Snapshot of a Territory – Di Meo and D’Agostino’s Irpinia

Wednesday, December 18, 2013 

Veritas Restaurant

 Corso Vittorio Emauele 141 Naples, Italy

Snapshot of a Territory is back and this time it focuses its lens on Irpinia with the wines of Cantine Di Meo and Chef Gianluca D’Agostino’s cuisine.

Cantine Di Meo, located in the hills of Salza Irpina in the Avellino Province has been producing wines since 1986.  Their inventory includes a wide variety of wines from various vineyards in Irpinia and the Sannio.  Wines such as Aglianico, Taurasi, Falanghina, and Greco di Tufo, Coda di Volpe, and of course, Fiano di Avellino.

Snapshot has decided to focus first on the territory that embraces the winery in Salza Irpina.  It is here where the Di Meo family has its Fiano di Avellino vineyards.  We’ll have the opportunity to taste 3 different interpretations of Irpinia’s favorite white led by wine maker Roberto Di Meo.

 Selezione Erminia Di Meo Fiano di Avellino DOC 2000  The official presentation of a wine with a long tradition. A wine which can only be compared to itself.  From the outset, it was clear that the grapes from this vineyard were capable of producing wines of the highest quality, which could bring out the best features of the variety (After careful manual selection in the vineyard and meticulous grape selection upon arrival at  the winery, the grapes are vinified with maceration for two days with the skins at a low controlled temperature. Aged for 14 years in stainless steel and the bottle)

Cole dei Cerri Fiano di Avellino DOC 2005 (Selected grapes, aged 10 months in barriques, then  10 months in the bottle before released)

Alessandria Fiano di Avellino DOCG 2010. (Vinified traditionally then aged for 12 months in stainless steel, 12 month in the bottle before being released.)

Snapshot will then focus on Aglianico.  Taurasi to be exact, with one of Di Meo’s traditional hand-made liqueurs – Ratafia’ di Nonna Erminia.  Raftafia’ is made from a family recipe that has been lovingly passed down for generations.  Taurasi wine infused with a special variety of leaves and herbs, and then aged 2 years in barrique before being bottled.

Chef Gianluca D’Agostino of Veritas Restaurant has strong family ties in  Castelvetere sul Calore, not far from Cantine Di Meo.  Chef D’Agostino will treat us to menu that will bring his interpretation of Irpinian classics to pair perfectly with the wines of the evening.  A menu to include classics from the Irpinian winter holiday menu. Details soon.

Snapshot of a Territory will also feature a photography exhibit by blogger/photographer Karen Phillips and a presentation of Cantine Di Meo’s 2014 calendar which was recently presented in Warsaw.

The cost of the wine tasting and dinner is 45 Euro.  .  

Reservations are necessary and can be made only by email or telephone to Veritas Restaurant at info@veritasrestaurant.it , 081 66 05 85.