As I prepared for the 12th annual tasting for my Krokidas & Bluestein colleagues (photo above is from last year’s tasting), I reflected on how the tasting has evolved. At the first tasting I was asked whether I had visited any of the wineries; the answer was no. But the question prompted a thought; if I visited the wineries there would be a personal description of the winemakers and their wines. In 2010 I started visiting small wineries dedicated to sustainable viticulture. Over the past 7 years I have visited over 50 wineries; all located in Southern Italy.
As my passion for wines from Southern Italy intensified, I launched this blog “Southern Italy Wine Culinary and Travel Resource”, with a Facebook page and Instagram. (I am still trying to understand, let alone, master these various forms of social media, but my IT consultant, my son Dave, has been patiently providing me assistance.) Last year I introduced several olive oils at this tasting; this year I am expanding the number of olive oils to be served at the tasting to 6. In addition to the olive oil there will be 15 different wines and a jar of honey. (Yes honey; in a separate post I will explain the importance of bees in organic viticulture.) I have met all the producers featured in this year’s tasting; the wines, the extra virgin olive oils and honey are made by small producers that abide by sustainable agriculture; most are certified organic.
Here is a summary of wines and olive oils to be tasted arranged by region and/or province – but a special note; for the first time there will be wines and an olive oil from the Puglia Region. Note further that producers highlighted in red are new friends:
Amalfi Coast
Reale – There are two wines and an olive oil from Luigi Reale’s farm and osteria. The farm has been in the family for several generations; his brother Gaetano assists Luigi with the farm and osteria. The farm and osteria are located in the mountains of the
Amalfi Coast; the frazione (think Wollaston as part of Quincy) of Gete in the municipality of Tramonti. The wines are classified as Tramonti Costa d’Amalfi DOC; 2013 Getis – a Rose and 2013 Cardemone – a red blend of the peidirosso and tintore grapes.
Le Vigne di Raito – There is one wine from Patrizia Malanga’s terraced farm located only several hundred yards from the Gulf of Salerno in the frazione of Raito in the municipality of Vietri sul Mare; the first town at the eastern part of the Amalfi Coast. Since 2007 Patrizia has been producing her flagship wine, Ragis. This year’s tasting will feature 2011 Ragis – a red blend of the aglianico and peidirosso grapes.
Salerno
Casa di Baal – There are two wines, an olive oil and honey from the Salerno family farm located in Montecorvino Rovello. The Salerno family has been producing olive oil for over 30 years; wine for a little over 10 years. The wines are Aglianico di Baal – a red consisting solely of the aglianico grape and Oro – a spumante style wine; the family’s newest product.
Mila Vuolo – There is one wine and an olive oil from Mila Vuolo’s farm located in the frazione of Giovi in the City of Salerno. The farm, which started commercial production about 15 years ago, is about 10 miles from Casa di Baal. The wine is Mila Vuolo Aglianico – a red consisting solely of the aglianico grape.
Casa di Baal/Mila Vuolo – The olive oil from these two producers is made with the frontonio, rhodonella and lecchino olives.
Irpinia
Irpinia is the wine region near the City of Avellino. There are four wines from four different producers and olive oil from my friend Gaetano’s father’s small olive grove:
Il Cancelliere, founded by Soccorso Romano and operated by his son Enrico with assistance from Soccorso’s daughter Nadia and son-in-law Claudio Panetta, is located in Montemarano; 2007 Taurasi – a red consisting solely of the aglianico grape.
Antico Castello, the farm owned by a brother/sister combination, Francesco and Chiara Romano, and originally owned by their parents Franco and Fiorenza, produced their first vintage in 2007. The farm is located in San Mango sul Calore; 2010 Taurasi – a red consisting solely of the aglianico grape.
Bambinuto, founded by Marilena Aufiera’s father a little over ten years ago and now operated by Marilena, is located in Santa Paolina; Campania IGT Aglianico – Toppole 212.4 – a red consisting
solely of the aglianico grape, but with different vintages and fermentation processes blended to make this wine.
Dell’Angelo, Angelo Muto is the third generation in his family that have harvested grapes; in 2007 he was the first in the family to bottle wine for commercial use. The winery is located in Tufo: 2013 Greco di Tufo – a white consisting solely of the greco di tufo grape.
Pietro Petrillo, olive oil made with raceva olives. Our good friend Pietro makes only about 150 liters of olive oil per year from olives cultivated in his back yard. You cannot get more “home-grown” than this!
Vulture
Vulture is the wine region located in the Mount Vulture volcanic area located north of the City of Potenza. This part of Italy is referred to the Lucano Region; it is where my Grandparents were born. There are two different wines from different producers and olive oil from the father of the operating manager of one of the two wineries.
D’Angelo, owned by the brother/sister combination Rocco and Erminia D’Angelo, son/daughter of the late esteemed winemaker Lucio D’Angelo, has been producing wine for nearly a century. The winery is located in Rionero in Vulture and Erminia’s husband Antonio Passannante is operations manager: 2009 Aglianico del Vulture – Caselle Riserva – a red wine consisting solely of the aglianico grape.
Laluce, Michele Laluce with his four daughters owns and operates the winery located in Ginestra. Caterina, who is studying economics, manages the winery, Maddalena, an oneologist is the wine-maker, Donatella, an agronomist operates the machinery and Michela is studying culinary: 2008 Aglianico del Vulture – Le Drude – a red wine consisting solely of the aglianico grape.
Passannante Michele – the olive oil mill owned by Michele is located in the same town as D’Angelo winery and the father son team of Michele and Antonio produce an olive oil from the oligliarola del vulture, coratina and frantoia olives. In addition to their own olive oil, Michele and Antonio operate the mill to make olive oil for local farmers. Please go the following link: http://www.oliovu.com – for more information on this olive oil producing area.
Puglia
Antica Enotria, Luigi Di Tuccio operates the winery, one of the earliest certified organic wineries in Puglia, which was started by his father Raffaele and mother Antonia over 25 years ago. It is located in Cerignola, Foggia: 2011 Nero di Troia – Il Sale Della Terra – a red wine consisting solo of the nero di troia grape.
Antica Enotria – olive oil is made with coratina olives.
Plantamura – the wife/husband team of Mariangela and Leo since 2002 has been producing wine commercially for 15 years from vineyards that have been in the Plantamura family for four generations. The winery is located in Gioia del Colle, Bari, a premier area for Primitivo wine: 2013 Primitivo Riserva – a red wine consisting solely of the primitivo grape, which was brought to California by Italian immigrants; its USA counterpart is called zinfandel.
Terre del Principe – there will be a wine from our dear friends Manuela Piancastelli and Peppe Mancini, who have encouraged and assisted me in my pursuit of my passion of Southern Italian wines. I have not decided which wine it will be; it will be revealed at the tasting (or sooner – stay tuned!).
