
'Master and Ambassador: How Riccardo Cotarella inspired Erjola Braha's new brewery', this is the title of a Forbes Italia article that brings the motivational story of a well-known Albanian brand, 'Alehandro Group'.
The article is about Riccardo Cottarella, whom Netflix, in a documentary, called the Master of the Vine. The world's award-worthy president of enologists has founded one of Italy's most important wine companies, with more than 200 hectares of vineyards and nearly two million bottles sold worldwide. While Erjola Braha, writes Forbes Italia, known as Lola, is an East Albanian but Italian by adoption.
She is the founder and ceo of Alehandro Group, one of the largest Albanian wine trading companies, with a significant presence in the Balkans where she is a brand ambassador. As Erjola told Forbes Italia: "The Balkans represent a growing market for Italian wine, with ever-increasing potential. "Made in Italy is highly regarded in this region, where consumers know and seek the quality, elegance and tradition that Italian wine brings."
They look like two separate stories, but there is one strong thread that connects them, which is wine. Lola has met with Riccardo while taking part in one of his workshops. There, she was struck by his passion, but above all by the attention to detail. She visited his company in Umbria, where she was loved with its exceptional wines.
From this, lola's winery in Albania was born, then the academy to train young people passionate about the summer. "Through academia we cultivate a deep connection with our origins, but with an open and ambitious look at the world, with the hope that our wine will become an ambassador of Albanian culture and talent," says Lola.