L E S A N D R O C E L L A I
Alessandro Cellai
U R W I N E A K R
Poggio ai Laghi presents its winemaker through an exclusive interview, offering a closer look at the philosophy, vision, and passion that guide each of his creations.
Alessandro Cellai, an internationally renowned winemaker, has received over 80 Tre Bicchieri awards (the highest recognition from the Gambero Rosso guide) and numerous placements in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World. With decades of experience and a reputation for excellence, he is today one of the most authoritative voices on the global wine scene.
Interview 1/7
o w d i d h e e c o u n t r w i t h P o g g i o a i L a g h i c o m e a b o u t , a n d w h a t i n s p i r e d y o u t o b e g i n t h i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n ?
Everything started with my friendship with Francesco, which goes back many years. He told me about this beautiful project and asked if I was available to support him on the winemaking side. His enthusiasm and the way he described it struck me so deeply that I decided to accept and become part of this wonderful adventure.
Interview 2/7
f t r e v l u t n g P o g i o a i L a g h i a s a w h o l e , w h i c h a s p e c t s o f p r o d u c t i o n d o y o u c o n s i d e r t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t o d e v e l o p ?
Poggio ai Laghi is an ambitious project, designed in particular for an international audience. From a winemaking perspective, I believe it is essential to interpret this territory at its best. I was fortunate to have Giacomo Tachis as my mentor, who defined a great wine as the union of three souls: that of the grape variety, that of the terroir, and that of the winemaker. Bringing the essence of this extraordinary terroir into every bottle of Poggio ai Laghi is, in my opinion, the key to success.
Interview 3/7
o w w o u l y u d e s c r b e t h e w i n e m a k i n g i d e n t i t y o f P o g g i o a i L a g h i , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t e r r o i r o f M o n t e r i g g i o n i ?
h e W i n e a k r
It is a unique territory, which makes me doubly happy to be part of this project. Here, any grape variety can achieve great structure while still maintaining freshness and drinkability. It is, quite possibly, the ideal terroir for any winemaker: it allows the grape to be expressed to its fullest without losing the qualities that, now more than ever, are in demand on the market both in Italy and worldwide.
Interview 4/7
h a c a n w e e p e c t r o m t h e f i r s t v i n t a g e s i g n e d b y A l e s s a n d r o C e l l a i ?
h e W i n e a k r
You can expect an authentic interpretation of this territory, with my signature style: that touch of elegance and drinkability encapsulated in one word—balance. Balance represents the synthesis of everything I learned in the twenty years I spent alongside my mentor, Giacomo Tachis, the greatest winemaker of all time.
Interview 5/7
o g i o a L g i h a s b u i l t a p r o j e c t t h a t d e e p l y v a l u e s t h e f e m a l e f i g u r e . W h a t a r e y o u r r e f l e c t i o n s o n t h i s , b o t h a s a p r o f e s s i o n a l a n d a s a p e r s o n ?
h e W i n e a k r
When Francesco told me about this idea, I was immediately struck, especially on a human level. I am proud to be part of a project that, through its labels, tells the story of female figures rooted in our tradition. This gives me even more motivation and a sense of responsibility to put the very best of the territory’s winemaking excellence into every bottle.
Interview 6/7
o w d o y u e t h e o l e o f t h e w i n e m a k e r t o d a y ?
h e W i n e a k r
The role of the winemaker has always been important, but today it is even more so, for two main reasons.
The first is that a winemaker can no longer be just a technician who transforms grapes into wine: he must be capable of creating an experience in the glass. Wine is no longer just nourishment, as it was 50 or 60 years ago, but an element of conviviality. Being able to turn a shared moment into something unforgettable makes the real difference. If a wine manages to touch someone, it not only makes that moment memorable but also becomes a positive memory, one that the consumer will seek out again to relive that pleasure.
The second reason is that the market is undergoing profound change, and the winemaker must know how to interpret it. This is not just a passing trend, but a transformation that has been underway for years: the perception of wine today is different from what it was 15 or 20 years ago. The average quality has risen enormously worldwide, thanks to technology and knowledge; this means the real challenge is no longer just producing a technically correct wine, but standing out with a style that delivers emotion while responding to the market’s new demands.
That is why, today more than ever, the winemaker’s role is central to the success of a winery.
Interview 7/7
s h e r e a i e m a k i g d r e a m y o u w o u l d l i k e t o a c h i e v e i n y o u r c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h P o g g i o a i L a g h i ?
h e W i n e a k r
When you serve as a consulting winemaker within a winery, the main goal is always to contribute meaningfully to the satisfaction of the ownership. My dream here at Poggio ai Laghi is to create wines that can bring that satisfaction while faithfully interpreting the character of the territory. Since the winery is aimed primarily at an international audience, I want the of Poggio ai Laghi to become true ambassadors of this place.
The goal is to carry this essence out into the world and to be responsible for that emotion that begins at Poggio ai Laghi and reaches America, Asia, China, Australia… anywhere we want it to go. That, in a few words, is my dream here at Poggio ai Laghi.