Greco di Tufo, Cutizzi, Feudi di San Gregorio 2023

One of the leading, and arguably the leading, producers in Campania, Feudi di San Gregorio are set in the area of Irpinia, about an hour’s drive inland from the Bay of Naples.

Originally founded with 30 hectares of vines in a district called Sorbo Serpico, they now farm more than 300 hectares and have spread their holdings in to other local districts like Tufo, Taurasi and Santa Paolina.

They are dedicated to grape varieties native to the region, many of them with an ancient lineage, perhaps even some that would have been familiar to the citizens of Ancient Rome. Aglianico, falanghina, fiano di Avellino and greco di Tufo's origins are lost in the mists of time here.

Feudi di San Gregorio was founded in 1986 with the philosophy of hanging on to the finest aspects of the local winemaking heritage while alloying it with the best modern techniques to maximise the potential of these indigenous grapes. The vines are farmed with one eye on the protection of the local ecosystem, surrounded as they are by traditional Irpinian countryside of forests, orchards, olive groves and wild herbs.

Despite the heat of the southern Italian sun, the vines retain fresh characteristics thanks to altitude, with vineyards ranging from 300 to 700 metres above sea level, and the volcanic and calcareous soils.

The winery itself is as modern as can be, a sleek Japanese-designed glass and steel construction built in 2004 atop cellars below ground level, and a statement of intent if there was one. It is, needless to say, equipped with the most up-to-date equipment to complement the know-how of the team here. That know how is now being applied to making wines in Basilicata where Feudi have acquired aglianico vineyards on the distinctive volcanic solis of Vulture, as well as sites in Puglia.