Tenuta Ponte
Campania - Italy
The Winery
Located in the lush, green heart of Irpinia, Tenuta Ponte touches upon all three of the region’s main DOCGs - Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, and Taurasi - giving winemakers Alessandro and Graziano di Stasio full access to Campania’s array of classical wines. From an outsider’s point of view, it’s fair to say this 25-hectare estate is edenic all year round: the days are languid and warm, the nights cool, and the air fragrant with citrus and earth spice. Vines are planted at an average of 450 meters on the right side of the Calore River valley, and the whole region benefits from a southern Mediterranean climate with four distinct seasons. A blend of volcanic and clay soils lend all the wines poise, along with their telltale streaks of minerality (whites) and dusty black peppercorn (Aglianico). Focusing on small batches of concentrated wine, Alessandro and Graziano are charming country gents but have a world-class sense of purpose when it comes to their wine… white or red, everything they craft possesses elevated aromatics, fantastic viscosity, and a well-woven palate with deep integration. As for the name of the estate itself, “Ponte” means bridge in Italian, and the property is named after the 2000-year-old Roman arc you cross to get to their vines... Built during the Roman Imperial Age, the bridge was locally known as the "ponte dei diavoli" or "devils bridge". Folktales dictate that "demons" built the bridge to use it as a meeting place on dark and stormy nights... One certainly gets the sense that those first Romans on the scene made a distinct impression!
- Enologist
- Alessandro Di Stasio
- Grapes Grown by Winery
- Algianico, Coda di Volpe, Falanghina, Greco,
- Vineyard Size
- 9.0 ha
- Winemaker
- Alessandro & Graziano Di Stasio
- Winemaker Biography
- In the town of Luogosano, Graziano Di Stasio and his uncle, Alessandro concentrate their efforts on the classic wines of Campania, including the DOCGs of Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino and, of course, Taurasi. Wait until you try them! All their wines display extreme typicity, viscosity, and freshness at once!
- Winemaker Generation
- 2nd
Carazita Irpinia Campi Taurasini DOP
From the dramatic mountains of Campania, in the zone of Irpinia north of Napoli, comes this stunning cuvee from one of Southern Italy’s best kept secrets: Tenuta Ponte. With loads of coarse, black pepper and wild, dusty plum leading the charge, we can see why they call this wine "Taurasini". 90% Aglianico provides a taut tannic structure, with touches of Tagliato and Merlot added to round out the dusty, spicy fruit. Enjoy this wine as it continues to open and expand for the next several years!
- Color
- Dark ruby
- Nose
- Crushed black pepper, wild dusty plum, baked persimmon, and dried porcini
- Palate
- Dark fruit surrounded by taut, dry tannins
- Finish
- Ample, and begging for bold, Mediterranean cuisine
- Vineyard Location
- Irpinia DOC, Campania
- Vineyard Size
- 6 ha
- Varietals List
-
90% Aglianico
5% Tagliato
5% Merlot - Farming Practices
- Non-certified organic; grapes picked by hand; dry-farmed
- Elevation
- 450-500 m
- Soils
- Clay and volcanic mix
- Maturation Summary
- In large Slovenian barrels for 12 months and bottled for 12 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 6.15 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 15 bottles
Lanni Falanghina Campania IGP
Grown in the visually arresting mountains of central Irpinia, this older vine Falanghina is a serious white with backbone, typicity, and complexity for days. The nose offers an array of meyer lemon, dried blood orange peel, sweet plaintain, and citrus blossom... giving rise to a lush, mineral-driven mid-palate that coats the mouth with warm lemon oil. Despite its largesse, this quintessential white remains unoaked and refreshing - the perfect companion to a vibrant meal!
- Color
- Light golden yellow with green highlights
- Nose
- Warm meyer lemon, blood orange zest, sweet plantain and citrus blossom
- Palate
- Fantastic weight and minerality - lush mouthfeel, but with well-defined edges
- Finish
- Long and clean
- Vineyard Location
- Beneventano IGT, Campania
- Vineyard Size
- 3 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Falanghina
- Farming Practices
- Non-certified organic; grapes picked by hand; dry-farmed
- Elevation
- 300-350 m
- Soils
- White and yellow tufo, with large volcanic deposits
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 1 months and Bottled for 12 months
- In Steel
- 1 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 6.5 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 12,000 bottles
Selece Greco di Tufo DOCG
Grown in the Valle del Sabato (Tufo) in central Irpinia, this gorgeous, small batch Greco delivers on all fronts: expressive aromatics, fantastic viscosity, and (thanks to the clay-laden soil, which leads to slow ripening), a vein of minerality from stem to stern. Integrated and gentile, the palate boasts rich lemon curd, green apple and a pleasing, well-rounded finish. In sum, a pitch perfect DOCG from ancient Campania!
- Color
- Deep straw yellow
- Nose
- Warm citrus, white flowers, and dusty riverstone
- Palate
- Fantastic weight and well integrated, with lemon curd and green apple
- Finish
- Long and well-rounded
- Vineyard Location
- Greco di Tufo DOCG, Campania
- Vineyard Size
- 2 ha
- Varietals List
-
85% Greco di Tufo
15% Coda di Volpe - Farming Practices
- Non-certified organic; grapes picked by hand; dry-farmed
- Elevation
- 350-400 m
- Soils
- White and yellow tufo, with large volcanic deposits.
- Maturation Summary
- In Steel for 1 months and Bottled for 12 months
- In Steel
- 1 months
- Alcohol
- 14.0 %
- Acidity
- 6.6 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 12,000 bottles
Taurasi DOCG
The product of lush, warm, Campanian days and cool, tempered evenings, this monument to Aglianico delivers with its formidable tannic structure, volcanic typicity, and old vine integration. A layer of Piedirosso (another ancient, black-skinned, local variety permitted in Taurasi) helps to soften the earthy mid-palate and adds a hint of bramble. Artisanal low yields add to this wine's already fantastic concentration. Just 900 six-packs made.
- Color
- Dark ruby
- Nose
- Dusty plum, wild berries, and coarse black pepper
- Palate
- Dark plum, cherry skin, and volcanic spice wrapped in a bold tannic structure
- Finish
- Long, integrated, and slightly dry
- Vineyard Location
- Taurasi DOCG, Campania
- Vineyard Size
- 3 ha
- Varietals List
-
90% Aglianico
10% Piedirosso - Farming Practices
- Non-certified organic; grapes picked by hand; dry-farmed; indigenous yeasts
- Elevation
- 450-500 m
- Soils
- Clay and volcanic mix
- Maturation Summary
- In Slovenian barrels for 36 months and bottled for 6 months
- Alcohol
- 14.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.3 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 1 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 5,500 bottles
Loggia Irpinia Aglianico DOP
An affordable alternative to their bold and expansive Taurasi, this honest and friendly take on Aglianico nevertheless delivers in terms of both quality and typicity. Dark cherry and plum aromas and flavors co-mingle with earthy, volcanic undertones and firm yet pleasant tannins. Tenuta Ponte contiues to impress us with their devotion to traditional, small-bacth, high-quality wines from the heart of Irpinia!
- Color
- Dark ruby
- Nose
- Dark plum and cherry, warm tilled earth, and a hint of white spice
- Palate
- Medium body with bright cherry, dark plum, and firm yet pleasant tannins
- Finish
- Earthy and slightly dry
- Vineyard Location
- Irpinia DOC, Campania
- Vineyard Size
- 1.5 ha
- Varietals List
- 100% Aglianico
- Farming Practices
- Non-certified organic; grapes picked by hand; dry-farmed
- Elevation
- 450-500 m
- Soils
- Clay and volcanic mix
- Maturation Summary
- Bottled for 5 months
- Alcohol
- 13.5 %
- Acidity
- 5.5 g/liter
- Residual Sugar
- 2 g/liter
- Annual Production
- 9,000 bottles