Feudi di San Gregorio - Serrocielo Falanghina del Sannio, 2017
Feudi di San Gregorio has a stellar reputation as one of Campania’s leading wine producers. Its founders, Enzo Ercolino and Mirella Capaldo, established the estate in 1986. The winery is located in Sorbo Serpico, a tiny village in Irpinia, the mountainous inland of the region.
The wine producer’s name is inspired by Saint Peter of the Gregorian age, whose heritage extended throughout the whole area of Irpinia and Sannio. The land has been cultivated since the 6th century, and Feudi di San Gregorio honours the place’s rich history. Their vineyards (some more one hundred years old) have ancient local grape varieties planted such as aglianico, fiano, greco and falanghina.
“Serrocielo” comes from the best falanghina grapes of Feudi di San Gregorio. After fermentation, the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks for 6 months with lees contact and constant batonnage to thicken the body and confer a richer texture.
The wine has a straw/lemon hue in the glass, appearing translucent and brilliant. On the nose, the rich aromatic profile contains notes of juicy grapefruit, Seville orange, nectarine and even a suggestion of passion fruit. All traversed by a saline minerality and lovely nuances of jasmine and lemon blossoms.
On the palate, the mouthful is dense but lively. The wine is full bodied yet still joyful, thanks to a crisp acidity that enhances this white’s drinkability. The fleshy fruity notes mirror the nose. An iodine minerality emerges in the mid-palate, along with hints of orange zest, pine resin and wet stone. Good intensity and balance. If you ask me, a heavenly pairing for the “Serrocielo” falanghina is a creamy stracciatella from Puglia. Alternatively, match this wine with caprese salad, fried fish and even red meat… Each time the white will stand up splendidly.