Mezzogiorno - Southern Italian Scorchers - a six bottle box set

The ankle, the heel, the toe and Sicily too. Six wines all showing off what's under the sole of the boot with unique varieties and expressions of the southern soils.

White wines

Produttori di Manduria, Alice, IGT Puglia, Italy -  Produttori di Manduria is a cooperative winery founded in 1932 but while it is historic it also very forward thinking, a shining light of how coops can be run for the benefit of everyone - its members, its customers and in this case the planet, farming beyond organic and using sustainable processes throughout the vineyards and winery.

‘Alice’ is a mineral, dry white with a lovely savoury almost saline finish made from local variety Verdeca (no relation to Spain's Verdejo). Perfect for a summer's day or with some grilled, oily fish at any time of year!

Producer - Produttori di Manduria
Country - Italy
Region - Puglia 
Sub-Region - Manduria
Variety / Blend - Verdeca
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan      

Vigneti Tardis, Fratellli Felix, Campania, Italy - Jack Lewins, former sommelier and now the co-owner of Leroy in Shoreditch, and Bruno (Mr Aglianico) de Concillis are the two driving forces behind Vigneti Tardis. Cilento is a region of Campania around two hours drive south of Naples. While quite mountainous inland there is a strong coastal influence on the wines, particularly in the case of many of Vigneti Tardis wines which come mainly from a steeply sloping vineyard a few metres from the Mediterranean. While it may share the same varietals as nearby Taurasi and Avellino as a territory it differs greatly and in a region famed for its big, powerful wines Vigneti Tardis are offering a much more delicate alternatives.

The Fratelli Felix is a fresh blend of Fiano and Falanghina that's had a couple of days of skin contact giving it a yellow rather than orange colour and providing a little grip. Tropical fruit aromas of lychee and peach alongside citrus and honeysuckle. Bone dry with a chalky texture and a little salty. 

Producer - Vigneti Tardis
Country - Italy
Region - Campagnia
Sub-Region - Cilento
Variety / Blend - Fiano, Falanghina
Wine Style - White Wine
Farming - Organic / Biodynamic
Vegan

Orange wines

Arianna Occhipinti, SP68 Bianco, Terre Siciliane, Italy - Arianna Occhipinti got involved in wine at the young age of sixteen, working with her uncle Giusto at COS, in Sicily, but stands in no-one's shadow now making wine which in her words, "in its harmonies and roughness, talks about the land where it comes from and also about me." 

SP68 Blanco is a blend of Zibibbo (aka Muscat d'Alexandria) and Albanello fermented on skins. It is tropically aromatic and light and very low in sulphates. Grown in the unique soils and climate of Ragusa.

Producer - Arianna Occhipinti
Country - Italy
Region - Sicily 
Sub-Region - Ragusa
Variety / Blend - Zibibbo (Muscat de Alexandria), Albanello
Wine Style - Orange Wine   
Farming - Organic / Biodynamic
Vegan 
Low Sulphates

Red wines

Vigneti Tardis, Martedi, Paestum Rosso, Campania, Italy - Another one from Vigneti Tardis!

This wine is one of a range called "La Settimana' (the week), each wine is named after a day of the week. Made from Aglianico it has the lovely rich, dark cherry fruit you would expect and hope for but with a delicacy and subtlety that is uncommon.

Producer - Vigneti Tardis
Country - Italy
Region - Campania
Sub-Region - Paestum, Cilento
Variety / Blend - Aglianico 
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic / Biodynamic
Vegan

Mocavero, Negroamaro Salento, Puglia, Italy - The Mocavero family have been making wine for many generations in Salento, where the sea meets sheer cliffs and tropical beaches in the very south of Puglia. Today it is run by brothers Francesco and Marco along with their father Peter. Their surname is the Arabic word for 'Warrior' and they proudly carry the Mocavero name through their passion for wine cultivation and entrepreneurial endeavours. 

This is 100% negroamaro from ten year old vines and boasts being an 'all rounder wine' perfect with any dish or equally effortlessly drinkable on its own. Notes of dark berries, cassis and chocolate. 

Producer - Mocavero
Country - Italy
Region - Puglia
Sub-Region - Salento
Variety / Blend - Negroamaro
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Terre Nobili, Cariglio, Calabria IGP, Italy - Calabria is the southern most region on the Italian mainland and known for it's rugged landscape, beautiful sun-soaked beaches and tales of aggressive mafia organisations but perhaps not so much for its wine.

Tenuta Terre Nobili was founded in the late 60's by Ennio Matera in Monalto Uffogo where they hoped to recover ancient species of indigenous vines. They converted to organic practices and currently have over 15ha of vineyards within the "Valle dei Crati" IGT, all between 150 and 250masl. Ennio's daughter, Lidia has since taken over and and is looking after the vines and cellar, carrying on her father's legacy and crafting wines with remarkable expression of the region.

This wine is named after Cariglio, whose legend was of a noble warrior who took shelter beneath a big tree at night as he had been abandoned by his soldiers after battle. Upon waking he discovered himself to be on a hilltop underneath a majestic oak and surrounded by an expanse of olive trees and vines laden with ripe fruits. This garden full of light and life gave new energy to Carigilio who was exhausted from his troubles and he was inspired to give up his soldiering and dedicate his life to the land and the cultivation of those plants.

Using local varieties, Magliocco Canino and Magliocco Dolce (mostly the former) grown in clay soils. It goes through a 21 day maceration on the skins before 6 months ageing in stainless steel. The result is a big, rich wine full of fruit and a little spice.

Producer - Terre Nobili
Country - Italy
Region - Calabria
Sub-Region - Valle dei Crati
Variety / Blend - Magliocco Dolce, Magliocco Canino 
Wine Style - Red Wine
Farming - Organic
Vegan

Italian door photo taken by Robin on his travels through Campania. Forza Napoli!

This case contains one bottle of each of these wines. If any is out of stock or becomes unavailable it will be replaced by one of equal or greater value and deliciousness.