2020 Cantina Morone 'Neropiana' Barbera del Sannio DOC (camaiola)

Contrary to the name (and counterintuitively)this wine is not made with the barbera grape, but the camaiola grape from Guardia Sanframondi in the Sannio province in Campania in southern Italy. Its origins are unknown, and it shares no genetic characteristics with other native grapes in the area. Cantina Morone is owned by Pasquale and Maria Morone. Their children, Giovanni and Eleonora run daily operations and initiated more quality production by converting the vineyards to organic and lowering the grape yields. They run a small agriturismo and boast all local ingredients. The couple’s fidelity to local foods is admirable. From the grain for the bread Pasquale bakes daily, to the pork stuffed inside it, the raw materials are 100% from Campania, of Guardia. Maria claims the heirloom beans they cook won’t give you a “bubbly belly”.

Together with their consulting oenologist and childhood friend Anna della Porta, Cantina Morone works organic in the vineyards with biodynamic practices, and minimal intervention in the cellar. The wine is inky dark with notes of plums and savory black olive. Medium tannin.