Antica Hirpinia Irpinia Aglianico 2016

Located in Campania near the town of Taurasi , this estate was initially founded in the seventies under the name "Enopolio di Taurasi Società Cooperativa” until it was reborn in October 1991 as Antica Hirpinia. The coop became famous for producing the first bottle of Taurasi DOCG , vintage 1992. This unique bottle, bearing the band n° AAA 000 0001, is still proudly kept in the winery’s cellars. The second bottle was given to Pope Giovanni Paolo II, and the third one to the President of the Italian Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro.

In 2016, Antica Hirpinia was taken over by five associates. They hired Riccardo Cotarella as the consulting winemaker. Valeria Cesari, MS, came onboard in 2018. She's involved in every step of the process, from the pruning choices to the final blend and the type of wood used for the wine. Winemaker Ciriaco Varrasso, who has been working at the winery since 2000, carries her vision. The resulting wines are clear expressions of the terroir, with pure aromas and lifted elegance. The new labels reflect this search for authenticity: each cuvée bears unique symbols that can be found on carved stones left by the Knights Templar at Abbazia del Goleto, a Benedictine monastery in Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi in Avellino, Campania.

Antica Hirpinia owns 31 hectares of vineyards, all located 300 to 450 meters above sea level: 9ha of Fiano, a selection massale vineyard derived from a unique, 200 year old plant, 9ha of Greco, 5ha of Falanghina, 3ha of Coda di Volpe ("tail of the fox", a white variety with long, tail-like grape clusters) and 5ha of Aglianico. Antica Hirpinia rents another 15ha, with 2-3ha of each variety. Some of the Fiano and Aglianico vineyards are pergola trained. The overall production is 300,000 bottles per year.  

This red is made of 100% Aglianico from vines grown on volcanic soil, with mostly clay content. The grapes are hand harvested the last week of October. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks. 50% of the wine is aged for 12 months in cement tanks, with the remaining 50% aged for 12 months in 80hl Slavonian oak barrels (50% new, 50% older barrels). The wine is then blended and transferred to cement tanks where it spends 12 months prior to bottling. There is a resting time of 6 months before release. It is a full-bodied yet smooth red, with notes of ripe red fruits, licorice, sweet earth and flowers. Raspberries, violet and rosemary on the finish.