Posted by Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 12/05/2021

La Fortezza in Sannio: Wines of Great Character From Campania's Indigenous Grapes

La Fortezza is a producer of wine located in Torrecuso in Tora in the region of Campania that was established in 2009 by Enzo Rillo. It lies on a land of 60 hectares (40 of which are owned) in the viticultural zone of Sannio in the province of Benevento. It is crossed by the southern Apennine ridge, borders with the metropolitan city of Naples to the south and Irpinia on the southeast. The vineyards extend on the east side of the Taburno Regional Park, on the slopes of Mount Taburno alternating between woods and small clearings. At the center of the vineyards is the cellar which is entirely covered in stone and well-integrated with the landscape.

The viticultural area of Benevento has been producing indigenous grapes for making excellent wines for centuries and expresses about 40% of the vines in the Campania region. The area boasts of a unique soil of excellent quality, right altitude and exposure to the sun. The vines that are being cultivated at La Fortezza are Aglianico, the oldest of which are seventy years old, Falanghina, Greco and Fiano.

In the cellar, oenologist Vittorio Festa supervises the stages of wine production and with continuous research and experimentation, the winery continues to create good wines, some of which have received diverse valuable recognition from wine critics.

Here are five of their wines, some of which have received great reviews like the Aglianico del Taburno and Fiano, that I had the opportunity to taste:

La Fortezza Maleventum Vino Spumante Brut
A long Charmat method brut sparkling wine produced with 100% Falanghina harvested manually. In the glass, it presents a bright straw yellow color with persistent moderately fine and moderately numerous bubbles, an intense nose with yellow stone fruit in syrup, citrus fruit, and a light note of bread crust. On the palate, acidity is pronounced with marked sapidity, dry and long finish. A fine wine to drink to enjoy alone or with simple raw seafood.

La Fortezza Sannio Fiano Enzo Rillo DOC 2020
Obtained from 100% Fiano, vinified in stainless steel at a controlled temperature, aged on the lees for 60 days with batonnage in stainless steel. In the glass, it presents a crystal-clear straw yellow color with an intense and varietal-forward nose highlighting white flowers, apple, nuts and fresh herbs. In the mouth it has a pleasant roundness, marked freshness and sapidity, mirrors the aromas and finishes with persistence. A pleasant white wine that shows off its beauty in the glass.

La Fortezza Aglianico del Taburno Rosato DOCG 2019
Obtained from 100% Aglianico. A bright cherry rose color which reveals a prominent aroma of strawberries and other red berries, green almonds, white flowers and a delicate note of dried spices. In the palate, it expresses fruitiness, great acidity, sapidity and long persistence.

La Fortezza Piedirosso DOC 2019
Obtained from 100% Piedirosso, vinified and aged in stainless steel. In the glass, it presents a limpid ruby red color with a moderately intense and complex nose of dried tea leaves, mature dark stone fruits like plums, cherries, dried spices and stone mineral. In the mouth has a notable acidity, silky tannins, and long persistence. It's an elegant wine that shows its excellence in its youth and can show good evolution in the next few years.

La Fortezza Aglianico del Taburno Enzo Rillo DOCG 2017
Obtained from 100% Aglianico that were harvested manually, classic vinification with maceration and aged in oak for 8 months. In the glass, it presents a limpid full ruby red color with an intense and complex nose of stone mineral, wild berries, black cherries and ripe banana peel. In the mouth, it has a full body with chocolate, spices, marked acidity and long finish.