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Erjola Braha in a story on VOA about her journey in wine production

2025-01-19 20:45:54Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Erjola Braha in a story on VOA about her journey in wine production
Erjola Braha

In Albania, many women and girls are touching new realities in the field of business. One of them, Erjola Braha, has managed to feel confident in the field of oenology for more than two decades. With experience gained in neighboring Italy, today, in addition to importing wines from many countries around the world, she has managed to create her own wine brand. In a conversation with Voice of America correspondent in Tirana Mimoza Picari, Ms. Braha says that it has not been an easy path for her, and that she has overcome everything with faith and patience.

"I was born in Durrës. At the age of 10, I left my country for a big dream that at that time we called the American dream. My first trip on the ship "Vlora" was one of the most beautiful trips. Then, as a child, I thought it was sending us to America, but in reality we arrived in Bari, Italy. Thanks to this experience, many dreams were woven inside me. And with this dream that developed and grew with me in Veneto, near the vineyards of Valdobbiadene, which I call the capital of the bulls, I managed to create this American dream in my country, Albania," Erjola Braha, founder and director of "Alejandro Group", tells Voice of America.

Erjola Braha was on the ship Vlora on August 7, 1991, alongside her relatives who were trying to emigrate to Italy. A journey that, although it was an extremely difficult experience for a girl of only 10 years old, was illuminated by some lights in her mind - she says. In other words, it was hope for her dreams. The vast majority of Albanian citizens who arrived on the Italian shores with this ship were repatriated by the Italian authorities, while fate gave Erjola another direction in life, she stays there. After nearly a decade, she returns to Albania, initially with small ideas, but with a lot of courage to make them big.

"I returned to Albania after 10 years, and I realized that I was in the right place at the right time. After frequenting the premises of Tirana and looking for a glass of white wine from the regions of Italy or France, and I always couldn't find what I was looking for," says Erjola.

He began collaborating with one of the most well-known wineries in the area where he grew up in Veneto, Italy, and touched on the difficult Albanian reality in wine trading.

"In the 6 years that I was patient, presenting, doing it myself for my company and the sales agent, presenting and running this small business, I began to educate the market, dictate and orient it, and over the years we reached this reality today. In the first 6 years it was just communication, because wine is a story, wine is communication and then you taste it in the end, there is a story in every bottle. I tried to convey the story of every product I represented" - says Ms. Braha.

Today, Erjola, the head of the "Alejandro Group", imports wines from many countries around the world.

"Alejandro Group represents wineries from all over the world, importing wines from New Zealand, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Italy, France, Hungary, Portugal and many other countries," she continues.

And after more than 20 years of journey, in the import and trade of wines in Albania, Erjola Braha takes a new step. With the inspiration and support of experts in the field of oenology in Italy, she comes with her own wine brand, launching the first 5 thousand bottles on the market.

"It's an incredibly strong emotion, it excites me more than the wines I represent and import, as it is my own creation."

The “Braha” winery has produced the wine “Kroi i Kuq”, with grape varieties. We have the Sheshi i Zi, Kallmet varieties and an international variety, Merlot. We have made a blend, the grape varieties and areas were selected by our enologist Rodolfo Rizzi, President of the Italian Oenologists Association for the Friuli Venezia Gulia section in Italy and an enology journalist. “Kroi i Bardhë” is also a blend, with 3 grape varieties, we have Debina, the indigenous variety, we have Sheshi i Bardhë, we also have Chardonnay, the international variety, which gives it the right character to enjoy a white wine. We decided to call it Kroi because there is a stream in front of our winery”- says Erjola.

After this step, Erjola Braha believes that the time has come to pass on knowledge in the field of enology to future generations, through a special structure that she is creating, inspired by one of the most renowned enologists in the world, and also her mentor Ricardo Cotarela.

"We have dedicated a special environment to the "Alejandro" academy, for the formation of the new generation, for enthusiasts of the sector to improve their professional journey in terms of sommelier, enology and sales. The first 200 students will be trained by us as the Alehandro Group, with the support of international collaborators from Spain, Italy, who have participated in this initiative to support us in training the first 200 students" - says Ms. Braha.

Erjola Braha has managed for more than 20 years not to retreat in the face of obstacles, because she has learned to see them as lessons that make her stronger. She now walks confidently alongside numerous challenges, because she always remembers her journey of hope with the ship "Vlora" to Italy in August 1991, and she is convinced that not every wave hits you and that many of them take you exactly where you want, to the shore./ VOA


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