Tenuta Loffredo: Terraced Vineyards and Volcanic Wines of Campi Flegrei

When Castrese Loffredo, owner of Tenuta Loffredo, parked the car and gestured toward the highest point of the terraced hillside, our destination for the tasting, the prospect felt daunting. After a long day spent sampling the current vintage of wines from across sun-drenched Campania, the climb seemed like a final test of endurance. Yet what initially appeared challenging soon revealed itself as a necessary and … Continue reading Tenuta Loffredo: Terraced Vineyards and Volcanic Wines of Campi Flegrei

Joaquin Winery: Boldly Reinventing Irpinia’s Taurasi and Fiano

Amid the untamed, rugged expanse of Irpinia, a rugged highland realm cradled by the Apennine mountains in Italy’s Campania, Joaquin Winery rises as a defiant homage to tradition and audacity. Joaquin Winery is a boutique estate that marries ancient vines with a daring winemaking vision. It was conceived in 1999 by Raffaele Pagano, a fourth-generation winemaker who broke away from his family’s high-volume winery to … Continue reading Joaquin Winery: Boldly Reinventing Irpinia’s Taurasi and Fiano

Tenuta del Meriggio: The Essence of Irpinia in the Bottle

Surrounded by Irpinia’s rugged hills and time-honored vineyards, Tenuta del Meriggio is crafting some of the most distinctive wines in the region. Founded in 2010 by Bruno Pizza (pictured with his wife, Nunzia) and supported by their daughter, Emilia, this estate isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about creating wines that truly reflect the land, the climate, and the dedication behind every harvest. With a strong focus … Continue reading Tenuta del Meriggio: The Essence of Irpinia in the Bottle

Cantine Palazzo Marchesale: The Heritage of Asprinio from Married Grape Vines

During the flourishing Bourbon Kingdom, when Italy was still a geographical concept, the lush Aversa countryside became renowned for its ancient tradition of cultivating vite maritata (married vines or tree-trained vines). In the early 19th century, the Benfidi and Vanacore families of Brianza adopted this unique method, producing Asprinio wine, a true expression of the region’s winemaking heritage. These vines, trained to climb poplar trees … Continue reading Cantine Palazzo Marchesale: The Heritage of Asprinio from Married Grape Vines

Rocca del Principe: Two Decades of a Family’s Journey with Fiano di Avellino

The Zarrella family’s deep ties to viticulture span generations, though not always at a commercial level. While previous generations focused on local production, it was the determination of Ercole Zarrella that revived the family’s wine legacy, steering it toward refined, high-quality viticulture. With a respect for the environment, a focus on micro-areas, and innovative projects, including a new label developed by Ercole’s daughter Simona, the … Continue reading Rocca del Principe: Two Decades of a Family’s Journey with Fiano di Avellino

Villa Raiano: A Focus on Irpinia’s Native Wines and Distinctive Terroir

Villa Raiano, set amidst the rolling hills of Irpinia in Campania, is a family-owned winery celebrated for its commitment to organic practices and the unique terroir of southern Italy. Surrounded by lush vineyards and chestnut forests, the winery sits atop a scenic hill in San Michele di Serino, offering panoramic views of the Sabato River Valley. Dedicated to producing wines from Campania’s native grapes, Villa … Continue reading Villa Raiano: A Focus on Irpinia’s Native Wines and Distinctive Terroir

Alberata dell’Asprinio of Aversa: The Centuries-Old Italian Curtains of Grapevines in Campania

The Asprinio vineyards boast old, mostly ungrafted vines with sturdy trunks and ancient, gnarled shoots at the bottom and tall lush green curtains of foliage that weave through elms and poplars, reaching up to fifteen meters high. Harvesting these grapes is a unique endeavor, necessitating specialists skilled in climbing to reach the lofty clusters. I call them curtains of grapevines. You might agree too because … Continue reading Alberata dell’Asprinio of Aversa: The Centuries-Old Italian Curtains of Grapevines in Campania

Of Ancient Tradition and Borboun Kings, Why the Wines of Caserta are Special

Caserta, located in northwestern Campania, is not just a destination for architectural marvels like the Royal Palace of Caserta. It’s also a haven for wine enthusiasts, boasting a rich tapestry of wine varieties that reflect the region’s diverse terroir and centuries-old winemaking tradition. The wines that come out from Caserta’s heterogeneity are vibrant and distinctive from spirited to robust reds with excellent aging potential to … Continue reading Of Ancient Tradition and Borboun Kings, Why the Wines of Caserta are Special

La Masseria di Sessa: Cultivating a Commitment to Organic Viticulture in Campania

Behind every company lies a story, a narrative woven from the fabric of its founders’ dreams and aspirations. For La Masseria di Sessa, the choice of name embodies a deep-rooted connection to the land and a commitment to fostering harmony between nature and humanity. Gianni Imperatore and his wife Marcella embarked on a journey fueled by a desire to reconnect with the earth and cultivate … Continue reading La Masseria di Sessa: Cultivating a Commitment to Organic Viticulture in Campania

Cantine Tommasone: Family Tradition of Winemaking Since 1870 in the Italian Island of Ischia

Most probably you haven’t heard of Ischia because it is always overshadowed by Capri, its glamorous and most tourist-trodden sister island in the Gulf of Naples. Then there’s a second one, Procida, equally small and silent too but it recently got a lot of attention because it was named Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2022. Ischia, the third island sharing the same waters in the … Continue reading Cantine Tommasone: Family Tradition of Winemaking Since 1870 in the Italian Island of Ischia

Io Vino 2023: A Wine Selection from the Autochthonous Vines of Campania and Marche

Io Vino, a full day event of showcasing wines obtained from autochthonous grape varieties of the Italian regions of Campania and Marche, was held on the 12th of March at the TH Carpegna Palace (Via Aurelia 481) in Rome. The year 2023 was its sixth edition. Manilo Frattari, a great wine lover, created Io Vino along with his wife Romina Lombardi, who in each edition … Continue reading Io Vino 2023: A Wine Selection from the Autochthonous Vines of Campania and Marche

The Volcanic Wines of Campi Flegrei: Falanghina and Piedirosso

Volcanic wines have been hovering on top of everyone’s list lately and for so much good reason. These wines are born with great personalities, imprinted with deep expressions of minerality, marked salinity and bright acidity influenced by the composition of the soil where they are planted. Campi Flegrei is one of the territories in Italy that’s well-known for its volcanic wines, specifically the Falanghina, the … Continue reading The Volcanic Wines of Campi Flegrei: Falanghina and Piedirosso

A Day of Discovery of the Irpinian Truffles & Wine at Tenuta Cavalier Pepe

A weekend of Irpinian truffles and wine full immersion has passed with a participation of outstanding number of enthusiasts at Tenuta Cavalier Pepe. Notably a colder zone than the rest of Campania region, Irpinia on Saturday morning was enriched with a full sun and clear blue skies amplifying the exciting experience of truffle hunting with the hunters and their dogs. Milena Pepe of Tenuta Cavalier … Continue reading A Day of Discovery of the Irpinian Truffles & Wine at Tenuta Cavalier Pepe

A Tasting of the Delicious Indigenous Whites of Fonzone Winery in Irpinia

Some people can reroute their lives to what their hearts dictate later in life like in the case of Lorenzo Fonzone Caccese, a surgeon who founded Fonzone Winery in 2005. In the core of Irpinia, he found a piece of land that spans thirty hectares on a hill in the countryside of Paternopoli that stands in the province of Avellino, in the southern Italian region … Continue reading A Tasting of the Delicious Indigenous Whites of Fonzone Winery in Irpinia

Calatia: Excellent Organic Wines of Caserta with Indigenous Grapes

Looking at the splendid landscape of the vineyards of Calatia Winery in the ancient land of Caiazzo, you can easily understand the legend why Calatia, the nymph daughter of Tifata, took refuge in this magnificent land to escape the wrath if her father. It is an enchanting place embellished by the Caitini mountains where the vines meet the wild nature in perfect harmony with beautiful … Continue reading Calatia: Excellent Organic Wines of Caserta with Indigenous Grapes