It’s within the coronary heart of the Mount Vesuvius nationwide park, overlooking the ruins of Pompei, the Gulf of Naples and the island of Capri, that Sorrentino produces a spread of wines that talk of a singular terroir and passionate neighborhood of individuals.
Based in 1953 and now with the third era on the helm of the property, Sorrentino has been led, from its inception, by characterful women and men who’ve develop into pioneers of the grapes and terroir of Mount Vesuvius. The primary high quality property within the appellation, Sorrentino tends to 35 hectares planted to the indigenous varieties Greco (first planted within the space earlier than being propagated all through Italy), Caprettone, Falanghina, Catalanesca, Piedirosso and Aglianico, with viticultural practices tailor-made to every plot and selection and with an growing concentrate on sustainability.
A household’s shared ardour
Second era Paolo Sorrentino and his spouse Angela firmly set the corporate on a path targeted on the preservation of the viticultural heritage that was handed to them. The volcanic soils have saved phylloxera at bay, thus preserving a heritage of outdated, ungrafted vines, completely tailored to the excessive altitude vineyards and the sandy soils of Mount Vesuvius. Such distinctive plots can solely survive if their complete panorama can also be preserved.’We take a look at the steadiness of our ecosystem and promote biodiversity within the winery, bringing steadiness to the land by co-planting apricot timber, tomato vegetation, fig timber and having beehives by means of the property.’ says Paolo.
The indigenous grapes grown on Sorrentino vineyards, a lot of which hardly recognized past the area, have developed in tandem with this panorama solid by wind, sea and hearth; a captivating setting that constitutes one among Italy’s hidden jewels and is more and more being recognised by sommeliers and critics as a supply of distinctive wines with nice ageing potential.
At the moment, Benny Sorrentino, the primary feminine oenologist in Campania, leads the oenological group at her household’s property, constructing upon the matriarchal legacy of her grandmother Benigna. Steering the vineyard alongside her brother Giuseppe, she has strengthened the dedication to a much less interventionist, low affect and extra terroir-focused strategy, looking for a method of working that’s directly extra sustainable and extra expressive of the grapes and vineyards. ‘Every wine we produce is sort of a small volcano,’ says Benny, explaining how the understanding of terroir has been essential to her work. ‘Observing how our wines age and retain a really distinct freshness has been an necessary course of, reconciling the theoretic experience gained by means of my research and the sensible expertise. The thought is to reach at an harmonious steadiness that’s based mostly before everything on the vine, continues within the vineyard and culminates within the ageing course of.’
Benny and Maria Paola Sorrentino
Head-turning volcanic wines
By deepening the information of their appellation and of how every grape performs in every plot, the Sorrentinos have enhanced the character of their wines, a few of which have develop into iconic in their very own proper and now function on the wine lists of a few of London’s highest regarded venues, such because the River Cafe, 10 Greek Avenue, Norma, Franco’s or Angelina.
The Vigna Lapillo Bianco – Lachryma Christy Superiore DOC, a sublime mix of Caprettone (80%), Greco (10%) and Falanghina (10%) from a lapilli-rich plot at 500m altitude, was one of many first to show heads and acquire worldwide recognition. Appreciation for its pink counterpart, Vigna Lapillo Rosso – Lachryma Christy Superiore DOC (Piedirosso 80%, Aglianico 20%) adopted, not least as a result of elevated curiosity within the area’s indigenous varieties.
The latter additionally explains the curiosity about Dòrè, the one single varietal glowing produced with Caprettone grapes, which shed a brand new mild on this grape (as soon as considered a clone of Coda di Volpe) and on the potential to supply glowing types, with freshness and poise, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius.
Discovering a singular terroir
The perfect place to find Sorrentino’s wines is, certainly, towards the backdrop of the vines and of Mount Vesuvius, which is why Maria Paola, Benny and Giuseppe’s sister, has developed the hospitality facet of the property. It contains onsite lodging, a full programme of wine and meals tastings, and a singular guided trekking route by means of the lava flows, for a vivid understanding of the viticultural historical past formed by the totally different eruptions of Mount Vesuvius since Pompei (79 AD).
Even when the dormant volcano principally evokes tales of Roman occasions, the panorama it created is a dwelling terroir, the place a singular assortment of native grapes and outdated vineyards yield a few of Italy’s most intriguing wines. It’s the preservation and growth of this wealth that the Sorrentino household strives for daily and classic.
Sorrentino wines can be found within the UK by means of Liberty Wines.
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