Wines from Campania and Naples
Herein lie the ruins of Pompeii, the lands visited by Ulysses, and the home of heroes celebrated through the writings of Homer and Virgil. Campania is known best within Italy for its seafood-friendly whites, outside of Italy for its big reds. Different micro-climates and volcanic soils give birth to a wide range of complex wines.
From terroir as different as the active coastal lava fields of Campi Flegrei where white Falanghina and red Piedirosso are grown, to the dormant tufa slopes of Irpinia and the vineyards of Taurasi, Tufo and Avellino at 1,500 feet, or the steep valleys of Sannio in the mountains of Benevento, the region of Campania produces distinctive wines of diverse personalities, heroic wines for frutti di mare on the coast of Naples or cinghiale in the mountains.
Wines of Corte Normanna
Grapes: 100% Aglianico
Vineyards: 20 year old vines in clay and limestone hills, heavy thinning
Vinification: Soft pressed, fermentation for 10-15 days, all stainless steel, special filtration
Aging: 3 months in stainless steel, then 4-6 months finishing in the bottle
Annual Production: 2,916 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Aglianico Sannio DOC
The valleys around the medieval Norman hill town of Guardia Sanframondi have always been prized for their rich and fertile soils, perfect for the red Aglianico grape that the spanish Aragornese wrote of as early as 1520.
Today the Falluto brothers make a pure aglianico sparing nothing in their attention to detail. They have developed innovative filters to remove seeds, tannins, and bitter agents from the wine producing not only a beautiful red wine, but one free of contaminants.
Ruby red colors with tendencies of garnet as it ages, consistent intense aromas of flowers spiced with violets, a dry taste, soft while tannic with harmonic and balanced structure. Serve with roast red meat, roasts, wild game and aged cheeses.
Gambero Rosso 2009 2 Glasses ('06)
Almanac Berebene 2009 Oscar "Price-Quality" ('06)
Luca Maroni 2008 83 points ('05)
Grapes: 100% Aglianico
Vineyards: 20 year old vines in clay and limestone hills, heavy thinning
Vinification: Soft pressed, fermentation for 12-15 days, all stainless steel, special filtration
Aging: up to 4 years in French barrique, 6 months finished in bottle
Annual Production: 1,076 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Aglianico Sannio DOC "Tre Pietre"
This cru is made of selected grapes, specially filtered to remove seeds and any dust or contaminants. Very low production wine, it is aged much longer than typical, up to 4 years in new and used French barrique in 3 different phases.
Dense ruby red garnet hues as it ages, consistent intense aromas of flowers, spice and toast, a dry taste, soft and acidic with strong tannins and harmonic and balanced structure. Serve with roast red meat, roasts, wild game and aged cheeses.
Gambero Rosso 2008 1 Glass ('02)
Vinitaly Verona 2006 "Diploma di Gran Menzione" ('01)
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Vinification: Soft pressed, cold maceration, cold decanting and cold fermentation for 20 days, all stainless steel, special filtration
Vineyards: 20 year old vines in clay and limestone hills, heavy thinning
Aging: 4 months stainless steel 4-6 months finished in bottle
Annual Production: 3,750 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Service: Chilled 50° F
Falanghina Sannio DOC
Most locals are convinced that Falanghina is a descendant of the famous Roman Falernum and was first cultivated in the high mountain valleys of Sannio. This Falanghina is carefully filtered, as is the norm with the Falluto brothers.
Straw yellow in color with bright aromas of fruit with floral scents, dry on the mouth with optimal freshness. Serve with antipasto, fish plates, white meats. Great with mozzarella di bufala from Campania and fresh cheeses.
Gambero Rosso 2009 1 Glass ('07)
Gambero Rosso 2008 2 Glasses ('06)
Almanac Berebene 2008 Oscar "Price-Quality" ('06)
Vinitaly Verona 2007 "Diploma di Gran Menzione" ('06)
Luca Maroni 2007 81 points ('06)
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Vineyards: 20 year old vines in clay and limestone hills, heavy thinning
Vinification: Soft pressed, cold maceration, cold decanting and cold fermentation for 20 days, all stainless steel, special filtration
Aging: 6 months in French barrique, 2-3 months finished in bottle
Annual Production: 833 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Service: Chilled 50° F
Falanghina Sannio DOC "Palombaia
The Palombaia is a special Cru of finest Falanghina aged in oak barrique.
Straw yellow color with golden highlights. Consistent and clear aromas of fruit with hints of flowers and spice, dry on the mouth with a sense of alcohol, yet soft with fresh acidity which clears the palate. Good structure, equilibrium and harmony. Serve with elaborate first courses, pastas, white meat. Great with aged cheese.
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Vineyards: 20 year old vines in clay and limestone hills, heavy thinning
Vinification: Passito dried on mats for 40-50 days, soft pressed with cold fermentation. All stainless steel, special filtration
Aging: 12 months istainless steel, 10 months finished in bottle
Annual Production: 1,250 cases
Alcohol: 15%
Falanghina Sannio DOC Passito "Porta dell'Olmo"
A delicate cordial of golden wine liquore. The passito process makes a dry sweet wine without the mustiness of a muffatto.
Golden yellow color with warm nuances, intense aroma, elegant and persistent with hints of honey and candied fruit. Soft sweet alchohol on the mouth with a long notable finish. Serve at dessert or after dinner. Great with fruit pies, apple torts, mousse di torrone, dry pastries, very aged cheeses and ricotta with almond honey.
Comes in beautiful thin-necked .375 liter bottles.
Luca Maroni 2007 81 points ('01)
Wines of Farro
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Vineyards: Grown "a piede franco"
on "phalanxes" (tall support poles); near still-active volcanic fields rich in
ash, pumice, tufa and microelements
Aging: All stainless steel
Annual Production: 150,000 bottles
Alcohol: 12.5%
Service: 50-52°
Falanghina Campi Flegrei DOC
Cantine Farro was the only Falanghina served at the 2006 Academy Awards dinner, which featured wines of Campania. Limited vineyards adjoin the still-active Flegrein Fields, imparting a minerality not found in other regions.
Some of the oldest wines in Europe can be found in Campi Flegrei, growing on their own rootstock - the soil composition protected these heroic vines from the 19th century phylloxera epidemic that ravaged much of Europe.
Farro's Falanghina is a delicate white wine, which pairs perfectly with seafood. Citrus aromas, vibrant acidity, and a mineral finish are the highlights of this elegant wine.
Gambero Rosso 2009 2 Glasses ('07)
Grapes: 100% Falanghina
Vineyards: Grown "a piede franco"
on "phalanxes" (tall support poles); near still-active volcanic fields rich in
ash, pumice, tufa and microelements
Aging: All stainless steel
Annual Production: 666 cases
Alcohol: 12.5%
Service: 50-52°
Falanghina Campi Flegrei DOC "Le Cigliate"
A very low production Cru on ancient lands overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Naples, the selected grapes are allowed to wait on the vines longer than is normal. Denser and with less acidity than the normal Falanghina, it is rich in mature fruit while retaining the citrus aroma and fresh minerality for which Michele Farro is famous.
Gambero Rosso 2009 1 Glass ('07)
Luca Maroni 2007 82 points ('06)
Wines of Terranera
Grapes: 100% Aglianico
Vineyards: Guyot-trained at 1,475-1,640 ft above sea level on Paternopoli hill
Vinification:Harvested end of Oct; skin contact at controlled temperatures (75-77°)
Aging: 4 yrs in oak botte (lg. barrels), 6 mos in bottles
Annual production: 1,000 cases
Alcohol: 13%
Service: 64-68°, decant ½-1 hr before serving
Taurasi DOCG
The most renowned Italian wine south of Tuscany, Taurasi is a small DOCG appellation in the Irpinian hills of Campania east of Naples. Called the "Barolo of the South," Taurasi is made from the Aglianico grape and spends at least three years in oak and bottle before release.
Powerful dark berry aromas carry into a medium-bodied red wine with smooth elegant tannins. Hints of honey along with anise, underbrush, and road tar entertain the palette. Best with hearty beef roasts, game and aged cheeses.
Gambero Rosso 2009 1 Glass ('04)
"Meat and spices like fennel dominate the nose while the mouth is as tannic as you’d expect with the extract to fill it out – very long. Give it some time to air upon opening." - Ray Johnson, Taste Wine