From Soave we took a forty minute drive further up into the hills to arrive at Allegrini in the Veronese province of Fumane. We were met at the company's Amarone/Recioto grape drying facility by Giampietro Tinazzo, the Brand Ambassador for Allegrini and taken up the hills to the winery's La Grola and La Poja vineyards to give a sense of place. The Corvina grapes were still on the vine but due for harvest any day. The combination of great grape clones, perfect soil type and vineyard location is never more evident at these vineyards and this is reflective in the wines. After the vineyard visits we were to have dinner at Allegrini's fabulous guest villa, Villa della Torre, a 16th Century Italian Renaissance building which is quite stunning to behold. The line-up of wines included some from properties owned by Allegrini in Tuscany

Wines from Allegrini's own estate in Fumane

Valpolicella Classico Far from entry level in style this is a great style of cherry-ish Valpol Palazzo della Torre Often known as a "Baby Amarone" this wine offers the more feminine side of the Corvina grape backed up for extra structure by the addition of Rondinella and a little Sangiovese La Grola Mainley Corvina with a touch of the native Oseleta grape for extra aromaticity this is a more masculine style compared to Palazzo della Torre Amarone Staggeringly rich and ripe with juicy bittersweet tannins and deep swathes of figs, liquorice and cherries. La Poja The Corvina grapes are from a vineyard of just under 3 ha and the soil is noticeably chalky which gives great minerality to this super rich and concentrated wine. Recioto Sweet and unctuous this is not for the faint-hearted.

Wines From Tuscany

Poggio San Polo Rosso di Montalcino We've had the Rosso in our portfolio for about 18 months now and it is a lovely, medium bodied style of Sangiovese. Poggio San Polo Brunello di Montalcino A modern style of Brunello. Approachable in its youth, with ripe tannins and bags of black fruit and spicy oak, it will continue to develop over time. Poggio al Tesoro Mediterra This estate is situated in the south west of Tuscany in the region of Bolgheri. The Mediterra is a blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and is rich, spicy and deeply black fruited. Poggio al Tesoro Le Sondraia This wine is classified as a Bolgheri Superiore and is a classic Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This is simply stunning. Simply, simply stunning. Poggio al Tesoro W Dedicato a Walter This wine is named after the late Walter Allegrini and is 100% Cabernet Franc so similar in style to many of the top St Emilion wines. Rich and one certainly for the cellar. And on that superb note, we retired ahead of a busy day 2! Graham