Rocca del Principe

In a short space of time Rocca del Principe have won great renown within Italy for their lively, characterful Irpinian wines. After years of his family selling grapes to Mastroberardino, Ercole Zarella with the help of his wife, Aurelia Fabrizio and his brother, set about producing his own wine as of the 2004 vintage. The estate comprises 6ha prime hectares of vineyards in what many believe to be the greatest place for growing Fiano – Arianello in the commune of Lapio. Here the vineyards, exposed east, north and west (but never south, Ercole believes Fiano over-ripens too readily on south-facing sites here) are, at 650 metres above sea level, the highest in Lapio and yield wines of zest and intensity. The Fiano is fermented and aged in steel tanks sur lie for ten month, during vinification part of the cuvee is given two day’s skin contact, other than that you will find very little wine-making or intervention here. Unique, brilliant wines that really show the best of Campania and its ability to produce quality and value.