrini sold her shares to her nephews, in what she herself described as a "very complex transition." Now, at the helm of the Fumane company, there are nephews Francesco, Giovanni, and Matteo (heirs of brother Franco Allegrini) and Silvia (daughter of Walter). For the former Lady Amarone, it was a necessary step due to "differences of ideas about the future of the brand." We spoke with Francesco Allegrini, now leading the winery, about this and the new company structure.

It's been a couple of months since the announcement of the separation between you and Aunt Marilisa. When did you realize it was necessary to pursue different paths?

Already in 2020, my father Franco was pondering the future of the company, not as an imminent change but sensing the need to initiate a process preparing for generational change. The arrival of Covid and the sudden manifestation of illness pushed this thought aside, only to resurface more urgently with his death in the spring of 2022. The separation, which occurred a few days before last Christmas, is actually the result of a thought that has been present for at least four years.

How have you divided tasks with Silvia and your brothers?

I am the administrator, Silvia is responsible for external relations, Matteo is the oenologist and export coordinator, while Giovanni is the brand ambassador and cellar technician. I am pleased to emphasize that alongside him, there are always Paolo Mascanzoni and Lorenzo Fortini, who worked closely with dad for a long time and represent an indispensable reference point for our growth path. In addition to our house production, we are also adding the distribution of some Italian and French companies, but choosing partners not based on potential turnover but on productive affinity.

Are there any other updates regarding the company?

We have focused on company reorganization and completed some investments for the expansion of the vineyard estate. In Valpolicella Classica, in Fumane, three hectares of owned vineyards in the Villa Cavarena area are now active, supplemented by five hectares rented in the higher area of Marano. We have also signed rental contracts for an additional 10 hectares of vineyards in Valpantena. These vineyards add to those acquired by Marilisa in Valpolicella Classica and in Lugana from Marilisa's daughters, ensuring an expansion of the vineyards at our disposal.

Do you intend to increase production?

On the contrary! In the past, especially abroad, we had increased the production of some references that we no longer consider central and which will be discontinued. Allegrini wines, which have always been produced with estate-grown grapes, will therefore decrease from a production of about 1.2 million bottles to just over 800 thousand, consolidating the wines that represent our territory. For example, the climate change we are witnessing had already convinced Franco in 2021 to move the production of Palazzo della Torre from the historic vineyards around the villa to the much higher Cavarena vineyards, even though this meant a substantial reduction in quantities. Furthermore, the vineyard expansion will allow us to produce the wines under the Corte Giara brand entirely from owned or leased vineyards.

From what can be seen, the construction works for the new winery, which seemed to have started last summer, have not actually continued. Has everything stopped?

In reality, we had some bureaucratic impediments that blocked the start of the works, but these are now almost resolved. With the end of April, in addition to definitively closing the chapter with Marilisa, we will finally see the start of the new construction, and we hope to carry out the 2028 harvest inside it.