Winemaker Notes
Critical Acclaim
All Vintages
The Astroni was born in Campi Flegrei. The winery is located on the outer slopes of the Astroni crater between Naples and Pozzuoli. Once the private hunting grounds for the Bourbons, today it is a State Nature Reserve managed by WWF Italy.
In this corner of a unique land kissed by the sea, inspired by the volcanic fire, and embraced by myths, the ASTRONI WINERY is committed to safeguard, enhance and promote the great enoic heritage handed down by our ancestors. Thanks to a visceral relationship with the land and the support of key enological innovations, the winery produces wines that are able to recount the territory from which they originate in every glass. The focus is mainly on pre phylloxera native vines (ungrafted): Falanghina dei Campi Flegrei and Piedirosso.
Today Astroni Winery’s commitment is increasingly directed towards disseminating and promoting the work, tradition and culture of the territory and man. Over the last several years, the winery has also launched a project to promote the area through art, communication and education.
A winemaking renaissance is underfoot in Campania as more and more small, artisan and family-run wineries redefine their style with vineyard improvements and cellar upgrades. The region boasts a cool Mediterranean climate with extreme coastal, as well as high elevation mountain terroirs. It is cooler than one might expect in Campania; the region usually sees some of the last harvest dates in Italy.
Just south of Mount Vesuvio, the volcanic and sandy soils create aromatic and fresh reds based on Piedirosso and whites, made from Coda di Volpe and Falanghina. Both reds and whites go by the name, Lacryma Christi, meaning the "tears of Christ." South of Mount Vesuvio, along the Amalfi Coast, the white varieties of Falanghina and Biancolella make fresh, flirty, mineral-driven whites, and the red Piedirosso and Sciasinoso vines, which cling to steeply terraced coastlines, make snappy and ripe red wines.
Farther inland, as hills become mountains, the limestone soil of Irpinia supports the whites Fiano di Avellino, Falanghina and Greco di Tufo as well as the most-respected red of the south, Aglianico. Here the best and most age-worthy examples come from Taurasi.
Farther north and inland near the city of Benevento, the Taburno region also produces Aglianico of note—called Aglianico del Taburno—on alluvial soils. While not boasting the same heft as Taurasi, these are also reliable components of any cellar.
Thriving throughout Campania, Falanghina grows widely throughout the region and plays a key role in many regional blends. Along the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, the local grapes, Verdeca, Coda di Volpe and Greco take well to its addition. On the Amalfi Coast, it is added to Biancolella as well as Greco. Around Avellino, it can be made into single varietal versions. Somm Secret—Thought to be an ancient transplant from Greece, the grape takes its name from the Greek word, phalanga, meaning stake or pole, in reference to the Greek method of training vines to single stakes.