Bolla

Abele Bolla founded the winery in 1883 in the town of Soave, where he operated the Al Gambero inn. His son, Alberto Bolla, expanded the family business in 1931 by establishing a dedicated cellar in Pedemonte, located in the heart of the Valpolicella Classico zone. This move allowed the producer to diversify from white wines into the red varieties of the region. Following a long period of growth and international expansion facilitated by a partnership with the American company Brown-Forman, the winery was eventually acquired by Gruppo Italiano Vini. The group completed the purchase in 2006 and continues to manage the brand as part of its extensive portfolio of historic Italian estates.

The production facilities are centered in San Pietro in Cariano, where the winery manages approximately 264 hectares of vineyards. These sites are situated on diverse geological foundations, including volcanic soils in Soave and limestone-rich marl in the hilly areas of Valpolicella Classico. The winemaking process incorporates the traditional appassimento method, where grapes such as Corvina and Rondinella are dried on racks for several months to concentrate their flavors. In the cellar, wines are aged in a combination of modern French barriques and large Slavonian oak vats. The historic wing of the winery still maintains oak barrels that date back to the year the estate was founded. Christian Zulian currently serves as the director of winemaking, overseeing a production style that balances historical techniques with contemporary technology.

Bolla is recognized for its significant role in the commercial history of Italian wine, specifically for being the first producer to market Amarone della Valpolicella under its own name. In 1953, the family bottled the 1950 vintage as a birthday gift for Alberto Bolla, marking the first time the term Amarone appeared on a commercial label. This milestone helped transform what was once a local variant of sweet Recioto into a globally recognized dry red wine style. Today, the winery remains a major exporter of Veronese wines, with a portfolio led by the Le Origini Amarone Riserva. It is also well known for its Soave Classico and Valpolicella Ripasso, maintaining a reputation established by mid-twentieth-century endorsements from international figures like Frank Sinatra.