Medium straw-yellow color with hints of green; white flowers, orange blossoms, pear, apple, banana on the nose; white peach, citrus, orange peel, lemon, mango, minerality, hint of almond on the palate.
Dry; medium-full bodied white; excellent refreshing acidity—a signature quality of this grape; soft edge to the fruits with excellent mid-palate and long finish. No oak—all finishing in stainless steel, including three or more months on the lees; 13.5% ABV.
This comes from the Campania region of Italy north of Naples and Mount Vesuvius; the soil heavily influenced by Vesuvian ash. The wine is 100% falanghina (fah-lahn-GEE-nah), which you may not have heard of; it is similar to pinot grigio, but with more weight and substance.
Falanghina is an ancient Italian grape that likely originated in Greece. Campania is the major place it is grown. There appears to be two sub-varieties: Falanghina Flegrea and Falanghina Beneventata. The Sannio Falanghina DOC, where this wine comes from, grows the much better known and admired Falanghina Flegrea. The grape’s name comes from “falerna”—the Greek word for “poles”—because it was attached to stakes/poles in the ground instead of leaving the vine on the ground, as was the practice in ancient times.
Feudi di San Gergorio imagines itself as more than a winery, as their interesting website explains: “One of the cornerstones of Feudi di San Gregorio’s vision is the belief that a bottle of wine and a work of art share the same creative process. The love and passion infused in the cultivation of the vines, the effort in the picking of the grapes and the patient waiting for the wine to age, endow every one of our bottles with a personality of its own, transforming it into an authentic artwork.
“These are the same sentiments and emotions guiding artists in their creative process in making a sculpture, a photograph, a painting or an installation. In the light of this approach, Feudi di San Gregorio establishes collaborations with affirmed artists and young talents, towards cultivating a fruitful and ongoing exchange of knowledge and creativity between the world of art and that of wine. One of the cornerstones of Feudi di San Gregorio’s vision is the belief that a bottle of wine and a work of art share the same creative process.
“The love and passion infused in the cultivation of the vines, the effort in the picking of the grapes and the patient waiting for the wine to age, endow every one of our bottles with a personality of its own, transforming it into an authentic artwork.” Various artists are explored on the winery website.
Terlato Wines is the U.S. distributor. I recently reviewed their The Federalist Zinfandel Bourbon Barrel Aged wine and discussed the Terlato company and their place in the wine world.
Link to The Federalist Zinfandel tasting notes, Terlato story
Feudi Di San Gregorio Falanghina Del Sannio 2017 is tasty, fresh easy drinker with impressive length and food-friendly acidity. Not complex, but its acidity and length make it a very nice value-for-price play. If you want a step up, Feudi Di San Gregorio makes a Falanghina “Serrocielo” at about twice the price of this effort. Works as an aperitif, versatile with appetizers; pair with simple fish; seafood; shellfish; rice and risottos; vegetable dishes; garden salads; fresh cheeses. $15-20
