The Authentic Irpinia Wine Club: brought to you by Schneider's of Capitol Hill
We’re excited to be sharing Volume 2 of our wine club with you! We have been hearing incredible feedback on the wines from Volume 1, and we can’t wait to hear what you think about the wines you’re about to dive into. Be sure to share Wine Club with friends and invite others to join at: https://cellar.com/clubitaly.aspx. Also please share your love of these wines, and tag us @theauthenticirpinia, in your photos on Instagram and Facebook!
This shipment includes a Taurasi, a Campi Taurasini, and a unique white wine from both Azienda Agricola Boccella & Cantina DiPrisco here in Irpinia. Remember to let these wines sit for at least a week after arriving at your door before trying them. We know it won’t be easy, but it will be worth the wait!
Here’s a little history on the wineries and the wines you’re about to enjoy…
Raffaele Boccella and his wife Angela are making incredible natural wines in at their winery Castelfranci, continuing the traditions of winemaking that have been in their family for generations. While the winery produced its first bottles in 2005, the family has been producing wine on these vines for over 50 years. The elevation in the vineyards range as much as 100 meters as their Aglianico vines grow on the steep, volcanic clay soils of the hills adjacent to Castelfranci. When you come visit in person, you’ll not only get to try these wines straight from the source, but you can also join the winemakers for lunch and enjoy Angela’s amazing cooking!!
Pasquale DiPrisco has also been making wine for generations in Fontanarosa, a town famous for making incredible art from the marble found in the hills. He officially launched his winery in 1994, making him one of the first to move from family made wines to cantina. You’ll find his award winning organic wines featured at some of my favorite restaurants in Irpinia and beyond. In fact, I first met Pasquale at the amazing La Pergola in Gesualdo, where I first enjoyed his Coda di Volpe.
Fontanarosa and Castelfranci are about a 45 minute drive from each other, and you’ll be able to experience the difference of these terroirs despite the fact the vines are all planted in a volcanic clay soil. Both of these wineries are favorites of mine, and their founders are some of the most discerning wine enthusiasts in Italy and beyond. These wines are a rare find on exclusive wine lists in the USA. I've had the good fortune of stumbling upon a bottle or two on a wine list over the last few years, but now, we have made them widely available in the US through our wine club.
So, get ready to try some incredible wines. We always recommend allowing at least an hour for your Taurasi to open prior to drinking. If you can’t wait that long (and we don’t blame you!) you can drink upon opening and experience the journey of how the bottle opens over time. The flavor profile will only get better the longer the bottle is open.
Help spread the word and invite others to join wine club here.
And be sure to let us know what you think!
Tasting Notes
Cantina Di Prisco - Fontanarosa
Taurasi DOCG - 2012:
With notes of plum, this is a big red wine from Aglianico grapes. It’s extremely elegant, structured, big and tannic. This wine can stand the test of time for aging many years before opening. This Taurasi was cultivated in Fontanarosa at an altitude between 450-500 meters in a clay soil of volcanic terrain. Serve at room temperature with your favorite steak or other meats.
Irpinia Campi Taurasini DOC - 2015:
This Campi Taurasini is one of our favorites along with the Rasott from Boccella. The wine is produced from ancient Aglianico vines and represents the maximum expression of Italian viticulture. This wine has a warm and inviting perfume with notes of sweet spices and an intense ruby red color. The wine was grown in Fontanarosa at an altitude between 400-480 meters on a south-east exposition. Serve at room temperature with your favorite pasta or pizza. Also pairs well with Italian cheeses.
Irpinia Coda di Volpe DOP - 2017:
The Coda di Volpe grape originated in Campania, and historical references show this vine dating back to ancient Roman times. The name of the wine is derived from the characteristics of how the grapes grow on the vine, resembling the shape of a fox tail. You’ll note pleasant hints of yellow flowers on the nose and in your glass see a yellow color with reflections of light green. The terrain of Irpinia provides the best conditions to grow this grape: on a hill at middle altitude. This Coda di Volpe was grown in Fontanarosa, with a south-west exposition at 400 meters in a sandy soil with volcanic terrain. Perfect when served chilled any time. Best with sweet or acidic foods or with a variety of antipastis.
Azienda Agricola Boccella, Castelfranci
Taurasi DOCG, 2009:
This wine has been naturally made from Aglianico grapes that grew at about 600 meters, hand pressed, aged without temperature control, and aged 36 months before aging in bottle. You’ll instantly note the deep ruby color, and smell not only the minerality of the soil, but also the terrain of the forest that surrounds these vines. This is a very tannic wine, but you’ll note the smoothness Raffaelle has brought out in this wine as well as hints of plum, red berries, and blackberry. This wine pairs excellently with lamb or steak and should be served at room temperature.
Rasott, Campi Taurasini DOC, 2016:
Another expression of the Aglianico grape, this Campi Taurasini is one of our favorites and has an elegance that makes this the perfect wine pairing for just about any food. High in acidity and tannins, you’ll notice the deep ruby red color, hints of red fruits, and a minerality that can’t be missed. This wine was naturally fermented in steel for 15 days and without any technological intervention, then was partly aged in oak barrels before being bottled without filtration or clarification. Drink this wine at room temperature with just about any meats and cheeses, or your favorite pasta dish.
Casefatte, Campania Fiano, IGP, 2017:
This Fiano grew on vines just steps from the front door of the family homes at the winery. You’ll instantly note the hay color of the wine, and how this wine nearly has the structure and body of what would normally be associated with a red wine. You’ll get hints of honey, apple, and mushroom (from the forests nearby). The Fiano grapes were naturally fermented in wooden barrels and without any particular technological intervention then bottled without filtration and aged for 2 more months in bottle before being sold. Serve this wine chilled with Carmasiano cheese or a nice parmigiano and your favorite prosciutto.
More on the wineries:
Azienda Agricola Boccella (Castelfranci) - Between the communities of Castelfranci, Montemarano and Paternopoli, you’ll find a triangle of land many consider perfect for growing the Aglianico grape. The Boccella vines are located at about 600 meters in altitude and the Boccella family work together to tend to and harvest the grapes that come from their vines that average about 50 years in age. This personal approach to their wines can be tasted in the final product as you’ll note the flavors of the gardens, olive trees, and forests that surround their lands. With warm summer days, and cool nights, the growing season for these grapes lasts well into the early days of November. The result are grapes that have an exceptional balance of sugar and acid which allows them to be made into wines naturally, and by hand, without filtration or clarification before going into the bottles you will drink today.
Cantina DiPrisco (Fontanarosa) - Pasqualino Di Prisco decided to enter into the world of wine because of his passion and dedication to his vineyards. The vineyards are located on hills that vary from 400-500 meters and the soil is mostly a volcanic sand with a south east exposition. He’s painstakingly selected which grapes go into his wines, and has curated an artisanal approach to winemaking. He gives the ultimate respect to the traditions and time needed to make wines in the methods of his ancestors, while using modern winemaking techniques to produce these wines. But above all, he puts the quality of his wines above quantity of production. In fact, if grapes are not up to his high standards, he simply will not produce certain wines for that vintage. That’s the commitment to quality you’ll find at DiPrisco.