Carlo De Lucia grows Aglianico and Falanghina grapes in the Sannio area in the province of Benevento near Campania. His estate is in the medieval town of Guardia Sanframondi, lying at 428 meters above sea level over the Calore River Valley that runs of of the Apennines. The climate is relatively cool for Campania. De Lucia uses a traditional form of Guyot (vine training), which leaves the grapes suspended beneath the lower wire to absorb heat from the earth. The soil is mainly clay mixed with volcanic ash and limestone, becoming rockier in the Aglianico vineyards. Guardia Sanframondi has a small and very specific D.O.C., which concentrates on two of Italy’s oldest varietals, Falanghina and Aglianico.
This Aglianico sees at least six months in barrique. Aglianico (a name derived either from its Hellenic origins or from the Latin word for southern Italy, apulianicum). The grape was called Ellenico (the Italian word for “Greek”) until the 15th century.
Sources:
http://www.enotecaderham.com/winery.php?id=23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aglianico
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