THE COMPANY
The AZIENDA AGRICOLA COLLI IRPINI SRL (limited responsibility company), situated on the picturesque hills that separate the Irpinia and Sannio districts in the region of Campania, was founded in 1990 and started production in 1996. The fertile terrains, the vulcanic soil and the unparallel solar exposure gifted this land with precious Doc and Docg vineyards descended from excellent Hellenic and Latin vines. Since the first vinification, it has been the firm will of the owner - already an esteemed agronomist - together with the oenologist Mr. Di Renzo, genial and concetrated on success, to study scrupulously the autochthonous vines and grapes with the purpose to produce wines of superior quality that keep constant and consistent characteristics. The important reviews and the numerous awards, despite its young age, reflect the success of the company so far, which now ranks among the most important wineries in the region and forebode its future potential.
WINE CELLAR
Born in the age of electronics, the A.A. Colli Irpini S.r.l. made use of know-how and competency for building its winery, besides the indispensable and precious lessons of the tradition to which the agricultural areas of the Campania region are still devoted.
Built according to the latest technological advances at modern oenology disposal, with a production output of 25.000 hl and a present capacity of 12.000 hl in nitrogen-cooled stainless steel tanks for the protection of the wines, the winery features all the necessary machinery for producing technically perfect wines.
The 3,500 bottle-per-hour automated bottling line consists, as it can be seen in the pictures, of a sterile-water bottle rinser, a high vacuum system to remove the air from the bottle and an isobaric nitrogen filling system.
Beyond the rationalized vinification, the winery is equipped with its own laboratory, 30-hl oak casks and small French barriques for the outstanding red wines aging and with all the accessories for wine refining and storing.
The dynamic proprietors are committed to following the antique production and storage techniques of traditional farming, concerning the production cycle: from the flowering of the vine to the hand made harvest; from the selection of the finest grapes, also made by hands, to the respect of a most rigorous legislation which defines the outstanding quality of the grape varieties as well as it bans any artificial process that might compromise the wine's typical characteristics.
Indeed, the main secret of the success of the Campanian wines lies with their unmistakable uniqueness. Last but not least, the company is proud to make use of no larger than 20-kg capacity crates for the ingathering and transportation of the grapes in order to ensure their integrity.
A place where tradition meets technology, with a highly skilled personnel, the Colli Irpini offers the entire range of Campanian wines: the exquisite DOCs Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino, Sannio Falanghina, Sannio Aglianico; the celebrated DOCG Taurasi; the IGTs produced by the reputable local grapes; the table wines, fresh and easy-drinking and finally the two quality sparkling wines, the Falanghina Brut and Fiano Demi Sec.
THE TRADE MARK
Our brand name MONTESOLÆ is taken after the ancient name of the adjacent mountainous village Mons Fulsulae (now Montefusco), where the cellar is located. This is a picturesque village that preserves its roman and medieval character. The vine leaf symbolizes the viticultural and vinicultural affluence of the area and the unaltered activity of the viticulturists throughout the ages; the sun indicates the excellent climate of the zone, which caress the vineyards to yield some fine wines.
The moon and the star symbolize the clear and mild Campanian nights without weather extremities that would definitely spoil the quality of the grapes.
THE OBJECTIVES
The A.A. COLLI IRPINI is one of the largest wine producers in Campania with an annual output of about 1.200.000 bottles. Its continuous aspiration is to maintain the high quality level of its white wines for which the company is renowned; to perfect the quality of its red wines by improving the aging process and experiment upon techniques of vinification applied to the unique grapes of the area, as already did successfully with the Fiano and Falanghina sparkling wines. The company is proud of an efficient sales policy based on reasonable prices in relation to the quality that make it possible to face the increasing competition in the light of globalisation. Its aim is to expand further in the foreign markets, which now - just six years after its establishment - account for the 15 percent of the company's annual turnover.
The wines
TAURASI
Denomination by Controlled Origin
Aglianico means essentially Taurasi, the excellent red wine that best represents the Aglianico family (the ancient Vitis Hellenica). This ageing wine, (must be aged at least three years of which one in oak casks) was elevated to a Denomination by Guaran
KIRIOS TAURASI RISERVA
Denomination by Controlled Origin and Guaranteed Origin
It is produced from selected grapes of the centuries-old Greek 'Vitis Hellenica' (Aglianico), indigenous to modern Campania. It is a powerful and complex red wine, aged 4 years; deep ruby red, impressive nose of spices and cherry, perfectly balanced wit
SUSSURRO FIANO GRECO
Typical Geographic Indication
Back in ancient times, when the gods enjoyed eating just like man, the Hellenic Greco di Tufo vine and the Latin Fiano vine were already grown in Campania. Today, centuries later they still place Campania on a higher pedestal in the wine world, thanks to
The grapes
FIANO
The Fiano boasts Latin origins and is illustrious descendant of the 'Vitis Apiana', whose fruits generated a wine that donated elegance and excellence to the banquets of the Roman patricians. The Vitis Apiana, that is "Vine of the bees", so called for the sweetness of its small and sugary berries, a lot appreciated by bees, has been identified later on with the Fiana di Lapio. The commune of Lapio is one of the 26 small villages of the Avellino province where, for the optimum temperature and conditions of maturation, the Fiano di Avellino grape has been classified D.O.C.
GRECO
The earliest written record of Greco di Tufo dates back to the most famous Latin writers: Varrone, Virgilio and Columella (in its treaty on agriculture, " De re rustica") when the vine was known as 'Aminea Gemina Minor', from the shape of its bifid cluster. The most ancient of the native Campanian vine, from which the famous homonymous white is made, Greco di Tufo DOC has gained in the course of time a world reputation together with the Taurasi D.O.C.G. The grapes mature in October, fear frost and express better characteristics in a narrow area of the Irpinia, where they meet the ideal pedo-climatic conditions. The cluster is medium-small, the berry spherical, of yellow colour, dotted with rose
FALANGHINA
Unlike all the other native vines of the Campanian Region, the origin of Falanghina vine is uncertain and if one theory places it among the valuable ones of the antiquity, it is widely accepted that it was first cultivated in modern times. It appeared in some provinces of the Campania region (mainly Naples and Caserta) in the first half of the 800. Whichever is true, the vine has met in particular micro-areas of Irpnia and Sannio best climatic and territorial condition that bring the fruits up to incredible good quality. Its grapes, exhibiting a lengthened shaped cluster and medium large berries, generate a strongly dry wine of great interest and personality.
TREBBIANO
The Latin Trebulanus (from Trebula, name of town of the ancient Italy which identifies with some urban nuclei inhabited by the Osco-Umbri in central southern areas), is among the non native Campanian vines and is traditionally cultivated in the Northern and Central Italy (most typical is the Trebbiano of Tuscany). In Campania it is widely planted and delivers a blending grape which, joined to other more typical local grapes, generates fine table wines. It has clusters of medium largeness with sweet, juicy, spherical shaped berries.
AGLIANICO
This century old and fine vine descends from the ancient Greek vine "Vitis hellenica" and had already been praised by the Latin poet Lucio Giunio Columella (1st century aD) in his work on agronomy, "De re rustica", which represents the first essay on practising agronomy in the Roman Empire of the 1st century. It was in Campania and particularly in the areas of its subregions, Irpinia and Sannio, that this precious vine, named "Aglianico" after the end of the 16th century, has since been cultivated and its excellent characteristics refined in the course of the time. At present is grown following the "guyot" or "runner scheme" and "trellis" cultivation systems with an average yield of 80 hectolitres per hectare. The vintage begins after the second week of October and is concluded on 10th of November. The Aglianico red grapes produce one of the most famous and precious wines of Italy, pride of the Italian viniculture also abroad: the "Taurasi".
PIEDIROSSO
Among the vines classified by Plinio "The Elder" in the Campanian Region, figures the 'Colombina Purpurea', at present Piedirosso, called by Neapolitan vintners 'Pere'e Palumbo'. Althouhg its elective zone is Naples, it is a widely cultivated variety in the province of Salerno and Avellino, where it develops the most outstanding characteristics, and is used to make, along with the traditional Aglianico, red wines worthy of extra aging. The Piedirosso grape shows a cluster of rather big size with either spherical or oval berries and a black, violet shaded colour.
PIEDIROSSO
Among the vines classified by Plinio "The Elder" in the Campanian Region, figures the 'Colombina Purpurea', at present Piedirosso, called by Neapolitan vintners 'Pere'e Palumbo'. Althouhg its elective zone is Naples, it is a widely cultivated variety in the province of Salerno and Avellino, where it develops the most outstanding characteristics, and is used to make, along with the traditional Aglianico, red wines worthy of extra aging. The Piedirosso grape shows a cluster of rather big size with either spherical or oval berries and a black, violet shaded colour.