Mastroberardino : Stilèma Fiano di Avellino Riserva 2018

A great white wine from Campania, seductive in its refinement and freshness

The estate

An essential reference among the great wines of southern Italy, the Mastroberardino estate embodies a unique winemaking heritage. For more than 300 years, 10 generations of winegrowers have succeeded one another from father to son, driven by passion and a desire to showcase the singular terroir of Campania. The family's historic cellar is located in Atripalda. Today, the estate is represented by Piero Mastroberardino.

The vineyard

Mastroberardino looks after an exceptional viticultural heritage of 250 hectares of vines spread across 17 different estates in various parts of Campania, including Irpinia.

The wine

A benchmark among the great wines of Campania, Stilèma Fiano di Avellino DOCG is the result of a long-term project paying tribute to Antonio Mastroberardino and his love for his land, his vines and his wines. Nicknamed the “archaeologist” of the vine, Antonio Mastroberardino devoted his whole life to preserving the organoleptic qualities of grape varieties in relation to their terroir. The Stilèma project came into being in the early 2000s through a series of experimental trials. It led to the selection of pre-phylloxera clones, alongside a revision of protocols both in the vineyard and in the cellar. The project has thus helped to reaffirm the identity of Irpinia's wines, contributing to the winemaking revolution sweeping through Campania. Over the years, a whole range of measures was introduced, brought together under the name “Stilèma”. The aim of Stilèma is to offer an understanding of the winemaking style of Irpinia's native grape varieties, such as Greco, Fiano and Aglianico. The first expression of the Stilèma project came in 2015, with cuvées showcasing Fiano and Aglianico.

The fourth vintage of this cuvée, 2018 is the first to be produced as a Riserva. Under the appellation's new regulations, this designation highlights extended ageing that allows the wine to reach optimal quality. This cuvée is made from vineyards located between Montefalcione and Manocalzati. These terroirs are characterised by soils composed, depending on the plot, of clay, limestone and sand. This mosaic gives the wines structure, freshness, minerality and a rich aromatic palette.

Winemaking and ageing

Alcoholic fermentation precedes malolactic fermentation. Around 10% of the wines were fermented and aged for 12 months in wooden vats. Ageing on the lees lasts 24 months. Thanks to this extended lees ageing, the wines display remarkable longevity and a savoury expression on the palate, typical of the great white wines of Irpinia.

Blend

100% Fiano di Avellino. 

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Stilema Fiano Avellino Riserva 2018 by Mastroberardino

Tasting

Appearance
With its lovely straw-yellow hue, the wine is adorned with subtle green glints.

Nose
Ample and complex, the nose blends fragrances of aromatic herbs, wild flowers and dried fruit with lightly smoky notes.

Palate
Fresh and precise, the palate seduces with its salinity, fine length and iodine notes.