Fumane, March 11, 2025 – One year after its inception, the Marilisa Allegrini Group has announced two new developments concerning Villa Della Torre and Verona.

The result of Andrea Lonardi’s vision and Marilisa’s courage, the two projects were made possible by Marilisa and her daughters, Carlotta and Caterina, who agreed to take on new challenges. The projects strengthen the identity of the family business in Valpolicella and set an ambitious goal: to offer a new, unprecedented narrative of the entire Verona area.

The new wines, which officially debut at Vinitaly 2025, were the stars of a dinner held at Villa Della Torre. Some of the city’s institutional figureheads attended the dinner, including the mayor of Verona, Damiano Tommasi; the President of the Province, Flavio Massimo Pasini; the President of Veronafiere, Federico Bricolo; the President of the Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini Valpolicella Christian Marchesini; and the President of the Consorzio di Soave Cristian Ridolfi.

Villa della Torre’s winemaking philosophy combines technical exactitude with a deep respect for Valpolicella’s winemaking roots, as Andrea Lonardi explains: “The estate was the first in Valpolicella to introduce optical selection for the production of Amarone 2024. Our commitment to winemaking is equally important. While waiting to start work on the winery at the Villa, we redesigned our winery in Sant’Ambrogio di Valpolicella. There, we practice shorter, more strategic drying at controlled low temperatures to preserve the freshness of the fruit, as well as long macerations to promote balance and complexity between tannins and acidity. Aging takes place in large wooden barrels for less than two years, followed by long aging in the bottle. The influence of wood is minimal thanks to the use of large barrels and cement, which enhances the expression of the vineyard and terroir.”

Right from the first glance, the new stylistic choice of the labels, which now feature Marilisa Allegrini’s signature, emphasizes the wines’ connection with the history and architecture of Villa Della Torre. These labels feature some of the most iconic elements of the Renaissance monument, such as the Lion’s fireplace and the façade of Villa Della Torre, with an added touch of color. The labels were designed by the agency NSG | Strategic Branding Communication Wine Design.

The landscape is a testament to the mastery of nature, from the rugged hills of Valpolicella where the hills meet the Adige River, to the volcanic soils of the gentle slopes of Soave, to the morainic hills and sparkling shores of Lake Garda. But it’s not just about geography. These peaks and valleys are the foundation of the region’s wines. Consider the limestone vineyards of Valpolicella, connected to the Lessini Mountains, which produce light, crisp, and savory red wines. Then there are the volcanic and limestone hills of Soave, which produce salty, mineral, and long-lived wines. Finally, there are the morainic hills of the Lugana area, carved out by the glaciers of Lake Garda, which produce structured and complex white wines.

“Peaks & Valleys is more than a new brand. It represents the first Veronese-led wine project that promotes Valpolicella, Soave, and Lugana as ambassadors of a unique identity and harmonized expression of the winemaking area — an increasingly attractive and hospitable destination” explains Andrea Lonardi.

The project takes a modern approach to the négociant model. Alongside the vineyards owned or leased by the company, there are others that operate through partnerships with trusted local wine growers. Its strength lies in its rigorous approach to vineyard selection and winemaking.

Peaks & Valleys selects vineyards based on precise criteria, including soil diversity (calcareous, volcanic, and morainic), climate, exposure, and altitude (each vineyard is chosen for its specific combination); native varieties; training systems (including espalier and traditional and modern pergola); age; and heritage of the vines. It is committed to authenticity; only native grape varieties are used, allowing each wine to clearly express the heritage of Verona. Each wine in the portfolio authentically expresses its origin while meeting contemporary standards for high-end wines. The wines naturally achieve moderate alcohol levels, typically remaining below 12.5%.

Four new wines have been created under the Peaks&Valleys label and as signature wines by Marilisa Allegrini: Valpolicella Classico Monte Lencisa DOC 2024, Lugana Selva del Vescovo DOC 2024, Soave Classico Castelcerino DOC 2024, and Soave Classico Fittà DOC 2024.

“When Andrea talked to me about this idea, I immediately identified with it. The focus shifts from the producer’s cellar to the land that produces the grapes, highlighting the identity of a winemaking region that is becoming increasingly interesting and attractive to contemporary consumers. We tell the story of the soul and identity of our beloved Verona. We enhance it. We help people discover it in a new way and recognize the strong leadership it deserves. This new kind of storytelling opens up the world of wine by promoting it through the story of the landscape. It is a source of great pride, and I truly believe it is a great opportunity for us Veronese,” comments Marilisa Allegrini, OML.

The project’s innovation is also reflected in its packaging. “As with the wines of Villa Della Torre, we entrusted the project to NSG, an agency with which we have worked for some time. We talked at length with their team about translating the project’s story into visual images. The Peaks & Valleys logo graphically reflects the geographical profile of the Verona area. For the labels, we collaborated with illustrator Antonio Bonanno to depict the various landscapes. Each label contains information about the soil and geographical coordinates. Each label is marked out by its color and symbol: a hat for Lugana Selva del Vescovo, a hot air balloon for Soave Fittà, a cherry tree for Soave Castelcerino, and Aeolus for Valpolicella Monte Lencisa,” comments Caterina Sofia Mastella Allegrini, the group’s Director of Marketing and Communications.