Campania
Villa Matilde
Fast Facts
Villa Matilde Owners: Salvatore & Maria Ida Avallone
Vineyard surface:
166 acres (67 hectares)
Owner:
Maria Ida & Salvatore
Avallone
Winemaker:
Riccardo Cotarella
Established:
1960s
Location:
Cellole
Province:
Caserta
In the early 1960s Francesco Paolo, founder of Villa Matilde and
lawyer, began researching ancient wine varietals and found that
most had virtually disappeared after the advent of Phylloxera. In
collaboration with the University of Naples, Francesco put together
a research team and found the best surviving vines, patiently
grafting cuttings onto new rootstock. His decade-long quest
developed premier clones of Aglianico, Piedirosso (both red) and
Falanghina (white). Today, 20 original clones of the three varieties are
trademarked by Villa Matilde.
Francesco’s children, Salvatore “Tani” & Maria Ida Avallone,
uphold their father’s legacy. The family has always considered the
environment a top priority for Villa Matilde, and gradually reached
an enviable goal: zero greenhouse gas emissions on the estate. The
original Villa Matilde nucleus was already split into two properties
within the Falerno del Massico DOC appellation (province of
Caserta): Tenuta di San Castrese, totalling 114 acres, and Tenuta di
Parco Nuovo, closer to the coast with 52 acres under vine. Tani and
Maria Ida further expanded the estate to include two additional
properties, respectively in the Benevento and Avellino provinces:
Tenuta Rocca dei Leoni, inaugurated in 2000 (74 acres of Campania
IGT soil with distinct clones of Falanghina and Aglianico), and Tenute
di Altavilla, inaugurated in 2004 and consisting of 62 acres within the
DOCG appellations of Greco di Tufo, Fiano di Avellino and Taurasi. In
all four properties, vines are Guyot trained with an average density, in
the newer vineyards, of around 7,000 per hectare.
The principal Villa Matilde location is exceptionally favorable:
volcanic, mineral-rich hills facing the Mediterranean sun and the sea,
sheltered on three sides by the Massico mountain range. Vicinity to
the sea combined with this mountainous amphitheater mean ideal
ventilation, and maximum exposure to the sunrays, until late October.
Terrain alternates with areas rich in potassium and phosphorus,
volcanic soils with abundant, characteristic microelements, and
tuffaceous zones. Rocca dei Leoni soil is volcanic, rich in phosphorus
and potassium, and features lush vegetation. The vineyards have
excellent hillside exposures, considerably steep, and very old vines.
Tenute di Altavilla vineyards feature predominantly tuffaceous soil
with a high percentage of clay and excellent exposures and gradients.
FALANGHINA ROCCA DEI LEONI IGT: 100%
Falanghina from the Rocca dei Leoni property, on
volcanic terrain with gray tuff, cinder, and black
pumice stone. Soft-pressed and fermented in stainless
steel, without skin maceration, at a controlled
temperature of 64.4-68° F for 20 days, followed by
three months of aging in stainless steel. Light straw
yellow in color, its bouquet is intense, floral and fruity,
with fragrant nuances of banana, tropical fruit and
white peach confirmed on a well-balanced, fresh,
lively and appealing palate.
For more information please visit our website www.empsonusa.com
© 2016 Empson (U.S.A.) Inc., Villa Matilde is solely imported by Empson USA, Alexandria, VA
yellow peach.
FALERNO DEL MASSICO BIANCO DOC: 100%
Falanghina (the ancient Romans’ “vinum album
Phalanginum”) from the Falerna clone. The vines are
grown at 490 feet above sea level in volcanic soil with
lots of phosphorus and potassium. Planted between
1963 and 1992, with five clones propagated from
the 40 clones that exist in Falerno. The wine sojourns
three months in steel before bottling. Straw yellow in
color, the bouquet shows depth and elegance, with
notes of ripe fruit such as pineapple, banana, and
FALERNO DEL MASSICO BIANCO “VIGNA
CARACCI” DOC: 100% single-vineyard Falanghina
from the Caracci vineyard planted in 1968. Fruit is
cryomacerated to obtain the maximum aromatic
extraction and structure, then the must ferments
in medium-toasted Allier oak barriques for around
20 days, fine-tuning the natural harmony and
mellowness of this particular terroir. The wine ages in
stainless steel and bottle-aged at least eight months
previous to release. An intense nose of pineapple,
pears, and apricots with a lingering finish; silky yet fresh.
AGLIANICO ROCCA DEI LEONI IGT: 100% Aglianico
from the Rocca dei Leoni property, on soil rich in
arenaceous clay, quartzitic sandstone, and fossil
layers. Vines were planted in various years starting
from 1970 and grow at an altitude of 1,312 feet
above sea level., After complete malolactic, the wine
rests in stainless steel then in traditional oak barrels
and finally in the bottle for three months. Brilliant
red in color, the bouquet exhibits notes of spice,
blackberries, ripe red fruit. Full and velvety, with wellbalanced tannins.
CECUBO ROCCAMONFINA IGT: 45% Abbuoto,
35% Primitivo and 20% Piedirosso, solely released in
outstanding vintages and named after the ancient
Romans’ Caecubum. The vines were planted in
1976-2000 and are grown on the Tenuta di San
Castrese property at Sessa Aurunca. The wine is aged
in Allier oak barriques for 12 months (33% new). The
result is deep, dark red with a distinctive bouquet of
plums, brushwood and berry fruit, intense licorice
and tobacco aromas and delicate ones of vanilla,
chocolate, and dried figs.
FALERNO DEL MASSICO ROSSO DOC: 80%
Aglianico and 20% Piedirosso from vines grown on
volcanic terrain with excellent levels of phosphorus,
potassium, and microelements. 50% of the wine is
aged in Allier Barriques (a third are new) and 50%
rests in traditonal Slavonian barrels for 10 to 12
months. Deep ruby red in color, with notes of dark
fruit, cherry, spices, nutmeg and chocolate. Round,
well-balanced, rich, and complex on the palate.
FALERNO DEL MASSICO ROSSO “VIGNA
CAMARATO” DOC: 80% Aglianico and 20%
Piedirosso from one of the estate’s oldest and bestexposed hillside vineyards on the slopes of the extinct
volcano of Roccamonfina; exclusively issued in the
finest years. The wine is aged in Allier barriques for
12 to 18 months. A third of the barriques are new,
a third 2nd year and the a third are 3rd year. Finally,
the wine is bottle-aged a further 12 to 18 months.
Deep crimson, the bouquet is very intense with notes
of dark berries, pepper, and chocolate. Concentrated with great
structure.
ELEUSI CAMPANIA IGT: 100% Falanghina. The
range now closes on the delicately sweet notes of
the passito Falanghina varietal Eleusi. The grapes
(from Tenuta di Parco Nuovo) are left on the vines
to dry until early November, when they are picked
and placed on racks to complete the natural drying
process. In December, they are soft-pressed and
slowly fermented, and the ensuing wine sojourns five
months in stainless steel and several more months
in bottle. Deep amber, with golden reflections, its
bouquet is floral and fruity, with ripe aromas of apricots, vanilla,
roses and tuberose. The palate is very consistent with the nose,
showing excellent persistence of flavors, very elegant balance of
sweetness and freshness, superb structure, sensations of silk and
velvet.