Sphaeranera Pallagrello Nero Cacciagalli 2018

Sphaeranera Pallagrello Nero Cacciagalli, Biodynamic wine, rare grape, fermented and matured in terracotta amphorae, full bodied and structured. Pallagrello is a rare grape only gorwn in Campania and in particular in the region of Caserta. The grape has a long history in the region and, like the similarly named Pallagrello bianco, was one the varieties planted in 1775 by architect and engineer Luigi Vanvitelli in the fan-shaped Vigna del Ventaglio vineyard created for the royal palace of King Ferdinand I of the Two Sicilies (Ferdinand IV of Naples) in Caserta. Following the phylloxera epidemic of the mid-19th century and the economic devastation of the World Wars of the early 20th century, plantings of Pallagrello Nero declined greatly and the variety was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered growing in an abandoned Campanian vineyard in the 1990s. This lovely example displays the minerality of the volcanic soils and freshness of natural fermentation in Amphorae, a wine for long ageing, it is structured and has rich ripe fruit in spades.

I Cacciagalli is the name given to the area of land where Diana and Mario Basco have started their biodynamic wine estate.

The 9 hectares of vines are located in a small hamlet a couple of kilometres outside the town of Teano in the province of Caserta. The estate lies in the shadow of the inactive volcano Roccamonfina which gives rise to the complex volcanic terrain which impart such character to the wines. The volcanic soil is rich in minerals and in particular potassium and is very fertile. The surrounding woodland is full of chestnut and hazelnut trees, pine and many wild flowers and other fruits. This place is an oasis of calm where nature flourishes and here Mario and Diana live out their dream of creating high quality natural wines.Diana is an agronomist and the land has been in her family for generations, when she met passionate wine connoisseur Mario, they started their biodynamic farm and are now fully certified. They have started to ferment some of the wines in clay ovoid eggs, buried deep in the centuries old winery at their home, as well as using skin contact for the whites. The reds, are rich and elegant with long ageing potential.Cacciagalli is located in an ancient building which stretched back centuries to a time when it was the house of the noble family who owned the local land and rented it to peasants. The building houses a 500 year old cellar where Mario stores the wines once bottled. There is a true sense of nature and history at play at the beautiful estate. The wines have the finesse and style to match.