I attended a stunning event at the Hyatt Regency “The Churchill” on Portman Square in London.

Through the good offices of its Bailli Délégué, Philip Evins, who is a Member of the Conseil Magistral, the members and guests had the opportunity at the reception and dinner to enjoy seven wines from the world famous Allegrini Estate in northern Veneto. Their top wines La Grola and La Poja are highly sought after, the latter being produced in limited quantities from the hilltop vineyard.

Host for the evening was Matteo Allegrini, the estate's Oenologist and Export Director. Executive Chef Carlo Martino, a Maître Rôtisseur member of the Chaîne, created the special menu to show off the Allegrini wines to their best.

RECEPTION

Chef’s canapé selection
Allegrini Lugana DOC

MENU

Taleggio pannacotta
winter truffle, Parma ham crumble
Allegrini Valpolicella DOC

Cured chalk stream trout
beetroot carpaccio, citrus crème fraiche
dill oil, puffed wild rice
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre IGT
Allegrini ‘La Grola’ Valpolicella Superiore Classico

Scottish beef fillet
pomme mousseline, pearl onions, chanterelle
braised beef croquette
Allegrini Amarone delle Valpolicella Classico
Allegrini ‘La Poja’

Dark chocolate and Amarena torte
mascarpone cream, almond tuile
Allegrini Recioto della Valpolicella Classico

Tea, coffee and petits fours

Before dinner, there was an Induction Ceremony, not only for OMGD (Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs) members but also for Bailliage of Great Britain Chaîne members … including my grandson, James Mitchell, who I had the great pleasure of inducting as a Chevalier.

Marie Jones
International Vice-President
Managing Editor, Chaîne News Online

Allegrini: family and wine intertwined with history
The love for their land has inspired the Allegrini Family to enhance the potential of Valpolicella and its winemaking tradition. Choices informed by great foresight have seen Allegrini become one of the leading companies in Italy. It is precisely in Valpolicella that the new generation of producers looks to Allegrini wines as an essential benchmark.

The innovations made by Franco Allegrini have guaranteed ideal storage conditions for the grapes destined to make Amarone and Recioto and thereby guarantee high quality standards. His vision can be distilled into two key innovations. first, the adoption of barriques alongside traditional Slavonian oak barrels. Second, significant transformation of the partial drying method (appassimento), culminating in the creation of ‘Terre di Fumane’, a hallmark of Valpolicella winemaking.

After exploring various way to improve local winemaking techniques, Franco, together with his brother Walter, also progressively introduced important innovations in the vineyards. All-round experimentation with the Corvina grape, the most significant variety in Valpolicella and one of Italy’s most interesting indigenous grapes were at centre. It can be appreciated in ‘La Poja’, the company’s ‘cult’ wine made with 100% Corvina. Over time, Trentino pergola, a traditional vine-training system used in Valpolicella, was replaced with different systems that enabled an increase in plant density per hectare.

Allegrini
Via Giare 5
37022 Fumane (VR)

Tel: +39 045 6832011
Web: allegriniwines.com