Ok- so Cilento winemakers Pasquale and Elisabetta aren't technically from Irpinia, their winery is about an hour south of Irpinia. Then why am I including them in this list? Great question. It's all about the grapes. (Isn't it always?) I was introduced to Casebianche by winemaking friends in Irpinia and they've got a huge following in our area.
Not only are Pasquale and Betty incredible people, the grapes they grow an hour south of Irpinia are mostly the same varieties we have here in Irpinia. It's the perfect way to show off the impact of the ever elusive "terroir" - Irpinia v. Cilento.
Tell me more:
Tell me more about Pasquale and Betty. Casebianche was founded in 2000 by this husband and wife team and started out selling their grapes to other winemakers in Italy. But once they saw how great the wines were that were being crafted from their grapes, they started experimenting with their own wines and produced their first vintage in 2007. Fun Fact: Betty and Pasquale both studied architecture before they became full-time winemakers.
What are the grapes grown in Irpinia and Cilento? Aglianico and Fiano are grown in both areas and make delicious wines. Both grapes are thought to have been brought to Italy by the Greeks before Roman, and likely even French winemaking influences, spread across Italy.
You mentioned the difference in terroir- can you explain a little more? The whole area where Pasquale and Betty have their vines used to be under the ocean and that gives their grapes and wines a unique flavor even from some of their neighbors in Cilento. Irpinia's terroir is marked by the volcanic clay soils that make up the vast majority of the grape growing area in the region. The Cilento varieties have less acidity and tannins than their Irpinia counterparts, they'll have a little more of a saltiness to them if you can believe that, and both put on beautiful displays of minerality. They're really fun to taste side by side to experience the differences.
How can I get their wines? These bottles are going to be featured in the April 2025 wine club. Don't miss out - sign up and see what all the hype is about! Don't sleep on their sparkling red wine you'll drink chilled. Pashkà , Pasquale in the local dialect, is one of my favorite bottles I've found from Southern Italy.
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