Here are the wines to be included in Manet Community Health Center’s virtual fundraiser June Bloom on June 3, 2021. https://www.manetchc.org/june-bloom/. The wines are from small family operated vineyards throughout several regions in Southern Italy. All the wineries produce either natural, low/minimal intervention or EU certified organic wines. Please see my blog post of May 5, 2021 for a discussion of what constitutes natural, low/minimal intervention and EU certified organic wines. https://southernitalywine.com/natural-wines-low-or-minimal-intervention-wines-and-the-use-of-additives/.
Vinica – Lame del Sarbo 2015 – a natural red wine from the remote region of Molise made with the tintilia grape; a grape indigenous to Molise that had been not used in winemaking until it was “rediscovered” about 20 years ago. Vinica was founded in 2008 by Rodolfo Gianserra, a practicing dentist in New York City, who returned to his native region to establish Vinica. Lame del Sarbo is listed in RAW WINE as a natural wine. Please refer to my post dated May 5, 2021, which linked above, for a discussion of natural wines and RAW WINE.
Casebianche – Il Fric 2018 (magnum) – a natural secco frizzante rosato (bubbly rose) wine made with the aglianico grape and has no sulfites added. Betty Iuorio and her husband Pasquale Mitrano left Naples and their jobs as architects to assume the management of Betty’s father’s farm in the Cilento area of Salerno, Campania, which included vineyards. Their first production was in 2007. Because of Casebianche’s success in the production of sparkling wines, many Salerno wineries have followed Casebianche and are now producing sparkling wines. Casebianche wines are listed in RAW WINE.
Sergio Arcuri – Piu` Vite 2013 – a natural red wine from Ciro` Marina, Crotone, Calabria made with the gaglioppo grape. In 2009 Sergio along with his brother Francesco modernized the family’s winemaking techniques. Interestingly, Piu` Vite ferments in cement tanks. Sergio Arcuri is one of the founding members of the “Ciro` Revolution”, which is a group of small producers dedicated to the production of natural wines with the indigenous gaglioppo grape. Also, Sergio Arcuri is a member of the Triple A Movement. Please refer to my post of May 5, 2021, which is linked above in the first paragraph, for a discussion of natural wines and the Triple A Movement.
Il Cancelliere – Nero Ne’ 2015 (Taurasi) – a natural red wine from the Irpinia wine region of Avellino, Campania made with the aglianico grape and has no sulfites added. Soccorso Romano, the patriarch, produced the first vintage from his family estate in 2005. Today, his wife, children and in-laws all assist Soccorso in the vineyard and the cellar. Il Cancelliere is one of few wineries that produce a non-frizzante aglianico based wine with no sulfites added. Il Cancelliere wines are listed in RAW WINE.
Casa di Baal – Aglianico di Baal 2015 – a natural red wine from Montecorvino Rovello, Salerno, Campania made with the aglianico grape. The patriarch, Annibale Salerno, along with his father purchased the land in 1977 originally for the production of extra virgin olive oil and other fruits and vegetables. Casa di Baal operates a children’s educational program on farming. In 2007 Annibale with the assistance of his wife and children produced their first vintage. Casa di Baal wines are listed in RAW WINE.
Luigi Tecce – Poliphemo 2013 (Taurasi) – a natural red wine from the Irpinia wine region of Avellino, Campania made with the aglianico grape. In 1997 after his father died, Luigi left his job as an assistant in the Italian Parliament to operate the family estate. Luigi’s winemaking philosophy is described on the back label of his wines, which translates into English as follows: no selected yeasts, no enzymes, no bacteria added to assist malolactic fermentation, no added tannins, no deacidifying, no clarifying, no filtering and no arabic gum added to the wine. Luigi is a member of the Triple A Movement.
Dell’Angelo – Miniere 2017 – a natural white wine from the Irpinia region of Avellino, Campania made with the greco di tufo grape. Dell’Angelo is the only vineyard in the wine area on abandoned sulfur mines, hence, resulting in Dell’Angelo’s unique interpretation of the greco di tufo grape. The proprietor, Angelo Muto, is a multi-generational farmer, but in 2006 he was the first in the family to bottle for regional and international markets (in 1983 a small production only for the local market ceased to operate). Dell’Angelo wines are listed in RAW WINE.
Cantina del Barone – Particella 928 – a natural white wine from the Irpinia region of Avellino, Campania made with the fiano grape. The winemaker, Luigi Sarno, also serves as a consultant to his friend Angelo Muto. Luigi’s father purchased the vineyard in 1972. For many years the Sarno family (as did many other families in Irpinia) sold their grapes to the local large producer Mastroberdardino. In 2006, Luigi produced his first label. Cantina del Barone wines are listed in RAW WINE.
Michele Laluce – Le Drude 2012 – a low/minimal intervention wine from Vulture area of Potenza, Basilicata made with the aglianico grape. Michele Laluce, along with his wife Maria and four daughters, operates the winery. Caterina, who is studying economics, manages the finances of the winery, Maddalena, an enologist, is the wine-maker, Donatella, an agronomist operates the machinery and manages the farm animals, and Michela is studying culinary. The family has been making wine since 1905, but for regional and international markets only since 2005. Laluce wines are low/minimal intervention wines. The fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts and depending on how that fermentation process is progressing (or not) neutral yeasts may be added. Please refer to my post of May 5, 2021, which is linked above in the first paragraph, for a discussion of low/minimal intervention wines.
Terre del Principe – Piancastelli 2014 – a certified EU organic wine from Castel Campagnano, Caserta, Campania made with a blend of the pallagrello nero (70%) and the casavecchia (30%) grapes. Peppe Mancini and Manuela Piancastelli became interested in wine making after they were established in their careers as an attorney and journalist, respectively. Peppe recalling the days of his youth when his grandfather would make wine from pallagrello grapes (both the pallagrello nero and pallagrello bianco), forgotten grapes from a bygone era, dedicated himself to reviving these nearly extinct grapes. While doing so, Peppe rediscovered the casavecchia grape. In 2003, after a few years at another winery, Peppe and Manuela established Terre del Principe. Their wines are EU certified organic. Please refer to my post of May 5, 2021, which is linked above in the first paragraph, for a discussion of EU certified organic wines.
Le Vigne di Raito – Ragis 2015 – a certified EU organic wine from Vietri sul Mare, Salerno, Campania (the eastern most town located on the Amalfi Coast) made with a blend of aglianico (60%) and peidirosso (40%) grapes. The owner, Patrizia Malanga, purchased the terraced land in 2001. It took Patrizia six years before she produced her first vintage. To appreciate the difficult labor to be encountered by her workers associated with maintaining a terraced vineyard, Patrizia, herself, planted the vineyard. Le Vigne di Raito features panoramic views of the Bay of Salerno. Le Vigne di Raito wines are EU certified organic.
Michele Perillo – Riserva (Taurasi) 2006 – a low/intervention wine from the Irpinia wine region of Avellino, Campania made with the aglianico grape. Michele’s grandfather planted the vineyard. Michele bottled his first vintage in 1999. In the 1900’s there was a train station in the town the vineyard is located (Castelfranci). Prior to the first vintage, the Perillo family as did many other families in the area as they sent their grapes north by train or sold the grapes to the large local producer Mastroberardino. Perillo wines are low/minimal intervention wines as the fermentation process begins with indigenous yeasts and neutral yeasts may be added during the fermentation process.
