This is another wine I found in my round of industry tastings in the Spring. I fell in love with this one primarily because the 12-year old Alois daughter was pouring and describing the wine. She was adorable, professional and smart… and breaking the law so I also got to see her hopeful, emerging wine maker and entrepreneur spirit being crushed by the security guards. I hope she has recovered from her early education on the puritanical roots that govern the U.S.- enough of the sadness. The Alois family has been making wine in Campania for a over a hundred years, taking advantage of the variety of soils in this region that are volcanic thanks to Mt. Vesuvius and the rich fossil-filled limestone thanks to their seaside location. Their whites come from the latter. I can’t wait to visit them and see their beautiful estate and maybe even stay in one of their guest houses.

Nose: cut grass, honeydew melon, orange blossom, lemon

Palette: golden apple, lemon-lime opening to be slightly creamy w/ a lean finish

Pairing: chicken- grilled or fried, all seafood, Costco’s artichoke & jalapeno dip. Cheese: Buffalo mozzarella.

The grape here is the ancient Falanghia (just sound it out), native to Campania, rarely made elsewhere. It is sometimes called Flanghia Greco, but is different from Greco di Tufo also from this region. It is most characterized by its bounty of orchard fruit and tangy acidity- just like the one here.