Wine of the Week 3/31/20

Mastroberardino Falanghina del Sannio
Regularly $18.99/On sale for $11.96

From the same winery as our red wine of the week - another terrific and traditional southern Italian grape!  Falanghina is the primary grape for the Sannio appellation and is named after falangae, a Latin term for stakes used to support the grapes’ canopies.  Many believe this grape to have been the basis of the legendary Falernian wine, the most prized wine of ancient Rome, due to its unique profile and fragrance.

Mastroberardino is Campania's most renowned winery, established in the 1750s by winemaker Pietro di Mastro Berardino. Pietro was awarded the professional title of “Mastro” as a testament to his skills in quality winemaking, a tradition that has continued uninterrupted for ten generations. Located in the town of Altripalda, in the ancient region of Irpinia, this family-based firm has long championed the indigenous varieties of this region: Aglianico, Falanghina, Fiano, Piedirosso, Greco and Coda di Volpe. The winery’s commitment to Campania’s heritage became particularly important after World War II.  With so many vineyards ruined, the ancient varietals that dated back to Greek settlements were in great danger of being lost forever. 

The Mastroberardino family, now led by Carlo and Piero, is also behind the Villa dei Misteri project at Pompeii, an archeological/viticultural attempt to recreate the wines of the ancient Roman city by replanting vineyards that were destroyed by the AD 79 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and by using the same ancient grape varieties, viticulture and winemaking techniques of that period.