2014 Fattoria La Rivolta Coda di Volpe

Region: Taburno < Campania < Italy
Grapes: Coda di Volpe
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Certified organic, limestone over volcanic soil, minimal added SO2
Winemaker: Paolo Cotroneo

A family affair, 3rd-generation farmer Paolo Cotroneo, with his two sisters and cousin, farm his 29-hectare estate without any chemical intervention (they’ve been certified organic since 2001, a rarity in the area).  The terrain is hilly, the soil rocky, and the climate harsh, with cold winters and scorching summers – perfectly difficult conditions that result in great wine (grapes want to be abused, to be forced to dig deep for nutrients; it gives them character). The little known Coda di Volpe grape, which means “tail of the fox” in Italian, is an ancient variety whose bunches, when fully ripe, grow long and narrow at the bottom, resembling a bushy fox tail. Here you get earthy minerality and concentrated medium body with a little citrus edge and a slightly salty finish.  Brilliant match for green veggies and salads that are difficult to pair with wine – the waxy lemon note and clean minerality are decidedly savory rather than fruity, and thus super food-friendly.