First, a glass of sparkling wine: elegant richness.

Asprinio Spumante VSQ brut, 2020, 10.5% Alcohol, Raffaele Barbato Farm 1907

In Frattaminore, Campania, the region around Naples, which I rated with 91 green bonvinitas points ( green for dry (brut) up to 12% alcohol): Beautiful ripeness with notes of honeydew melon; full-bodied and elegant on the palate; powerful finish, really coming alive at the end. VSQ stands for Vino Spumante di Qualità / Quality Sparkling Wine. The sparkling wine was aged in the bottle for 50 months (MESI) in a cave 20m deep at 10°C. The grapes were grown in the Aversa DOC vineyard.

Asprinio is an ancient white wine grape variety from southern Italy, cultivated since the time of the Etruscans. Having largely disappeared, it is now being cultivated more frequently again, thanks to its sufficient acidity making it well-suited for sparkling wine. Raffaele Barbato builds on the legacy of his grandfather, who also cultivated Asprinio and has run his Azienda Agricola since 2018 and specializes exclusively in producing sparkling wine. His cultivation method for Asprinio is particularly interesting: since the vine is essentially a climbing plant that naturally twines around trees if not trained by the winemaker, and since Asprinio is especially vigorous, many winemakers allow it to grow on trees, including Raffaele Barbato, of course!

Makes you want to take the next sip.

2023 Colli di Salerno IGP Greco, 13.5%, Valentino Lenza,
which I rated with 90 red bonvinitas points ( red for dry over 12% ): Very fine aroma with hints of strawberries and a touch of raspberry; crystalline, elegant body with freshness and notes of gooseberries; very nice finish that really opens up and makes you want the next sip.

Greco is an indigenous southern Italian white wine grape variety, cultivated by the Romans, whose name likely originates from Greece. IGP stands for Protected Geographical Indication, in this case for Salerno, a region in southern Campania. The approximately 10-hectare family-run farm Aziende Agricole Dott. Valentino Lenza is located in Pontecagnano Faiano in Campania.

I particularly enjoyed the wines from Tenuta Cervelli in the Lazio region,
of which I like to mention two:

Beautiful floral notes

"Sciùme" 2024 Frusinate IGT Passerina
12%, rated with 90 green bonvinitas points : A light floral aroma reminiscent of a green meadow; gently approachable on the palate, the floral notes are once more enjoyable and not overpowered, a lovely light wine that continues with a graceful finish. Passerina is an indigenous white grape variety of central Italy, also valued as a table grape. Frusinate is a protected geographical indication wine region in Lazio, north of Rome.

A robust red wine with a hint of tar.

"Atino" 2022 Cabernet Atina DOP
13.5%, rated with 92 bonvinitas points : Even on the nose, a powerful red wine with notes of cherries, nougat, dark chocolate, and a hint of tar; on the palate, an equally powerful, impeccably pure red wine with high aging potential; a robust finish that lingers on the tongue. Atina is both a town and a quality wine region in southern Lazio.

The Tenuta Cervelli , Società Agricola, is a young estate, founded only in 2017, located in San Cesareo in the Atina DOP region with calcareous-sandy soils, which is committed to natural viticulture and also dedicates itself to autochthonous varieties of the region that are threatened with extinction.

Three wines from the Terre Massesi wine estate absolutely convinced me.

Where fruit and elegance meet

The 2023 Falanghina del Sannio DOP
(13.5% ABV), which I rated wirh 90 bonvinitas points , has a very fragrant nose with notes of oranges, mandarins, and orange zest. On the palate, it's very juicy and enjoyable, with notes of gooseberry jam gradually emerging. The finish is long and lingering, where fruit and elegance combine. It's grown on volcanic soils in the northeastern Sannio region of Campania, a DOP-certified quality vineyard area with corresponding regulations. Falanghina is the most widely planted white grape variety in Campania, and I've been impressed by many of its wines.

A drop you want to keep.

2024 Falanghina del Sannio DOP

Great depth

2024 Barbera Sannio DOP

The estate, Società Agricola Terre di Leone in Massa di Faicchio, Campania, is run by the family di Leone in third generation actually by the brothers and cousins ​​Alessio, Davide and Giovanni. Deeply rooted in the region, they place great importance on cultivating their wines in strict harmony with nature. They offer their wines under the name "Terre Massesi," alluding to the local land, characterized by volcanic soils combined with limestone.

Lots of glace

“Madonella” 2022 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOP, 14.5%, Società Agricola Pasetti,
93 bonvinitas points : On the nose, very beautiful cherry fruit, a textbook example, plus a hint of chocolate; on the palate, very approachable, very smooth, goes down easily, then a lot of power rises with a hint of dark chocolate; very pleasant finish, rolls wonderfully down the throat, you'll want to drink it again. Montepulciano is a common Italian red wine grape that produces powerful wines with a smooth texture.

The Società Agricola Pasetti
in Francavilla del Mare on the Adriatic coast, on the eastern side of the Abruzzo region, is an interesting one: One of the ancestors came there from northern Italy and initially planted 40 hectares of Montepulciano solely for grape production. They began producing their own wine in the 1960s and bottling their own in the 1980s. Today, the winery is run by Mimmo Pasetti with his wife and their three children – Francesca, Massimo, and Davide.

Around the turn of the millennium, Mimmo began cultivating vineyards in Pescosansonesco, in the heart of the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park. This was met with considerable approval, so much so that the wines are even permitted to display the national park logo on their labels. The clay-limestone soil, rich in skeletal material, and the vineyards at 550 meters above sea level offer ideal conditions for Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. The significant temperature fluctuations between day and night impart exceptional elegance and purity. He recently acquired 150 hectares at an altitude of 1,050 meters, with a climate similar to that of Champagne, and plans to produce sparkling wine. We eagerly anticipate the results.

Full, round, with plenty of backbone

"Grancare" 2023 Greco di Tufo DOCG Riserva, 13%, Tenuta Cavalier Pepe,
90 bonvinitas points : Fresh aroma, very approachable and lively with notes of lemon juice and zest; after the initial freshness, a surprisingly full, round body with plenty of backbone, where the lemon zest reappears – very enjoyable; continues to develop in the finish with hints of green bell pepper.

Greco is an Italian white wine grape that produces fresh wines with a citrus character. The Tufo region is located in the heart of Campania, and there Greco di Tufo is registered as a DOCG, a controlled and guaranteed designation of origin for wine, provided the wine meets the requirements – the highest quality level in Italy.

Full-bodied, spicy, melt-in-your-mouth

“Santo Stefano” 2020 Irpinia Campi Taurasini DOC, 14%, Tenuta Cavalier Pepe,

The Tenuta Cavalier Pepe

Angelo Pepe, who manages the 70-hectare vineyard and olive groves in Sant'Angelo all'Esca together with his daughter Milena, was appointed a Knight of the Republic by the President of Italy in 1998 in recognition of his services. The two mangers aim to maintain natural productivity in the vineyard and cellar, and as a result, the estate was one of the first in Campania to receive the sustainability certification. The estate is also well-suited for tourists, offering a restaurant on the hilltop with beautiful views, as well as two apartments in an adjacent old farmhouse.

Six months in barrique – a powerful, wonderfully smooth wine.

The Cantine De Angelis 1930

in Sorrento, on the peninsula of the same name south of Naples, is closely connected to the sea, near which the vines thrive. The winery is therefore also a popular tourist destination, offering tastings and tours with refreshments.

vitignoitalia - May 17th to 19th 2026, in der Stazione Marittima, Naples

It is the main trade fair and also the 20th vitignoitalia, which takes place from May 17th to 19th, 2026 in the Stazione Marittima in Naples, where there is a wide variety of wines to taste. 

Built in 1899, the Marittima train station helped Naples gain greater importance in the Mediterranean. Redesigned and expanded in 1936 by architect Cesare Bazzani, this centrally located building with excellent transport links combines modern functionality with historical charm, making it a strategically advantageous venue for trade fairs and events of all kinds. The presence of cruise ships further emphasizes its international character.

Text: Dieter Simon, publisher and editor-in-chief of bonvinitas; bottle photos: bonvinitas; other photos: PR unless otherwise stated.