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REGIONS OF THE MONTH Celebrations Wine Club Celebrating over 20 years of good wine, good food, and good friends! P u g l i a C a m p a n i a www.CelebrationsWineClub.com Puglia, the heel and spur of the Italian boot, is rich The capital of Campania, Naples was founded by in art and architecture, which reflect the many the Greeks, enlarged by the Romans, and subse- Italian cultures that have dominated the region over the quently invaded by the Normans, Hohenstaufen, centuries. The Greeks, Romans, Saracens, Nor- French, and Spanish among others. Established by mans, Swabia’s, and Spaniards among others have the Greeks in the 11th Century BC, Naples was the all left their imprints there. The octagonal fortress earliest of a cluster of far flung settlements through- Winery of the Month this side of the sheet Cut .75 inches exactly off in Castel del Monte was built by Emperor Freder- out southern Italy. Many important figures of the ick II in 1240. The towns of Otranto and Gallipoli age, including Pythagoras, Archimedes, and Ae- evoke the Greeks. And much of Lecce is Baroque schylus lived in these settlements, and today some in style, having flourished in the 17th Century. Al- of the best ruins of the ancient Greek world can berobello is the capital of the “trulli,” which are be found there. Along with mathematics, archi- whitewashed, circular buildings with conical roof tecture, and drama, the ancient art of winemak- tiles, and whose origins no one is certain of. ing also flourished in the hills and valleys of the Known as Europe’s wine cellar, Pulia produces region as the cult of Dionysus spread. Aglianico more grapes than any other region and normally and Greco, vines that the Greeks introduced, are surpasses Germany and all but six other nations. still highly prized. The Greek historian Herodo- But in the past, it has sacrificed quality for quan- tus called this part of Italy Oenotria, meaning the tity. Many of its wines were without distinction land of wine. and were consumed locally or used for blending In the 16th Century, Sante Lancerio, the bot- in the wines of other regions. But during the last tler of Pope Paul III, raved about the wines of the ten years, producers have been making good to Kingdom of Naples, and their reputation contin- th excellent reds, whites, and rose` from a range of ued into the 19 Century. But subsequently, vi- Villa Matilda grape varieties. ticulture went into decline for decades as grow- In the north, the terrain is hilly and the cli- ers left the land, and the majority of remaining mate temperate. White varieties which dominate producers ignored DOC regulations and instead The Favored Wines of Roman are Verdeca, Bianco d’Alessano, Malvasia, Trib- chose to plant prolific vines rather than those that biano, and Bombino Bianco and in the Itria val- would produce premium grapes. In the last twen- Poets Virgil and Horace ley, Locorotondo and Martina Franca. Red wines ty years, producers have once again recognized the are the native Uva di Troia and Bombino Nero, potential of southern Italy in general and have Villa Matilda are grown. Some of the vineyards are lo- as well as Montepulciano and Sangiovese. The modernized their viticulture and winemaking lading DOC zone of northern Pulia is Castel del techniques. Fiano di Avellino and Greco di Tufo Located in Campania in the town of Cel- cated on hillsides at almost 800 feet above Monte, which makes a fine rose and a full-bod- are among Italy’s most distinguished white wines, lole, Villa Matilda is owned by brother sea level with volcanic soils rich in organ- ied red. In much of the north, the emphasis is while Taurasi from Aglianico has been called the and sister Maria Ida and Salvatore Aval- ic matter. Highly esteemed Riccardo Co- on red wines. “Barolo of the South” because of its aging abili- lone, whose estate is one of the most nota- tarella is the consulting winemaker, who The traditional wines of Salento in the south ty. This is Campania’s only DOCG wine to date. ble in the region. In the early 1950s, their works with some of the most prominent are the powerful reds Negroamaro, Malvasia Nera, Mastroberardino is a distinguished winery in the father Francesco Paolo Avallone, togeth- wineries in Italy and France. Villa Matil- and Primitivo, related to California’s Zinfandel. region as is Feudi di San Gregorio, Villa Matilde, Salice Salentino is the most prominent DOC zone Mustilli, and Casa d’Ambra. er with a research team at the University da has received wine rating board Gam- in Salento and is noted for its rich red and for its of Naples, set out to find the best surviv- bero Rosso’s highest Tre Bicchierri (Three rose, some of which ranks with Italy’s finest. CelebrationsWineClub.com ing vines of the reds Aglianico and Pied- Glasses) award multiple times for both the . irosso, and the white Falanghina, which red and white Falerno. Anna Maria, please send information and a complementary issue of our Anna Maria Knapp, Owner the Greeks had brought to the area and RECOMMEND US 75 Pelican Way G1 newsletter to the following people. Please mention my name. which were celebrated by the Roman po- Matané San Rafael, CA 94901 to family members, friends, business associates, and clients ets Virgil and Horace. The property con- Originally from New Zealand, Neil Emp- whom you think would appreciate Celebrations Wine Club. 1. Name ______________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________ 1-800-700-6227 sists of 272 acres, divided into Tenuta di son and wife Maria Empson, born in the RECEIVE San Castrese, where Aglianico is planted, United States, have been Italian residents a complementary third bottle of outstanding City_______________________________ State_____ Zip ____________ Celebrate@ January: gennaio wine with your regular shipment of two bottles, when they join CelebrationsWineClub.com and Tenuta di Parco Nuovo, closer to the for over 36 years, exporting a distinguished February: febbraio Celebrations Wine Club. 2. Name ______________________________________________________ coast and suitable to white Falanghina. portfolio of some of Italy’s best wines to March: marzo maggio 2009 The estate is flanked by properties in the the United States. In February 2007, they Send this form to: Celebrations Wine Club Address ____________________________________________________ April: aprile 75 Pelican Way G1 City_______________________________ State_____ Zip ____________ Benevento and Avellino provinces, respec- were joined by their daughter Tara Smer- May: maggio San Rafael, CA 94901 tively Rocca dei Leoni, planted to both alda and visited a family friend Valentino June: giugno Or call: 1-800-700-6227 Your name __________________________________________________ Aglianico and Falanghina, and Tenute di Sciotti, who is a winemaker in southern July: luglio Altavilla where Greco di Tufo and Fiano See WINERIES next page August: agosto September: settembre October: ottobre November: novembre December: dicembre WINES OF THE MONTH WINES OF THE MONTH P I C K & CHOOSE JustJust red?red? JustJust white?white? Artisan Series Winemaker Series Collector Series JustJust Californian?Californian? JustJust Italian?Italian? How about a combination?combination? Matané Villa Matilda Villa Matilde Villa Matilde California Wines 2007 Primitivo 2006 Aglianico 2004 Cecubo 2004 Taurasi California Wines ArtisanArtisan Series:Series: Made from 100% Primitivo grapes, planted at San From vineyards plated at 400 meters above sea level The Cecubo is a blend of 45% Abbuoto, 35% Known as the “Barolo of the South,” noble Agli- $34.50/month,$34.50/month, aa redred andand aa whitewhite Marzano in Puglia’s Salentino peninsula, the wine at Villa Matilda’s Rocca dei Leoni estate, this wine Piedirosso, and 20% Primitivo. Aged for 12 anico thrives on the rocky volcanic ridges of Cam- Winemaker Series: is almost purple and has rich and spicy aromas is 100% Aglianico, which is a corruption of the months in French oak barrels, only a third of pania and Basilicata. In the Campania region, $62.50/month,$62.50/month, 22 reservereserve redsreds ArtisanArtisan red–Winemakerred–Winemaker red:red: and flavors, reminiscent of California Zinfandel. word Ellenico, the Italian name for Greece, where which were new, the wine is an ancient blend the varietal is known as Taurasi and in Basilicata $48.50/month$48.50/month REORDER In this season, the Matane’ Primitivo cries out for the varietal was first cultivated. Dense purple in based on the rare Abbouto grape saved from ex- as Aglianico del Vulture. Brought to these areas Call or email anything grilled or barbecued, from red meat and color, the distinctive bouquet brings to mind spic- tinction. Villa Matilda is one of the few estates to by ancient Greek settlers in the eighth and sev- ItalianItalian WinesWines Artisan Series: to reorder Artisan Series: game to summer vegetables and also hard chees- es, blackberries, and ripe red fruit, typical of the use this grape, which has deep, lush, aromas and enth Centuries B.C.E., Aglianico continued to $34/month,$34/month, aa redred andand aa whitewhite these excep- es. Serve at cool room temperature. grape variety. On the palate the wine is full, rich, flavors of black fruit and cinnamon with sweet be cultivated by local populations after the Ro- Winemaker Series: tional wines and velvety with fine tannin texture. Serve at cool tannins and a spicy, peppery finish. Serve at cool mans colonized the region in 181-180 B.C.E. $62/month,$62/month, 22 reservereserve redsreds Collector Series: from the Cantele room temperature room temperature. Aged in French oak barrels for 18 months and for Collector Series: Artisan Series $112/month,$112/month, 22 collectablecollectable redsreds 2007 Chardonnay another 12 month in bottle before release from Artisan red–Winemaker red: for just $11.00 Artisan red–Winemaker red: Matané $48/month$48/month per bottle.

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