RARE GRAPE VARIETAL RESOURCE

The Asprinio d’Aversa wine is a DOC wine produced in the area of Agro Aversano, in the province of Campania in southern Italy, with grapes coming from a typical tree-like variety of grapevine. It is a wine with a pale straw color and green reflections. It has a fresh and unique taste that makes it adaptable to appetizers or seafood dishes. The historical origin of this wine is disputed. Some date it back to the Etruscan era, while others claim it comes from the Norman period. The main focus is the production technique that creates high vines (the typical tree-lined Aversana) reaching 10 meters in height. To harvest this grape, farmers use very long ladders called scalilli and place the grape clusters in wicker baskets, which are then lowered down with ropes. To keep it fresh, the wine is then stored very deep in caves that are carved into tuff stone, which maintain a constant temperature of around 10-12°C and of which there are still a few examples in the area.  The danger of extinction of Asprinio d’Aversa wine mainly concerns the disappearance of the typical Aversana vine that produces the grapes used to make this type of wine.

(Source: Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity – Ark of Taste) https://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-taste-slow-food/?fwp_arca_settore=wines-and-grape-varietals-en)

Asprinio is grown using different trellising systems, depending on what end result is intended (still or sparkling). The Aversana Alberata where the vines grow next to Poplar trees which, in turn support the vines over the course of the growing season. Ladders are required to pick the ripe at heights sometimes as much as 20 meters above the ground. Asprinio is an extremely vigorous variety (up to 200 kilos of grapes per vine) and is said to be "The best wine in the world to drink with pizza".  - Luigi Veronelli

It is a very light, tart with high natural acidity which makes it suitable to make Asprinio d'Aversa Spumante. The wine always exudes a crisp lemony zing, and is characterized by pretty if very delicate citrusy, spicy, and almond notes.

(Source : Italian Wine Unplugged – Grape by Grape, 2017; Various Authors, pg.  156  )

Asprinio is a rare indigenous Italian white grape variety that hails from Etruscan times in the Campania region in Southern Italy with very particular viticultural and vinicultural traditions. Unlike traditional trellising methods. the vines are supported by local poplar trees and can rise up to 10 to 15 meters in the air and then strung between the trees – a growing system referred to as Vite Maritate (married ones). Harvesting is done with the help of ladders called Scale Napoletane (Neapolitan ladders) - Courtesy of Alta Cucina Inc. Once vinified, the wines are stored in 10 to 15 meters deep cellars, in tufa (volcanic origins) soil, that provide a constant temperature year round which aids in the typicity of the final product

Though it is the same grape as Greco (Greco di Tufo), producers are listed below as the sparkling wines are traditionally confined to Asprinio

http://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=25079

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