VIA Verona 2025 Supporter Masterclass: Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Irpinia
The 11th and final Masterclass of VIA Verona 2025 10th Anniversary Flagship Edition welcomed Claudio DeLuca and Teresa Bruno, President of the Consorzio Tutela Vini d'Irpinia, to present a session on the "Retrospective of an Evolving Territory".
Two rivers and the Apennine Mountains define the region of Irinia, in Campania, on the south west side of Italy. The Consorzio has 700 members and 3 DOCG designations: Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo, and Taurasi. Not far from Naples and Vesuvius, the denomination is on a combination of volcanic and clay soils and comprises a "heroic viticulture" due to the steep slopes and high altitude vineyards that lie between 500-600 meters above sea level. The wines produced here share a fresh acidity, mineral qualities, and great potential for aging. Biodiversity is key to the success of the wines: the presence of the sea, the purity of the land, the vast forests with chestnut, hazelnut and olive trees all add to the quality and complexity these wines achieve.
Greco di Tufo is made up of 8 small towns, on clay soils and very steep slopes. The climate is Mediterranean, but subject to harsh winters and dry summers due to the altitude. The grape has delicate skins, small berries and surprisingly high levels of phenolics.
Fiano di Avellino is made up of 26 municipalities over 4 micro-areas. The wines are elegant with notes of honey, fruit, and flowers in youth, gaining medicinal herbs and hydrocarbon TDNs in age. The grapes have thick skins but less phenolics.
Teresa commented that "there are many good white wines made around the world, but fine white wines are rare. Greco and Fiano should come into this recognition now, particularly as they can age for 10 years and more".
Taurasi wines are made from 85% Aglianico grapes and 15% other red grapes from the region. The climate is harsh, with dramatic season changes and good altitude (300-500m asl), the geology and soil is varied and there are many very old vines in the denomination. Aglianico is a delicate, thin skinned grape with rich tannin and flavors of cocoa, tobacco, baking spice. Full bodied with high acidity and high tannins that are leathery and sticky but flexible on the palate. Capable of very long aging and great evolution in the bottle.
At the end of the session, Claudio summed up by saying, "We are not the best but it's difficult to find better than us!" Viva Irpinia.
The Consorzio kindly brought six wines all from the 2015 vintage to celebrate VIA's 10th anniversary.
Wines tasted:
Petilia Azienda Agricola: Greco di Tufo DOCG "QuattroVenti" 2015
Cantine di Marzo: Greco di Tufo DOCG "Franciscus" 2015
Feudi di San Gregorio: Fiano di Avellino DOCG "Pietracalda" 2015
Donnachiara: Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2015
Case d'Alto: Taurasi DOCG 2015
Giovanni Molettieri: Taurasi DOCG "Roboris" 2015