A large group of young people is leading the new course for Falerno del Massico appellation wines, both white and red. We are in the province of Caserta and here, according to the ancient Romans, the most sought-after wine in the empire was produced. Antonella Amodio tells us about it.
The future of wine is in the hands of the young people who are increasingly choosing viticulture, the‘agriculture and‘craftsmanship, in some cases starting from scratch and in many other cases as a legacy left by grandparents or fathers. Bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialized courses are the hallmarks of the resumes of young men who today are with tractors and hoes among the vineyards, photographed among barrels intent on decanting wine. Images that give hope that there is interest in that world “peasant” that millennials seemed to have abandoned. A return to the earth involving so many places, including Ager Falernus, the territory in the province of Caserta beloved by the‘ancient Rome, identified as the‘elective area for the emperors’ wine, the most expensive in the‘Antiquity: the Falerno.
We are between the UNESCO site of the Royal Palace of Caserta and the mouth of the Garigliano River, in the northern part of Campania, between the‘hinterland and the sea, in a‘triangular-shaped area, identified as the fertile garden of the‘ancient city of Sinuessa dated 296 BC. Titus Livius, in Republican times, circumscribed it between the course of the Savone River-which originated from springs in the caldera of the Roccamonfina volcano-and the summit of Mt. Massico, classifying the wines by grape production elevation, into Caucinum, Faustianum and Falernum and sold throughout the provinces of the Roman Empire in terracotta amphorae marked with the pittacium, that is, labels in which the type of wine, the year of production and the area of origin of the grapes were specified.
The territories and wineries of Falerno del Massico
The municipalities for the production of Falerno del Massico Doc are: Sessa Aurunca, Cellole, Mondragone, Falciano del Massico and Carinola. About 220 hectares planted with vines registered with the ‘roll for the world’s oldest wine appellation, where grapes of Falanghina, Piedirosso, Primitivo and Aglianico, for white, red (with specification of the Primitivo grape variety) and red riserva. It is of these weeks that the producers of the Vitica Consortium deliberated on the new specifications for Falerno del Massico Docg.
In the years ‘50s Moio in Mondragone and in the years ‘70s Villa Matilde Avallone in Cellole paved the way for other producers of Falerno del Massico, until today, with 24 wineries scattered across the fertile land of legendary Falernum, including history, traditions and research. A rebirth occurred in the last decade by young recruits. Just take a tour of the historic wineries and meet the new generation at the reception or as winemakers, to see the birth of new wineries all run by young people who have chosen to continue projecting Falerno wine into history and the future.
Papa Winery, Masseria Felicia, Bianchini Rossetti, Collefasano, Cantina Zannini, Fattoria Pagano, Volpara, Regina Viarum, Torelle, Nugnes, Cantina Zannini, Collefasano, Campierti, Luigi Verrengia, Tenute Bianchino, Cantina Trabucco, Migliozzi, La Masseria Di Sessa, Torelle, Vitis Aurunca, Cantina Pecoraro, Cantina Santoro, Nugnes, Fontaniello, Cantina Vezzoso, Poderi Trabucco Aurilio and Falernus are all wineries that produce the Falerno del Massico. (More farms will be added soon that are not in production for now because the vineyards are still young). In 70% of the cases on this list, new generations and young owners who are no older than 30 are at the helm.
Below are the latest tasted samples.
TO READ THE WINE DESCRIPTIONS, WITH SCORE AND AVERAGE SHELF PRICE, CLICK ON THE TABS BELOW.
TASTINGS
