Campania Flashcards
Soils
Three Types:
Limestone and Clay in the hills; good balance b/n fast drainage and water retention. Best DOC’s: Fiano di Avellino DOCG (Whites from Fiano); Greco di Tufo DOCG (white from Greco); Taurasi DOCG (Red from Aglianico).
Volcanic and sandy in the volcanic area around Naples. Campi Flegrei DOC with tuff, pumice, and sandy soils; fast draining (whites from Falanghina and Red or Rose from Piedirosso); Vesuvio DOC with similar soils (white from Coda di Volpe and red Piedirosso).
Alluvial sediment in the large area between Naples and Benevento. A number of DOC’s incl Sannio DOC and Benevntano IGP. A range of varieties.
Climate & Viticulture
Warm Mediterranean.
Inland planted on slopes of 600m providing a cooling influence.
Hazards include cold and wet autumns. Frost is a problem where vines are planted in frost pockets or on lower slopes or valley floors.
Grape Varieties
Notable for local varieties. Most are 100% or 85% plus a blending partner.
Aglianico: 30%
Falanghina: 12%
Barbera: 6% (bulk & local consumption)
Malvasia: 5%
Sangiovese: 5% (bulk & local consumption)
Greco: 4%
Falanghina
Traditionally a workhorse is now gaining popularity.
Good disease resistance, but fruit can shrivel at the end of the season so harvest date is imp.
Mid to late ripening; occasionally threatened by autumn rain.
Medium apple, peach, herbaceous; med acid. Almost all unoaked. Acceptable to very good and entry to mid.
Falanghina del Sannio: max 84hl/ha; is 1/3 of all Falanghina in Campania.
The Campi Flegrei makes lower alc wines (12% - 13%) du to windier conditions than inland. max 84hl/ha
Greco
Challenging to grow; prone to grey rot, powdery, downy mildew; low vigor and low productivity. Tolerant of heat and drought making it suitable for warm climate. Attracting interests in countries with warming climates and water restrictions. Trained Guyot or Cordon spur for some mechanization on less steep slopes. Picked first week of Oct for a long growing season.
Greco di Tufo DOCG: Small densely planted; limestone and clay (good drainage and retention). Max 70hl/ha.
Deep lemon, high alcohol, oily with floral; stone, and smoke. Most unoaked. can age in bottle. Very good with some outstanding. Mid to prem.
Fiano
Potential for high quality. Rescued from neglect by the Mastroberardino family after WWII. Guyot or Cordon with VSP. Sensitive to powdery and downy mildew. But thick skins so resistant to botrytis. Late ripening.
Fiano di Avellino DOCG: max 70hl/ha; med - to med floral, peach, hazelnut. med plus body, med to med plus acid, waxy texture.
Range of soils with light fruity on sandy and weightier on clay.
Very good to outstanding and mid to prem. Best can age 8 - 10 years in bottle. Most aged in stainless, but some small production in wood.
Aglianico
Early budding (spring frost) late ripening (autumn rain). Requires a long season to ripen tannin. Vigorous and yields need controlling for quality. Prone to botrytis bunch rot. Cordon spur or cane with VSP at med densities for some mechanization.
Med plus to pronounced rose, plum, blackberry. High acid and high tannins that can be softened by ageing in high quality small barrels or large oak casks and bottle age.
High quality on slopes of 200 - 600 for cooler temps; longer growing season and intense flavors.
Taurasi DOCG: Min 85% Aglianico; max 70hl/ha. Min 3 years aging, one of which in wood. 4 yrs and 18 mo wood for Riserva.
Picked end Oct / early Nov for fully ripe skins and pips. Long maceration (20 days) and aged in FR oak barriques or larger casks. Very good to outstanding and mid to prem
Piedirosso
Adapted to heat and drought (flourishes in the 600mm / yr rainfall and wind). Open bunches with thick skins (resists botrytis). Little issue with powdery and downy given the dry windy conditions.
Pale ruby wines with med plus acid, med tannin, plum and red cherry.
Campi Flegrei DOC and Vesuvio DOC (including islands of Ischia and Capri). Must be 50% of blend but usually 100%. Many on own rootstocks (phylloxera doesn’t spread in sandy soils). Low densities. Guyot or spurred cordons. Harvested late but still only 12% - 13% abv.
Used for early drinking wines and / or to soften Aglianico (and adds perfume and freshness). Most aged in stainless or old oak with a few using French barriques for top wines. Mid to prem.
