Campi Valerio Virtual Tasting

Next in our series of virtual tasting events is a look at the wines of Campi Valerio with Ilham Zrida and Sharon Gardner of International Cellars on June 11th. Campi Valerio is located in the province of Isernia in the western part of Molise. As Italy’s second smallest region, the wines from the mountainous terrain of Molise are not in wide supply in the U.S., but after trying these wines from Campi Valerio, we hope you’ll start seeking out more of these hidden gems!

City of Monteroduni in the province of Isernia, Italy, near Campi Valerio. From Molise Review: https://www.molisereview.com/monteroduni.html

About Molise

Molise is located on the eastern side of Italy along the Adriatic Sea, with Abruzzo to its north and Puglia and Campania to its south and southwest, respectively.  While Molise has a very long history of grape cultivation (wines have been growing in the region at least as far back as 500 BC), it only gained its independence as a region in the 1960s, and until then, it was a part of its larger and more famous neighbor to the north, Abruzzo.

Molise holds two provinces, Campobasso that runs from the shoreline of the Adriatic sea inland (about 66% of Molise) and Isernia, located in the higher altitude, fully mountainous region in the West. Vineyards cover a bit under 25,000 acres of land (just over 2% of total acreage for the region), with annual production of 4.3 million cases of wine, of which only 2% has DOC status. While four million cases may seem like a lot of wine, it is actually a relatively small amount for an entire wine region. To provide some context, Kendall Jackson alone produces more than three million cases, with the entire Jackson family lineup putting out over five million cases a year.

The most common grape varieties in Molise are Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Aglianico, and Tintilia for reds and Trebiano, Pinot Grigio, and Falanghina for whites. Of those varieties, Tintilia is of particular note, as it is indigenous to Molise. Once the most widely planted grape in the region, after WWII, its acreage was gradually replaced with other more fecund varieties until it was on the verge of extinction. Thankfully, a few producers began to champion the grape and its history, resulting in a DOC created just for the grape in 2011: “Tintilia del Molise.” While plantings have increased, it still only represents roughly 10% of total production.

Central/Southern Italian wine regions from Wine Folly: https://winefolly.com/deep-dive/italian-wine-regions-map/

About Campi Valerio

Campi Valerio is located near the town of Monteroduni in the province of Isernia in Molise. The Valerio family has deep ties to the region, tracing them back to the area since 1836. The current operation began in 2004 on an estate formerly owned by the Pignatelli family, a line of ancient Italian nobles dating back to 900 AD.  The Valerio family currently cultivates 35 acres of vineyards, 70 acres of olive groves, and hundreds of sheep and cattle on their lands.  In all of their works, they focus heavily on sustainability and conscientious approaches to their endeavors. Below is a list of the wines we will be tasting, and look below for links to purchase and sip with us.

Tasting Recap

We were thrilled to welcome Ilham Zrida and Sharon Gardner of International Cellars to guide us through three delicious wines from Campi Valerio in Molise, Italy. What immediately stood out to us was the incredible quality of the wines relative to their prices. Molise is somewhat lesser-know wine region of Italy, so this may help in keeping the wine prices low; however, we were so impressed with the wines that we think this won’t be the case forever! See below for a few takeaways from the tasting, and you can relive almost the entire tasting on our YouTube channel.

The “Fannia” Falanghina is both Ilham and Sharon’s favorite summer white wine. The wine is crisp with tropical fruit notes, and Ilham points out how the wine has flavors of brioche from its time aging on the lees (yeast cells used during fermentation). What results is a complex wine with many layers of flavor that will please any regular white wine drinker. As bonus, this wine also carries history of the Molise region with it. Ilham describes how the label of the wine shows a tombstone found near the winery that is the oldest known artifact from the Roman Empire in Italy. Winemaker Antonio Valerio appears to always connect the history of the Molise region with his wines, and to learn more about this Falanghina and its history watch this clip here.

The second wine in our tasting is considered the husband to the the “Fannia” Falanghina, and it is a Montepulciano named “Calidio.” What stood out to us about this wine was that it didn’t show the abundance of red fruit that you often can get with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It was well structured with balanced acid and tannin, and the result was that the fruit flavors of the wine were not the only elements showing through. This wine is truly delicious, and for $10.99 it is a must-try. See more on this Montepulciano here.

The final wine from our tasting was the “Opalia” Tintilia, which was named one of the best wines in Italy by a panel of judges blind tasting the wines. Ilham shows us how this wine is difficult to find with it originally only being sold in a restaurant in New York. The grape Tintilia is not well-known, but it produces a bold structure with a mix of red and black fruits that Ilham can find somewhat similar to Bordeaux. Like Bordeaux the “Opalia” can age for many years while retaining its freshness and vibrancy. Please find more information on this wine here and contact your most convenient Wine Outlet location to pick up a bottle while supplies last!

2018 Campi Valerio Falanghina “Fannia”
Straw yellow color, with floral notes and yellow fruit. Fresh, balanced with a strong minerality.
Retail: $13.99, Our Price: $10.99

2017 Campi Valerio Rosso del Molise “Calidio”
“A pretty red with raspberry coulis and a touch of balsamic and citrus. Medium-bodied, bright and round on the finish. Drink now.” – 90 Points James Suckling
Retail: $13.99, Our Price: $10.99

2016 Campi Valerio Tintilia del Molise “Opalia”
91 Points James Suckling
Retail: $22.99, Our Price: $17.99

Order online of call for this Molise Collection from:

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