It seems strange to speak of Sannio referring to Barbera. A territory recognized 'European City of Wine 2019' from Recevin, Network Community of eight hundred Cities of Wine. An inflow received by the success of his Falanghina that proud, and that for this land in the heart of the Apennines sannita, It is a great opportunity.

Premesso ciò, because of Falanghina not talk enough, I will focus on a wine that I tasted during my path enoturistico in Benevento: Barbera del Sannio! One, I put the exclamation point. Accustomed impetuous Barbera Piedmont, I did not expect to taste a wine traits so different: Barbera del Sannio 2016 in purity passed only in steel. The nose scents of rose and cherry, in mouth nature, freshness and softness. Davvero buona!

A grape from the bunch pyramid-conical shape that I met in Castelvenere, in the valley of Low Heat, in the province of Benevento. An area rich in biodiversity where a young winemaker, James Simon, He chose to invest its future in the activity wine. Following the tradition of the ancient underground cellars of Castelvenere, he built his cellar in a sandstone ridge about nine meters high, with a development of three floors tended to favor the movement by gravity of the wort. A sustainable reality that makes use of a rainwater collection system for the reduction of water and energy consumption, and photovoltaic panels on 'tree sculptures'.

Ma gold a rent to the oral ...

• Giacomo, the winemaker activity was not your first choice of professional life. You're an engineer. What brought you to this change of course?

I started the course in computer engineering studies in Siena, but after two years I decided to leave school. Then, I lived for four months in London, where I worked in a computer lab. Maybe that's where I realized that I could never find my "home" elsewhere. "I love my damn country", and this is where I decided to stay, to enhance what is good. The passion for nature and for the vineyard has helped me… the rest came by itself.

We must not abandon our territories ... places where they lived and "struggled" our families. What we must do is keep the memories and knowledge farmer. This is the reason that convinced me to build my future here, and I thank my my family, who has always supported me.

• I believe that sustainable development of the territory and the preservation of the wine heritage are the primary objectives for the future of viticulture. Premesso ciò, What do you think of the acceleration in the cultivation of Falanghina? Do you think you could risk a similar phenomenon to the area of ​​Prosecco?

Cynthia, I can only tell you that a few years ago, winemakers near me, They told me that in these lands throughout the month of September he felt the scent white grapes Malvasia. Since he "came the Falanghina" you do not hear anything. After listening to many local elders, I deduced that the Falanghina has been introduced recently to such an intensive level purely to meet strong demand in the market. Unfortunately,, You are gradually abandoning all those varieties of grapes that each farmer had once implanted in the vineyards, and that once vinified, They gave full-bodied wines, tasty, perfumed, unique ... A real shame.

Now it's up to us to grasp winemakers – without being overwhelmed – the opportunity that this "success called Falanghina" offered us. We must show the world what's in addition to the Sannio Falanghina. Our area is rich in biodiversity, knowledge, potentiality. There are so many stories of wine and grapes, to discover and not to be set aside.

• In your basement I had the pleasure of tasting the Ancestral, a classical method obtained from a data base of Aglianico Rosato with early harvest and fermentation block. One of your experiment?

The Ancestral was a case. After reading, the idea of ​​working in the cellar "without adding anything extraneous to the wine" he took a lot. Soon, in collaboration with my winemaker, will experience other varieties red berry type the Camaiola.

In the past it was used exclusively white wine. With sugar in some private cellars dared the second fermentation in the bottle, unfortunately without tools and valuable knowledge ... not always with positive results. Making sparkling wine, however, it was not new, as rightly highlights the book Pasquale Carlo, in the chapter on sparkling wine with Trebbiano grapes in Cerreto Sannita.

• The Sannio, Wine European City 2019. A great opportunity for the development of viticulture and for the promotion of the historical and artistic heritage of Benevento. About this, from person living on the territory, what are in your opinion the priorities that the authorities should develop predisposed to promote wine tourism in Sannio?

The reception! In the territory of Sannio there are potentially many small tourist towns but not connected to each other ... without a net. The biggest challenge is being able to create the right synergy between these countries, preventing the escape of young people abroad, giving them the right opportunities, so that you can create a job with the local resources. Cooperation is the key. We do not need to build hotels, or casinos, or parks ... we have it all. We just need to improve reception services. We do not want to focus on mass tourism, but the tourism interested and attentive. Citizens must return to fall in love with ... Sannio respecting it as it deserves!

I take the word…

I can only share the reflections made by Giacomo, and that I myself, in the past days in the Sannio, I have repeatedly stressed. What hope, is that this opportunity for 2019 is cultured, with the implementation of strategies to support the visibility and promote the area. What is left to say ... maybe just that young Italian winegrowers are growing, very well and thankfully!

The. Agr. Simone Giacomo – Via Curtole Castelvenere (BN)  www.simonegiacomo.it

We nel Sannio, in the heart of the Apennines sannita. An area that in recent years – thanks to its Falanghina – It had a high exposure. This success has given it the recognition of European City of Wine 2019 by Recevin, Community network of eight hundred Cities of Wine. This trend in 2017 He led the hectares dedicated to Falanghina overcome albeit slightly those dedicated Aglianico. A growth that I hope is kept under control, to ensure and safeguard the wealth Ampelographic bell. Aglianico, Sommarello, Piedirosso, Sciascinoso, Agostinella, Falanghina, Cerreto, Foxtail, Grieco, Malvasia, Fiano, Passolara of San Bartolomeo, Olivella, Carminiello, Palombina, Moscato di Baselice ... only part of the heritage of biodiversity sannita.

Reflections that are inspired by another successful called 'Prosecco', alas, It is changing the balance of the varieties of grapes grown in its territories.

some figures. The Sannio Benevento is the province with the most lucrative wine industry in Campania. A region from 1912 to the 1932 was the first wine producer in Italy. Who fillossera, thanks to the volcanic soils, He arrived late compared to other areas. This leadership lost after the Second World War for the partial abandonment of agricultural practices. A situation that over the years has had a gradual counter, often, after one or two jumps generational. There are few cases of young farmers who are dedicated to viticulture in the footsteps of their grandparents. The understanding reached on the increasingly close link between wine and promoting the area, and dell'appeal growth of Italian wine on the international markets, brought young and old to change professional route, a volte, Also among the most unexpected.

Una terra – Sannio Beneventano – always suited to viticulture characterized mostly by calcareous clay type soils, with a volcanic component. Ten thousand hectares of vines, settemilanovecento winemakers, about one hundred bottlers for over a million hectoliters of wine produced, three designations of origin and geographical indication for more than sixty types of wines. the fast – Stresses Nicola Matarazzo, Director of the Consorzio Tutela Vini Sannio DOP – is the sign that lets you read the cultural and social identity of the entire Sunni community.

Vineyard Sannio. In my days spent in the Sannio, I visited some vineyards of great historical and scenic charm. Exciting their views. I mean plurisecolari Aglianico vines grown radially free in locations Pantanella, in the municipality of Monte Taburno. The ability to retain the centuries a wine heritage like this, It deserves a reflection. “In support of those who work in the conservation of the vineyard landscape – said Lorenzo Nifo Sarrapochiello, agronomist and President of the protection of Sannio Consorzio Tutela Vini – I want to emphasize the importance of the optimal management of the vineyard, especially the correct vine pruning. A key to his longevity.”

All my appreciation for those who really has the skills… an ancient knowledge that you should recover.

Benevento, a city on a human scale. One observation I made after observing his people strolling unhurriedly, in everyday life, along the streets of its old town to the Arch Trajan (117 d.C.), one of the most ancient arches of the Roman fees. A city rich in myths and legends once called Maleventum. It was the success of one of the Samnite wars of the Roman Legions on the army of Pyrrhus, to changing its name to Beneventum.

Also called the city of witches, for pagan rituals that in the distant past were practiced by the Lombards around the old Walnut of Benevento. For some, about witches, much better to remember the well-known herbal liqueur product since 1860, and for the famous literary award established in 1947 by the owners of liqueur beneventana, hence the Strega Prize named.

At the foot of Mount Taburno in Sant'Agata’ Goths, one of the most charming old towns of Benevento. It stands on a unique tufa rock whose spectacular views dazzles and delights.

Walking through the old town, through the narrow cobbled streets, you can admire medieval buildings, Baroque and Renaissance, as proof of its ancient origins. Between these, Palace Mustilli, with its cellars dug into the tuff to fifteen meters deep. In this place rich in history and atmosphere, in addition to the Falanghina, Aglianico is aged in wood, one of my wines of the heart.

The Sannio Beneventano – the agricultural province of Campania – in that 2019, if you can take the opportunity, It will be the focus of the EU wine sector.

“The Sannio, a secluded land, but full of genuine surprises for travelers true.” Luciano Pignataro

Sannio Consorzio Tutela Vini www.sanniodop.it