TERRE DEL PRINCIPE 1 THIS IS US The love for the vine. The dream shared with Manuela. The memory of the grandfather who carried him, child, around his estate on the gig through. The memory of the peasants who spoke about Pallagrello and Casavecchia. They are the reasons that have induced Peppe Mancini to abandon the lawyer profession in order to become vine-dresser. The same love and the same passion push Manuela Piancastelli, journalist and scrittrice, to leave Il Mattino in order to write, with Peppe, an important page of the Campanian viticulture. The Pallagrello and the Casavecchia must all to Peppe Mancini. If today they are newly cultivates, it must to the tenacity and to the conviction of who has believed in the potentialities of these native grape variety and of this territory, a lot appreciates from the Borbone. Along study with the University of Naples and the Campania Region have finally concurred the insertion of Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero and Casavecchia in the national Catalogue of the grapes variety. Pushes from a big passion, Peppe and Manuela, which in the time has joined to Masina Mancini, have given life to their dreams: Terre del Principe. A name that is born like dedication of Manuela to Peppe, her prince. Today the company has 11 hectares of property. 2 WHERE WE ARE THE VINEYARD UNDER TABURNO MOUNT Terre del Principe is born in Campania, between sweet hills of Squille, small village in the town of Castel Campagnano, in province of Caserta . The territory is a ring of conjunction between the mountain range of Taburno and Matese, that donate wealth to the ground, much to more make of one of the zones with vocation to cultivation of vine and olive tree. The vineyards From eleven hectars of vineyards 60 thousands bottles are born every year. The vineyards are in Castel Campagnano, Ruviano and Castel di Sasso. In Castel Campagnano there is the Mascioni Vineyard (1 hectar) of Pallagrello bianco; the Monticelli Vineyard (6 hecatrs with Pallagrello bianco, Pallagrello nero and Casavecchia); a part of Piancastelli vineyard, 2 hectars of Pallagrello nero e Casavecchia (da cui nasce l’omonimo vino rosso). In Ruviano the other part of Piancastelli vineyard. At last, in Castel di Sasso a small vineyard of Casavecchia that products the sweet wine “Il sasso di Riccardo” (half hectar) and the small vineyard of aunt Rosa, the “mother Vineyard” with Casavvechia and Pallagrello vines one hundred years old. 3 VIGNA PIANCASTELLI The vines one hundred years old 4 I suoli Land rich of clay and stones, of sands and vulcanic elements which bakes like bread in summer and becomes mud in winter. A rich land, at the foot of the mountains – fruitful and fertile. Our grapes are born here. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, battered by winds from the valley in summer and winter, giving breath to the land, clearing the air and driving away fogs. This is our land 5 THE GRAPES pallagrello bianco pallagrello nero Casavecchia Pallagrello bianco: It’s a beautiful grape which becomes golden, almost transparent when fully ripened, and grows in small, tight, shining bunches. Pallagrello Bianco is picked in the first weeks of September – taking care to choose the precise moment when acidity and sweetness come together. Pallagrello nero: Whether white or red, there are only a few varieties of Italian grapes, and Pallagrello is one of them. Looking at a white bunch and a red bunch together is fascinating since they are like a mirror image of each other. The small, tight, black bunches are picked in late October and early November – later than most varieties. Casavecchia: His research into the grape, which grows in large, loose, black bunches, demonstrated its absolute originality, using studies into its DNA and wine-making properties. It is picked in mid-October. 6 THE OENOLOGIST Without Luigi Moio, who coordinates the precious rhythms of the cellar, we wouldn’t be here to talk of. If Peppe is the heart of Pallagrello and Casavecchia, and Manuela is the voice, Luigi Moio is the brains. Professor of Oenology at the University of Naples, a prominent international figure in the world of wine, son and grandson of a vine dresser, Luigi Moio is above all a passionate researcher and believed in our dream of reviving these three varieties of grape. He directed research at the University of Naples and the Region of Campania for five years, leading studies and small-scale winemaking which have led to the recognition of these grape varieties, enriching our nation with three small but great wines. The challenge continues today, with Moio by our side. Luigi moio 7 THE FARM AND THE CELLAR Here you can see Terre del Principe – our farm and house. They are combined, because, being a passion, not just a job, we don’t separate work and family. Here there is the modern cellar. In the heart of Castel Campagnano, instead, is Terre del Principe’s historical wine cellar. It is like a cathedral 10 meters deep in the heart of the earth where the wines rest and grown before to go in the bottle. THE MODERN CELLAR 8 THE ANCIENT CELLAR 9 The wines FONTANAVIGNA PALLAGRELLO BIANCO Grapes: White Pallagrello 100% Type: Igt Terre del Volturno Soil: clay, rich in little stones Location of vineyards: Castel Campagnano and Ruviano, 250 m. above sea Growing system: guyot, with 5,000 plants/ha Harvest: hand-picked, between first and second ten days of Septemper Crop yield: 80 quintals for hectare Vinification: fermentation in stainless steel at controlled temperatures Tasting notes: the wine is light straw-yellow in colour, with highlights; its perfumes include notes of fresh fruit, from aplles, pineapple and melon. To the palate the wine is balanced, with persistently aromatic flavours, and a long finish of dried apricots. LE SEROLE PALLAGRELLO BIANCO Grapes: selection of White Pallagrello 100% Category: Igt Campania Soil: clay, rich in little stones Location of vineyard: Ruviano, about 250 m. above sea level Growing system: guyot, with 5,000 plants/ha Harvest: hand-picked, in second ten days of September Crop yield: 60 quintals/ha Vinification: fermentation in french oak barriques Tasting notes: the gold-yellow wine offers delicate notes of honey and beeswax to the nose. To the palate, it is rich, mellow and ample, with a long finish, and aromatic notes of spices, toasted almonds and vanilla. 10 ROSETO DEL VOLTURNO Grapes: Pallagrello Nero and Casavecchia Type: Igt Terre del Volturno Soil: clayey and stony Location of vineyards: Castel Campagnano, 250 m above sea level Growing system: Caserta espalier training system, with 3500 plants per hectare Harvest: hand-picked, between the tenth and the twentieth of October Yield: 80 quintals per hectare Alcohol content: 13.5% Winemaking technique: fermentation in stainless steel at controlled temperature Tasting notes: The wine is a beautiful bright pink color, with delicate scents with notes ranging from floral eglantine roses with hints of cherry and sour black cherry. Its flavor is characterized by a remarkable freshness supported by good acidity that nicely extends the persistence. CASTELLO DELLE FEMMINE Grapes: Pallagrello Nero 50% e Casavecchia 50% Type: Igt Terre del Volturno Soil: arenarie of Caiazzo: clayey, sandy and skeletal Location of vineyard: Ruviano, 250 m. above sea level Planting system: Caserta arbor system, with 3,500 vines/ha Harvest: hand-picked, between first and second ten days of Septemper Crop yield: 70 quintals for hectare Vinification: prolonged maceration and maturing in second best barriques for about 8 monthes. Tasting notes: this wine shows the characteristic of both varieties of vine, accurately balanced in order to enhance its fruity character. Its elegant and slight spicy character derives from Black Pallagrello grapes while its intense colour and its finish of bitter almond are distinctive of Casavecchia vine. A bright ruby wine with hints of fresh fruit compote and dominant raspberry and bilberry flavours on the nose. Fresh and well balanced in the mouth, with a good alcoholic structure, this wine goes well with all dishes. 11 AMBRUCO Grapes: Pallagrello nero 100% Type: Igt Terre del Volturno Soil: clayey and skeletal Location of vineyard: Castel Campagnano 250 m. above sea level Planting system: guyot, with 5,000 vines/ha and Caserta arbor system with 3,500 vines/ha. Harvest: hand-picked during the first 20 days of October. Crop yield: 60 quintals for hectare Vinification: prolonged maceration and 12 month maturing in new French oak barriques. Tasting notes: strong, scrumptious, deep-ruby wine. Mild, balmy hints on the nose, soon after having perceived a succession of flavours ranging from berry fruit to chocolate, through geen pepper. In the mouth this wine is balanced, rich, with elegant, extremely well balanced tannins. It shows a very long lasting finish, slowly fading in a spicy aroma with traces of blackberry and bilberry. CENTOMOGGIA Grapes: Casavecchia 100% Type: Igt Terre del Volturno Soil: clayey, sandy and skeletal Location of vineyard: Pontelatone, Castel Campagnano, Castel di Sasso, 200-300 m. above sea level Planting system: guyot, with 5,000 vines/ha in Castel Campagnano. Old espaliers with a density of 3,000 vines/ha in Pontelatone and Castel di Sasso. In these two last vineyards, the vines are in the average 80 to 100 years old and ungrafted. Harvest: hand-picked during the first 20 days of October. Crop yield: 60 quintals for hectare Vinification: prolonged maceration and 12 month maturing in new French oak barriques. Tasting notes: full bodied wine with dense ruby colour. Very strong flavour on the nose, with gamey, feral hints introducing a wide range of aromas including blackberry, bilberry, as well as spicy cloves and bitter liquorice.