Ben says
★★ Great Wine “Ruby hue red with aromas of sweet rose blossom, blueberry, pepper, raspberry and blackberry. The intensity is wafting, something of a thick fruity aroma with an underbelly of liquorice. Liquorice, blueberry and sweet but crunchy and tart red berries dominate the palate with rustic, gravelly tannins. The tannic note means you shouldn’t chill the wine too much, or it’ll go austere, but lightly so and it’s refreshing and bright. It gets jammier and softer as it warms, with a warming glow from the alcohol.“
KEY POINTS
This is a blend of the local Campania grape Piedirosso (80%, with the name meaning “red feet”, reflective of how the underneath of the vine leaf looks like a pigeon’s foot) and Aglianico (20%). The Piedirosso is regarded as a speciality of the region, particularly in Sorrento and Amalfi, and is not seen widely outside of Campania. It it grown on double guyot in sandy soils, suited to the Southern Italian heat. Harvested by hand and fermented in stainless steel.
Grown in: Sorrentino DOC, Campania, ITALY.
Food Pairing
Works best when you keep it classic. Try with sausage and fennel tagliatelle, or a rustic style lasagne.
Disclosure & Price
Paid 20€ for this from a nice wine shop in the town of Amalfi, while on honeymoon. Probably tourist prices but I wanted something local, and the hills of Vesuvio sounded pretty good to me! Circa 16-20€ in Italy, and I don’t think it is currently in the UK. (Find on wine-searcher.com here).
Reviewed and tasted: 18 July 2022
About the Producer
Sorrentino Vesuvio is an Italian winery with vineyards in the volcanic region around Mt Vesuvio in Campania. The vines are located on the south-west side of the volcano on fertile, well-drained soils formed by lava flows. This unique soil also allows for the protection of the ungrafted vines, a rarity in Europe due to phylloxera.
