Campi Flegrei Falanghina DOP
Grape Falanghina

An intense, lemon sherbet character, so refreshing, like diving into the sea on a scorching summers day. A supremely elegant wine, flint, sea salt and citrus fruit with floral, apricot flavours. Too lovely. 12.5%

Link to Cantine del Mare producer page

The vineyard is in an old quarry, once connected to the sea by a short tunnel, now it is a stadium of Falanghina. The stands and pitch are all carpeted with vines, each section enjoying a different aspect. Whilst the general exposure may be south to west, a part is also north to east making this is a truly unique monopole*, with rather stunning views of the islands of Procida and Ischia.

The soils are a thin layer of stony sands over yellow tuff and rock formed by ancient lava flows. The vines are around 20 years old, Guyot* pruned and planted at 4000 vines per hectare which yield some 7 tons per hectare.

The grapes are picked a little late, usually in the first week of October, everything must be done by hand, it is a challenge simply to get a tractor near the vineyard. The bunches are pressed and given a short cold-soak* before a temperature-controlled fermentation using selected yeasts which lasts some 2 weeks. The wine is then aged on the lees for 6 months before a light filtration and bottling.