Tenuta del Meriggio and Volpe’s tail, a journey between history, evolution and Irpinian identity

by Fosca Tortorelli

About 3 kilometers from Montemiletto, an ancient village positioned the mountainous relief that forms the watershed between the heat and Saturday valleys, between the central hills of Irpinia, con the hamlet of Serra a fine di Montemiletto, at 550 mslm, is the company Agricultural “Uniforme del Mezzogiorno”.

A family business that began his journey con 2010, thanks to the escorted will of the spouses Far bruno Lungaggine and his wife Nunzia Guerresco, who until then had dedicated themselves mainly to work con the scientific field. The name itself, chosen by them, wants to emphasize the atmosphere that surrounds this hill during the meridian hours of the southern summers, when everything is suspended and stops waiting for the fresh evening breeze.

A place where the vine will benefit by expressing its character con an optimal way, with different plots each vineyard has its own extension that, through zoning work, guarantees the best expression of the cultivated vines. Not only Fiano, Greek and Aglianico, but what characterizes the company “Uniforme del Mezzogiorno” is the production of the tail vine, often underestimated variety and con the past used as a cutting grapes, registered con the register of wine vines 25 May 1970.

This grape variety, whose first quotation dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century, when Froio included it among the varieties cultivated con the region is present con all the provinces of the region, but only con the 1980s was it valued by some producers, con particular Domenico Ocone con Sannio and Antonio Troisi con Irpinia, who have vinified him con purity. From these premises the desire of the “Uniforme del Mezzogiorno” company to organize a vertical of seven vintages of their fox tail, which has brought interesting ideas and considerations this white berry.

To moderate the , the journalist Annacarla Tredici, who opened the between the winemaker of the Carmine Valentino company, the food and wine journalist Luciano Pignataro and the AIS Campania President Tommaso Luongo, who – supported by the owners Far bruno Lungaggine and Nunzia Guerresco with His daughter Emilia – they guided the tasting.

Seven years con tasting, from 2016 to 2023, jumping only 2017 – unfortunate and difficult vintage, con which the tail was not produced – con a path that highlighted the potential of this grape variety and its evolutionary prospects.

2016 turned out to be truly surprising con the glass, a bottle con great shape, which revealed con the glass a wine characterized by a great taste-olfactory expressiveness and, despite the years, with complex tertiary quaderno, from cuore fruit to dry floral; very pleasant con the sip.

Of another imprint, 2018, decidedly more material, with almond calls, voluminous con the sip and with a slightly handmade definitivo.

Per mezzo di splendid shape, 2019, which has distinguished itself for elegance and finesse, with smoked hints and officinal herbs, balsamics of wild mint that give amplitude and depth to the sip.

More linear both con the olfactory spectrum and con the sip the 2020 which is expressed with quaderno of pulpy fruit, references to wild herbs and floral nuances.

Tasty and enjoyable the 2021, which is multifaceted, with quaderno of yellow fruit and floral quaderno; dynamic con the sip and of great drinkability.

It closes with the last two vintages, the 2022 which has a pleasant youth, characterized by quaderno of citrus fruits, lime and a pleasant olfactory call of bergamot and apricot. Definitely very young con its olfactory expressiveness, 2023 demonstrates its potential, revealing a large and expressive sip, which promises interesting evolutions.

A path that confirmed the tail of foxes as a grape variety of great personality and evolutionary perspective, capable of telling the wealth of the Irpinian territory.