The summer sun envelops the plants from every direction since early morning. This way, the grains get bigger in the still green bunches, but which are already distinguished among the dense foliage. The long rows accompany the way in a sequence that unravels from hill to hill. Only interrupted by the silvery green of strong olive trees, another constant presence in the Samnim countryside. After having passed the red heights of Torrecuso roofs, dominated by the profile of the Caracciolo-Cito palace, the vineyards guide along a slope which leads to the entrance of an edifice where the grapes are the protagonist in every corner, detail, decorative element.
Welcoming, with its warm colors and the mouldings of clear local stone, the Cantina Iannella (winery) already at the entrance, with the ancient photos of the village and of the lands, clarifies its origin in the twentieth century, which from this year can be defined as ancient. Just a century ago, Giovanni, the founder, started the company then carried on, with the same conviction, first by Nicolas and now by Antonio, the third generation of a family aimed to keep and exploit the vocation of this fertile land, incubator of noble wines.
The differences that the winery immediately highlights escape to the profane gaze observing the expanse of vines all around, from the display of the bottles, between the white and red pillars of the Samnium viticulture: Aglianico, Falanghina, Piedirosso, Greco, Fiano. Each one with its character, its history, its combinations. And its link with this place particularly, which synthesises between its walls a hundred years of work, research, tradition and innovation,. Antonio is giving value to the family history which preceded him in the environments of what is more than a winery. Home, for him and his family, and a welcoming place, a museum, a space of knowledge and encounter for the guests and the visitors frequenting it.
Everywhere there are objects remembering the origin, the viticulture practices and traditions in the shadow of the Taburno. In the large hall, antiques are exhibited, as well as ancient presses, photographies that connect the familiar memory to the one of an entire community, linked to the land and to Torrrecuso life. An identity claimed also in the presence of the tower with the label of the company.
A strong and respected past, which however does not cancel the present. The comfortable lift leading deep into the winery shows it. As soon as it opens the intense wine fragrance reveals the barrel, the essential part, the most precious one. There, where the result of years of work and centenary experience is kept in the cool and dark. Every millimeter is well cared, every stone is studied, everything that is in contact with wine, except the alined bottles at the end of the huge space, is rigorously made of wood. In line with the quality choices governing each step of the delicate process of mutation of the must into DOC wine.
The door opening onto the vineyards is also made of wood and is huge. The vineyards are arranged around the edifice for several hectares. We are in the heart of the Taburno, on the right side of the Dormiente. Its mounts raise protective behind, in front there is an alternation of valleys and hills, as far as the eye can see, where the yellow fields of hay just picked are distinguished from the olive groves and, above all, from the vineyards, which prevail on every other cultivation. Low vines, cultivates in rows, an innovation of recent times, of which Antonio Iannella speaks withe the pride of who made a specific and convinced choice of change compared to the knowledge and to the practice of tradition.
Previously, the rows were arranged in a radial pattern and interpenetrated with the olive and fruit trees, because each land had to ensure the necessary living to those who cultivated it. Today every plot has its own cultivation and the vines harmoniously receive the light from all sides, for the whole day, from sunrise to sunset, when the sun disappears behind the mountains between purplish glare.
The new disposition of the rows, to which all the plants are being reconverted one by one, is the simple, decisive innovation for those who have decided to produce high quality and organic wine. In the total respect of the land, which spreads under the rows the incredible variety of its wilds, flowering and fragrant herbs, kingdom of pollinating insects and organisms that contribute to the health and growth of the vineyards. Antonio convincingly repeats it: “You can have all the experts in the world, but it it the vine that makes the wine”. And the vines are in full activity for the production of the centenary.
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