Radici del Sud: Minutolo, Ciro and the List of Award Winning Wines

After I arrived in Puglia for Radici del Sud, I spent two nights traveling around the region and even stayed in a trullo, one of the cconical stone structures so typical of the region.

Then we returned to our original hotel outside of Bari where we were reunited with the wine buyer members of our group for another tasting called “Discover Ciro Wines from Calabria” where 4 producers show one wine each. All are imported into the USA. Ole Udsen, “Mr Puglia,” did the translation and added his comments on Ciro wines in general.

Cirò Rosso 2013 Classico Superiore ‘‘A Vita” made from 100% Gaglioppo from vines up to 45 years old. Grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel using only ambient yeast and the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks. The winery is certified organic.

Francesco de Franco from A Vita

The wine has hints of cherry, faded roses and tobacco with a very nice finish and aftertaste. 

Cirò Rosso 2013 Classico Superiore Cataldo Calabretta 100 % Gaglioppo. The vines are bush trained and are 15 years old. The soil is clay and limestone and there are 5,000 plants per hectare. The harvest is by hand the third week of October. Fermentation is spontaneous with native yeasts and there is a two-week maceration without temperature control. The wine is aged for 10 months in glazed cement tanks. It remains in the bottle for 7 months before release. The estate is certified organic.

Ciro Rosso  2012 Classico Superiore  Scala, 100 % Gaglioppo. Soil is clay and sand and the exposure is south/southeast and the 10 year old vines are espalier trained. The grapes are destemmed and maceration takes place at 77°F until the fermentation is completed. After soft pressing, the wine is then racked and left in cement tanks for a minimum of 10 to 12 months. This is a robust wine with good red fruit and hints of sour cherry. 

Ciro Rosso Classico Superiore 2012 Cote di Franze made from 100% Gaglioppo. The vineyard is at 250 meters, soil is clay and sandy, alberello (bush) trained. The vines were planted in 1977/1958/1980. There are 9,000 plants per hectare. The hand harvest takes place in October. Fermentation is spontaneous, maceration is in stainless steel and the wine is aged in stainless steel for 12/24 months depending on the vintage.

At the hotel there was a blind tasting over four sessions for the wine competition and the top wines were announced.  We were divided into four groups: two groups of buyers and two groups of press.

My group tasted over 200 hundred wines over two days in the four sessions. The wines were rated on a 100-point system.

Nicola Campanile and Ole Udsen “Mr Puglia”our Translator and Guide

Following is a quote by Nicola Campanile, organizer of the event, about the competition:

“The foreign buyers were part of two juries and expressed their judgment presumably giving particular attention to how appealing the wines can be to the market. Instead the journalists made up the other two groups and gave a more unconditional judgment. Buyers and journalists came from 13 foreign countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Great Britain, Holland, USA, Canada, Japan, Lithuania, India, Poland and Brazil).”

The top rated wines were announced on the last night of the event.

Two wines from Di Meo, one of my favorite producers, were picked as # 1 in their categories by the journalists: Greco di Tufo 2015 and the Fiano Di Avellino 2015.

It is interesting to note that the journalists and buyers only agreed on  3 wines but if it was #1 for the journalists, it was #2 for the buyers and visa versa. See the complete list of winning wines at the end of the blog.

The last tasting was from the Tujiano Winery: from 2015 to 2010

Puglia IGP Fiano Minutolo Colli della Murgia. 100% Fiano Minutolo. The origin of this grape variety is not known. It does not have any relation to Fiano di Avellino or the Fiano grown in Puglia but the IGP has to have Fiano Minutolo on the label, it cannot just say Minutolo. The wine was dry with good citrus aromas and flavors.

Nicola Campanile and Liciano Pignataro

The speakers were Nicole Campanile and Luciano Pignataro, a well known Italian wine and food blogger that I follow: www.lucianopignataro.it/

The Winning Wine from 2016 Radici del Sud Wine Competition

SPARKLING WINE (WHITE)

JOURNALISTS

1, CAPRETTONE, CASA SETARO

2, RISERVA NOBILE 2012, D’ARAPRÌ

BUYER

1, NOI DUE, TENUTA VIGLIONE

2, MACCONE SPUMANTE BIANCO BRUT, PUGLIA IGP, ANGIULI DONATO

ex aequo2 BUYER, TIATI METODO CLASSICO, PUGLIA IGP, CANTINE TEANUM

SPARKLING WINE (ROSE’)
JOURNALISTS

1, BRUT ROSÈ, D’ARAPRÌ

2, LEGGIARDO ROSATO, CONSORZIO PRODUTTORI VINI MANDURIA

ex aequo 2, DOVÌ ROSÈ, FERROCINTO

BUYER

1, LEGGIARDO ROSATO, CONSORZIO PRODUTTORI VINI MANDURIA

2 BUYER, LA VIE EN ROSE’, PUGLIA IGP, TENUTA COPPADORO

ex aequo 2, DOVÌ ROSÈ, FERROCINTO

FALANGHINA
JOURNALISTS

1, BENEVENTANO FALANGHINA IGP 2015, SANPAOLO

2, COSÌCOMÈ 2014, IGP PUGLIA, VALENTINA PASSALACQUA

BUYER

1, CRUNA DELAGO 2014, CAMPI FLEGREI DOC, LA SIBILLA

2, MAIOR 2012, FALANGHINA DEL SANNIO DOP, CANTINA FOSSO DEGLI ANGELI

CATARRATTO

JOURNALISTS

1, ANTISA CATARRATTO 2015, SICILIA DOC, TASCA D’ALMERITA

2, VIGNA CASALJ 2015, ALCAMO DOC, TENUTA RAPITALÀ

BUYER

1, TERRE ROSSE DI GIABBASCIO 2014, TERRE SICILIANE IGT, CENTOPASSI

2, ANTISA CATARRATTO 2015, SICILIA DOC, TASCA D’ALMERITA

GRILLO

GIORNALISTI

1, BLUES 2015, TERRE SICILIANE IGP, PAOLO CALÌ

2, GRILLO 2015, SICILIA DOC, FEUDO DISISA

BUYER

1, APOLLO 2014, TERRE SICILIANE IGP, FAUSTA MANSIO

2, ROCCE DI PIETRA LONGA 2014, TERRE SICILIANE IGT, CENTOPASSI 

GROUP OF MIXED WHITE WINES FROM LESS POPULAR SOUTH ITALIAN GRAPES JOURNALISTS

1, BIANCO DI SEI 2014, ETNA DOC, PALMENTO COSTANZO

2, BUCECI BIANCO 2015, TERRE SICILIANE IGT, BUCECI VINI

3, KORE 2015, TERRE SICILIANE IGT, CANTINE COLOMBA BIANCA

BUYER

1, STRIALE 2015, PUGLIA IGP, TENUTA PATRUNO PERNIOLA

2, MALVASIA BIANCA 2015, SALENTO IGP, CONTI ZECCA

3, BIANCO DI SEI 2014, ETNA DOC, PALMENTO COSTANZO

GRECO
JOURNALISTS

1, GRECO DI TUFO DOCG 2015, DI MEO

2, LE PAGLIE 2015, MATERA DOC, CANTINE CERROLONGO

BUYER

1, JENTILINO 2015, TERRE DI COSENZA DOP, LA PESCHIERA

2, GRECO DI TUFO DOCG 2015, SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA NATIV

FIANO
JOURNALISTS

1, FIANO DI AVELLINO DOCG 2015, DI MEO

2, BIANCOFIORE 2014, DAUNIA IGP, KANDEA

BUYER

1, TRENTENARE 2015, PAESTUM IGP, SAN SALVATORE 1988

2, TORRE DEL FALCO 2015, PUGLIA IGP, TORREVENTO

GROUP OF MIXED ROSE’ WINE SOUTH ITALIAN GRAPES

JOURNALISTS

1, CIRÒ DOC ROSATO 2015, SCALA CANTINA E VIGNETI

2, OSA! 2015, TERRE SICILIANE IGP, PAOLO CALÌ

3, LE ROTAIE 2015, VALLE D’ITRIA IGP, I PASTINI

BUYER

1, NAUSICA 2015, SALENTO IGP, CARDONE

2, NERO DI TROIA ROSÈ, ROSSO DI CERIGNOLA DOC, BIOCANTINA GIANNATTASIO

3, SPEZIALE 2015, SALENTO IGP, TRULLO DI PEZZA

 

NERO DI TROIA
JOURNALISTS

1, OTTAGONO 2013, CASTEL DEL MONTE DOCG, TORREVENTO

2, NERO DI TROIA 2014, PUGLIA IGP, VALENTINA PASSALACQUA

BUYER

1, GRAN TIATI GOLD VINTAGE 2010, PUGLIA IGP, CANTINE TEANUM

2, LUI 2012, PUGLIA IGP, CANTINA MUSEO ALBEA

NEGROAMARO
JOURNALISTS

1, COPERTINO ROSSO DOC RISERVA 2008, CUPERTINUM – ANTICA CANTINA DEL SALENTO 1935

2, DANZE DELLA CONTESSA 2014, NARDÒ DOC, CANTINA BONSEGNA

BUYER

1, VECCHIO SOGNO 2014, SALENTO IGP, TENUTA GIUSTINI

2, POSTA PIANA 2014            PUGLIA IGP, CANTINE PARADISO

ex aequo 2, NERÌO 2013, NARDÒ DOC, SCHOLA SARMENTI

PRIMITIVO

JOURNALISTS

1, PRIMITIVO 2013,PUGLIA IGP, PIETREGIOVANI

2, IL RACCOMANDATO 2014, PUGLIA IGP, FIORE AZIENDA AGRICOLA

BUYER

1, PAPALE LINEA ORO 2013, PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP, VARVAGLIONE VIGNE E VINI

2, PRIMITIVO DI MANDURIA DOP 2012, ANTICA MASSERIA JORCHE

NERO D’AVOLA
JOURNALISTS

1, CURMA 2010, SICILIA IGT, A R M O S A

2, VUARIA 2010, SICILIA IGT, FEUDO DISISA

BUYER

1, SANTA CECILIA 2011, NOTO DOC, PLANETA

2, VUARIA 2010, SICILIA IGT, FEUDO DISISA

GROUP OF MIXED RED WINES FROM LESS POPULAR SOUTH ITALIAN GRAPES

JOURNALISTS

1, TAURASI S.EUSTACHIO 2008, TAURASI DOCG, BOCCELLA

2, GHIAIA NERA 2013, SICILIA DOC, TASCA D’ALMERITA

3, DON VINCENZO 2013, LACRYMA CHRISTI DEL VESUVIO DOC ROSSO, CASA SETARO

BUYER

1, ERUZIONE 1614 2013, SICILIA DOC, PLANETA

2, LIBICI 2012, CALABRIA IGP, CASA COMERCI

ex aequo 2, TAURASI 2011, TAURASI DOCG, TENUTA SCUOTTO

3, BOCCA DI LUPO 2011, CASTEL DEL MONTE DOC, TORMARESCA

GAGLIOPPO
JOURNALISTS

1, CIRÒ RISERVA 2012, COTE DI FRANZE

2, DUCA SANFELICE 2013, CIRÒ RISERVA, LIBRANDI

BUYER

1, ARCANO RISERVA 2009, CIRÒ ROSSO CLAS. SUP. RISERVA, SENATORE VINI

2, DOM GIUVÀ 2013, CIRÒ ROSSO CLASSICO SUPERIORE DOC, DU CROPIO VINERY

ex aequo2, JACCA VENTU SUPERIORE 2012, MELISSA DOP, LA PIZZUTA DEL PRINCIPE

AGLIANICO
JOURNALISTS

1, RASOTT 2012, IRPINIA CAMPI TAURASINI DOP, BOCCELLA

2, MILES 2012 CILENTO AGLIANICO DOC, CANTINE BARONE

BUYER

1, BORGOMASTRO 2007, COLLI DI SALERNO IGP, LUNAROSSA VINI E PASSIONE

2, AGLIANICO 2MILA10 2010, COLLI DI SALERNO IGP, MILA VUOLO

AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE
JOURNALISTS

1, LIKOS 2012, AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE DOC, VIGNE MASTRODOMENICO

2, AQUILA DEL VULTURE 2012, AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE DOC, LAGALA

BUYER

1, IL SIGILLO 2010, AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE DOC, CANTINE DEL NOTAIO

2, CAMERLENGO 2009, AGLIANICO DEL VULTURE DOC, CAMERLENGO

 

 

In Puglia with Radici del Sud 2016

The first time I went to Puglia was in 1983. I have gone back a number of times because of the wine, food and the unique culture. For ten years I was the sommelier/wine director of I Trulli restaurant in NYC. Trulli are the traditional cone shaped houses in Puglia, so I really got to know the wine and the food and have always enjoyed it.

A few months ago, Nicola Campanile, organizer of Radici del Sud 2016 in Puglia, invited me to attend the weeklong wine tasting and judging of the wines of Southern Italy.

When we arrived at the hotel, the other attendees and I, from 13 different countries, were divided into two groups: buyers and press. The buyers stayed in the hotel and tasted wine while the press spent two days and nights on the road.

Our guide and translator was Ole Udsen. The way he was greeted by the producers and others that we met showed the high regard in which he was held, so I gave him the name “Mr. Puglia.” His knowledge of the wines and the region in general, was of the highest level.

One of our first stops was tasting wine with the Association Nationale Le Donna Del Vino Delegazione Puglia.

The president of the organization is Marianna Cardone. The Women in Wine organized a tasting of 17 producers.

Marianna Cardone

Each producer showed one wine. The format reminded me of musical chairs: I sat with a producer, tasted the wine and we talked. Then came an announcement to change places. This was done 17 times. It was very informative and enabled me to learn a lot in a short time.

Flora Saponari with the Sumaniello Rosato

There was even a type of wine I had never tasted before, the Tre Tomoli Rosa 2015 from Vignaflora, a Rosato made from the Susmaniello grape.

We also visited several wineries.

At the Paololeo Winery another organization DeGusto Salento: Association Del Negoamaro presented a tasting of 6 wines:

Negroamaro IGT Salento 2014 “Lago della Pergola” Vetrere

Negroamaro IGP Puglia 2013 “Taccorosso” Paolo Leo

Salice Salentino DOC Riserva 2013”Aiace” Castello Monaci

Negroamaro Salento IGP 2012 Calitro

Brindisi Rosso Riserva DOC 2012 “Jaddico” Tenute Rubino

Brindisi DOP Riserva 2011 “Vigna Flaminio” Vallone

 At the Apollonio winery we tasted 6 wines:

Negroamaro Rosato 2015 Salento IGP Santi Dimitri

IGT Salento Rosato 2015 “Rohesia” Cantele

Negroamaro IGT Salento 2013 Conti Zecca

Salento IGT 2013 “Mjere” Michele Caló

Salento IGT 2011 “Cento su Cento” Castel di Salve

Copertino Riserva DOP 2011 “Divoto” Apollonio

At the Garofano winery, the tasting was held outside.

It was so windy that they could not open the umbrellas, so we tasted in the sun as you can see from the pictures. There were 6 wines:

Copertino DOP Rosato 2015 Marulli

Salento IGT 2015 “Duodecim” Romando Greco

Salento Rosato IGT 2013 Vigna Mazzi Rosa Del Golfo

Nardò DOC 2014 “Danza della Contessa” Bonsegna Salento IGP 2007 “Le Braci” Garofano

Salento IGT 2006 “Piromafo” Valle dell’Asso

 Wine made from the Negroamaro grape can be 100% Negroamaro or blended with other grapes as in the case of Copertino, Salice Salentino and Brindisi Rosso, or made into a rose or a white wine. I became very fond of the Negroamaro in all its forms on this trip.

We visited the town of Gallipoli on the southern tip of Puglia by the sea.

At Cantina Coppola 1489 we tasted white wines made from the Negroamaro grape from 2015 back to 2009.

Negroamaro Bianco Puglia IGT “Rocci” 100% Negroamaro. The production area is the Santo Stefano Vineyard Alezio. The soil is clayish and the training system is espalier. The harvest takes place by hand the last week of August. The wine is vinified and aged in stainless steel. I have very little experience with Negroamaro vinified as a white wine but I was very pleased with the wines I tasted,

The 2012 was the only vintage that had been aged in barriques for about six months. The wines have a simple elegance, fruitiness with good minerality and a touch of the sea. The only wine that did not have these aromas and flavors, reflecting the land and the sea was the 2012.

Paolo Benegiamo with the Alberelli 1947

At a tasting in the Castle in Gallipoli, we played musical chairs again but here there was enough time to speak to the producer and they had more than one wine. One of the best wines I tasted made from 100% Negroamaro was the Vecchie Vigna Alberelli 1947 from L’Astore Masseria presented by the owner Paolo Benegiamo. It is a wine which makes one stop and take notice.

Giuseppe Fiorita with the Copertino Rosso

Copertino Rosso DOC Riserva 2008, Cupertinum-Antica Cantina Del Salento 1935. I sold this wine at I Trulli and always liked it. It is a great value for the price and was later picked as one of the top wines by the press.

Next time a Ciro tasting, a Fiano Minutolo tasting, the blind tasting completion and the winners.