Calatia: Excellent Organic Wines of Caserta with Indigenous Grapes

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 1/05/2023

Calatia: Excellent Organic Wines of Caserta with Indigenous Grapes

Looking at the splendid landscape of the vineyards of Calatia Winery in the ancient land of Caiazzo, you can easily understand the legend why Calatia, the nymph daughter of Tifata, took refuge in this magnificent land to escape the wrath if her father. It is an enchanting place embellished by the Caitini mountains where the vines meet the wild nature in perfect harmony with beautiful natural colors. And underneath all that green is the clayey and sandy soil where the vines are organically cultivated, the slight inclination of the terrain gets good, drainage, ventilation and sun exposure which are factors that make this land the perfect place to fully express the wines of the area.

It is here in the territory of Caserta where Massimo Martino, the proprietor of Calatia Winery decided to build his 17-hectare wine estate in 2014. The land is planted with 7 hectares of vines indigenous to the Caserta area: Pallagrello Bianco, Pallagrello Nero and Casavecchia while bordering the vineyards is a natural woods with chestnut and oak trees which creates biodiversity. The agronomic work is entrusted to Vincenzo Coppola. Organic farming the estate's agricultural approach which advocates a total respect for the environment and without any use of genetically modified organisms and synthetic chemicals that are harmful to nature. Oenologist Giovanni Piccirillo oversees the vinification in the cellar wherein each vinification process is followed with extreme attention, resulting in excellent wine unique and elegant characteristics. The yeasts are derived from the grape skins, without the utilization of added chemicals for the fermentation process.

Calatia Winery is still a young winery with 2017 as its first vintage and currently handling an annual production of about 50,000 bottles. There are still things to be done at the winery, according to Massimo, like building a tasting room that overlooks the vineyards, a conducive ambience for appreciating the wines of Calatia. The production of wine continues with the soul and tradition of Caserta, asserting its purity in the glass.

Pallagrello Bianco 2021
Pallagrello Bianco grapes cultivated at 200 meters asl, with southwest exposure on volcanic soil with layers of sandstone on clay banks. The grapes are vinified in oak then aged in steel vats. Straw yellow in color with a saline nose, mint, stone, apricot and light spices in the background. Subtly herbaceous, lengthy acidity in the mouth and persistent.

Pallagrello Nero 2017
Obtained from 100% Pallagrello Nero grapes, cultivated in three layers of soil: limestone, clay and reddish sand. The grapes are vinified in oak then aged in steel vats. Impenetrable ruby red in color with an intense nose of floral and spicy aromas, with pronounced black pepper, followed by ripe berries. The mouth corresponds to the nose with a more prevalent fruity flavor and lingering spicy notes. An excellent representative of Pallagrello Nero that goes well with grilled and complexly-prepared meat dishes.

Casavecchia 2021
Obtained from 85% Casavecchia and 15% Pallagrello nero grapes cultivated in volcanic soil with layers of sandstone on clay banks. Vinification in oak barrels and ageing in steel vats for 6 months and another 6 months in oak barrels. In the glass, it presents an impenetrable ruby red color with violet edges. It has an intense nose of dried flowers, ripe berries and black cherries then it opens to an interesting mouth of acidity and sapidity, pronounced by berries and spices. It shows its beauty in its youth and will continue to present its personality in a few years to come.

Casavecchia Don Alfonso 2019
Obtained from 60% Casavecchia, 30% Barbera del Sannio and 10% Pallagrello Nero cultivated in volcanic soil with layers of sandstone on clay banks. Vinification in oak barrels and ageing in steel vats for 12 months and another 12 months in oak barrels. The production is dedicated only to the best grapes of the harvest which is not every year, the first vintage being 2019. Full ruby red color with hints of garnet with an intensely complex nose of ripe dark cherries, dried flowers and forest floor. The mouth has a good layer of freshness, thin tannic structure and finishes long.

Casavecchia Donna Rosa 2017 
The first vintage of this label. Obtained from 75% Casavecchia and 25% Pallagrello Nero cultivated in volcanic soil with layers of sandstone on clay banks. Vinification in oak barrels and aged for 18 months in medium toasted French oak barrique, both new and second to third passage, and another 6 months in the bottle. Full ruby red color with hints of garnet with an intensely complex nose of ripe berries, black cherries and hints of dried flowers. The mouth corresponds to the aromas with integrated tannins and freshness, persists long in the finish. An impressive wine that will continue to exhibit its excellent characteristics.